Employment Opportunities
Agriculture Internship at Spruce Knob, West Virginia
The Mountain Institute’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center in Circleville, WV is offering an internship opportunity for summer 2010. The Spruce Knob Mountain Center is an outdoor educational facility, hosting rentals, summer camps, and professional development workshops during June, July, and August.
The intern will manage the existing 80’ by 18’ garden plot, growing mostly salad greens, summer squash, herbs, and other short season plants. Other duties include planting and harvesting vegetables from several large flower boxes and improving facility appearance through hanging baskets and flower boxes. The intern will also develop a plan for increasing our food production and seek grant funding for future agricultural endeavors. If the selected applicant was interested, they may incorporate short teaching components with summer campers.
The intern will typically work Monday through Friday, 8-5, with an hour lunch break. Internship length is flexible to accommodate university requirements, preferably from mid or late May through early to mid August. This is an ideal situation for a highly motivated self starter looking for a resume building project, as you will be working independently. The position is unpaid, but does offer room and board in a gorgeous living environment and the opportunity to apply skills and theory learned in college.
TO APPLY:
Please send a letter of interest, resume, and three references to Beth Boehme, bboehme@mountain.org.
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Seasonal Field Instructor 2010 - Location: Spruce Knob, WV
The Mountain Institute is currently accepting inquiries for fall Seasonal Field Instructors for Mountain Learning Programs. Mountain Learning Programs are classic outdoor environmental education programs that combine group process and academic topics in a challenging backcountry environment to achieve client goals. The overall theme is experiential learning prompted by what we see in the field. Students examine geology by investigating rock characteristics and their relationship to regional processes and structures. Water quality is assessed firsthand and the implications are examined and considered for the entire watershed. Communications, peer relations and leadership topics unfold naturally in a small group setting. Field instructors lead this experience by observing their group, drawing out essential lessons, and enjoying the company of their charges.
For most private schools our program is an opportunity for students to see their peers and faculty in a dramatically different setting, to lead and follow, to talk deeply about various environmental topics, and to have a genuine, meaningful experience. Programs are sometimes referred to as traditions or rights of passage, are typically five days in length, and are field-based. For most public schools the focus is more on academic topics and covering the ever-important Content Standards and Objectives mandated by the state. Each year more West Virginia schools realize that Mountain Learning Programs are not just out-of-the-ordinary, fun, and opportunities to grow, but actually help raise scores in standardized testing. These programs are typically 2-3 days in length and are residential.
Instructors will also participate in nearly all other aspects of managing the facility. Given our remote location and strong tradition of self reliance, field staff take care of many jobs on site, including feeding animals, cooking, minor carpentry and repairs, general logistics, emergency response, etcetera. Typically, these activities fit into slow weeks or take place during scheduled work time.
Seasonal Field Instructors typically work five days a week, and although there will be some longer blocks of work required, we try to take additional time off to compensate and recharge our batteries. The season runs from either early April to early June or from late August to late October each year. Hiring is on a rolling basis and continues throughout the year. This position is eminently flexible and can be perfect for both entry-level candidates and experienced outdoor professionals. Basic requirements are a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent life experience, First Aid and CPR, a positive attitude, an interest in learning and growing, and a desire to live in a wild and rugged place with an outstanding community of outdoor professionals and to work hard to make positive change in our world. Starting pay is $60 per day, and will be reassessed after the first week of work based on advanced certifications (WFR, LNT, Swiftwater Rescue, etc.), attitude, work ethic, and prior experience. Seasonal Field Instructors also receive room (space to pitch a tent or a bed in a dormitory room with other Instructors) and board during their period of employment.
To Apply for Field Instructor position:
Please send your resume and 3 references to:
David Colby Martin, Program Officer
Spruce Knob Mountain Center
HC 75 Box 24
Circleville, WV 26804
dmartin@mountain.org
or call: (304) 567-2632 for more information.
