Students Farming for Internships

The number of students looking for internships that allow them to sit around all day in an air conditioned office may surprise you. Recent consensus shows that many more students are trying to find internships doing green work or work on a farm.

These students may be onto something. Not only are they more likely to learn something if they're doing work out in the field, literally, but Fast Company recently reported that farming will be the hottest green job during the next 10 years.

A recent article by The New York Times reported that the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service found that 1,400 farms were seeking interns this year, almost three times as many as two years ago. The NSAIS is financed by the Department of Agriculture.

And not all students opting for farm internships are agricultural majors hoping for an opportunity with one of the nation's large conventional farms. Instead, most are studying a variety of majors and are more interested in internships at smaller organic and sustainable farms.

The Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships Database, which is run by the NSAIS, is a good place to see what kind of farming internships are being offered. As of today, the database has 93 pages full of available internships throughout different states.

For instance, Hay Creek Stock Farm in Sebeka, Minn. is looking for one intern at their 160-acre farm. The intern will gain skills in animal husbandry, pasture management, organic vegetable production and direct marketing. The internship runs through Sept. 15.

Lavender Hills Farm in Vashon, Wash., also is hiring an intern to work on a 1/2-acre lavendar farm and garden and live with the farm's owners and their two children. This internship lasts from July 1 to August 15.

Flat Creek Lodge in Swainsboro, Ga. and Charis Eco-Farm in Staunton, Va. also are seeking interns.

Internships at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you're looking for a unique outdoor internship this summer, you should take note that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting. Visit http://www.experience.com to learn more about internships.

High school students in North Carolina are being recruited for the park's summer internship program, which takes place from June 22 to July 31. Interns will work three to four days each week and receive $10.31 per hour, according to an article by the Citizen-Times.

Interns, who will need to provide their own transportation, will be based in the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center.

Interns will have a chance to work on park research projects and education programs, including: high elevation bird migration; inventories of beetles, waterbears and other groups for the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory; monitoring salamander populations and effects of ozone on native plans and assisting the national park staff with conducting the children's Junior Ranger programs.

Those interested must be at least 16-years old by June 22 and enrolled in an accredited high school or have been accepted into a college for the fall 2009 semester. To apply for an internship, send a resume, reference and cover letter explaining why you would be good for the job to: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, P.O. Box 357, Lake Junaluska, N.C,. 28745 by March 21.

The internship program is funded through a three-year, $1 million science education grant from Toyota to Friends of the Smokies, a non-profit organization that supports conservation, education and other park priorities.

The grant is meant to provide students with science-related experiences that may encourage them to seek a career in science. Students generally work with park staff, scientists or graduate students from various local colleges. Since 2003, about 70 students have participated in these internships.