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Resident Field Instructor, Location: Spruce Knob, WV
Resident Field Instructor Positions are filled for 2010. We are accepting inquires for fall seasonal instructor positions, or from parties interested in Residential Positions for 2011. Baseline responsibilities are the same as for Seasonal Instructors. In the summer a larger percentage of our work goes to maintenance, cooking, and trail maintenance, with roughly 20% going to teaching and instructing. The variation in schedule gives us all a welcome break and helps keep things fresh for everyone.
The Resident Position is for eight months, full time, and offers benefits including: Medicare and Social Security Match (7.65% of gross salary), Workmen's Compensation Coverage, and Vacation/ Holiday Pay on a pro-rata basis. Resident Instructors will also have their own residence (hence the snappy title) in our small one- room yurts, geodesic domes, octagons, etc. Pay starts at $7000 for the season.
To Apply for Resident Field Instructor position:
Please send your resume and 3 references to:
David Colby Martin, Program Officer
Spruce Knob Mountain Center
HC 75 Box 24
Circleville, WV 26804
dmartin@mountain.org
or call: (304) 567-2632 for more information.
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Internship Opportunities
Spruce Knob Intern 2010 - Location: Spruce Knob, WV
Internships are available at the Spruce Knob Mountain Center, designed to give candidates a good understanding of what it takes to work in the outdoor education field and run an outdoor education center. Applicants looking to fulfill Recreation or Experiential Education Degree Requirements are highly encouraged. Recent college graduates start in the intern role learning to work with kids and adults, drive vans, back trailers, sweep, mop, feed animals, maintain trails, perform general landscaping and simple carpentry, pack food, cook for moderate sized groups and more. Pending successful development of hard and soft skills, applicants graduate into a field instructor role. Interns typically start in May after graduation to transition into an instructor role in September. We are also open to interns in fall and spring.
The internship phase is divided into theme weeks. These vary according to our schedule and needs, but include:
- Staff training: usually two weeks
- Wilderness First Responder training (when applicable)
- Facility: Logistics, administration, facility maintenance, cooking
- Shadowing and assisting instructors on our experiential learning courses
- Trail work
- Potential for a specific internship project (photo, module development, etc)
Interns typically work five days a week. Although there will be some longer blocks of work required, we will try to take additional time off to compensate, catch up and recharge our batteries. Interns receive a 100/ week stipend, with room and board included. This is a fantastic experience for anyone feeling over educated and under-experienced, or needing to fulfill internship requirements for their degree.
Duration: 10 weeks.
Pay: $100 per week.
To Apply for Intern position:
Send a resume, a cover letter, and 3 references via email to:
David Colby Martin, Program Officer
Spruce Knob Mountain Center
HC 75 Box 24
Circleville, WV 26804
dmartin@mountain.org
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HQ Office Intern - Location: Headquarters, Washington, DC
Description:
Internships are available for Spring and Summer of 2010. One or two internships are available each semester, with a commitment of 20 hours per week. This internship offers a monthly stipend. We are looking for motivated, dependable undergraduate students, preferably pursuing a degree in environmental studies, international development, or nonprofit management. The intern will work with our small headquarters staff in Washington, DC. The HQ office provides fundraising and administrative support to TMI's seven field offices.
Internship duties will be determined based on the applicant's qualifications and interests, as well as the immediate needs of TMI. Duties may include:
Bilateral and Multilateral Organization Research
Mountain Resources Research
Foundation Research
Office File Organization
Office Organization in general
Data Entry
Database Organization
To Apply for Intern position:
Please send a cover letter and a resume to Jesus Villeda at jobs@mountain.org.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Headquarters Fall 2009 Office Volunteer - Location: Headquarters, Washington, DC
Description:
We are in need of volunteers in our small headquarters office. We are looking for people with experience in office organization and/or management. Volunteers perform a wide range of office duties, including filing, data entry, and office organization.
To Apply for Volunteer position:
Please Contact Jesus Villeda at jobs@mountain.org.
Please include any special skills (i.e. website development), availability, and a phone number at which you can be reached.
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