INTERNSHIPS

Interns are an integral part of our stewardship community who have the opportunity to explore the environmental conservation career path through fieldwork and hands-on training.

We offer two different internship programs throughout the year. In summer, we offer a cohort-based internship program that explores a variety of working and learning opportunities. From fall through spring, we offer paid positions for interns to engage with the communities we work in and learn new skills alongside our staff.

HABITAT RESTORATION INTERNSHIP

Applications for the 2024-2025 Habitat Restoration Internship are now closed.
Please subscribe to our newsletter or check back in spring 2025
for information about the next application cycle.

Grassroots Ecology’s 10-month paid habitat restoration internship allows emerging professionals to explore the environmental conservation career path through hands-on fieldwork, community engagement, and in-depth training. The program's goal is to support personal and professional growth for those underrepresented in the environmental field, such as those identifying as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and/or first-generation college students. Responsibilities include invasive plant management, native plant revegetation, site maintenance (e.g. watering, mulching), volunteer event facilitation, and monitoring.

Please contact Emily Sharp at emily@grassrootsecology.org for any questions regarding the Habitat Restoration Internship.

“I have gained valuable field experience and knowledge
on native riparian and wetland ecosystems.
I have also gained wonderful friendships 
and increased my network in the environmental field. 
I now have field experience to pursue a career in conservation.”

— Nitza, '22-'23 Habitat Restoration Intern

SUMMER NATURALIST INTERNSHIP
Habitat Restoration Training and California Naturalist Certification Program

Applications for the summer 2024 Naturalist Internship are now closed.
Please subscribe to our newsletter or check back in spring 2025
for information about the next application cycle.

Grassroots Ecology's 9-week Naturalist Internship provides college students and recent graduates an opportunity to explore a career in environmental conservation and to deepen their understanding of California natural history. Through outdoor education and hands-on field training, interns gain local ecological knowledge, habitat restoration skills, a robust professional network, and valuable experience in the environmental field. This is an unpaid internship focused on training and knowledge-building. Interns will earn the California Naturalist certification (a value of $480) as part of the program. This program is designed to provide an empowering space for growth, with a focus on leadership, communication, and community-building skills.

Please contact Hannah Cunningham at hannah@grassrootsecology.org for any questions regarding the Naturalist Internship.

“It was satisfying to see the results of all the work we did at the restoration sites, and I
really appreciated getting the chance to dip my toes into the kind of work a job in the
field could expect of me. 

I’m walking away with a California Naturalist certification and the ability to identify
dozens of plants I couldn’t have named before, and I couldn’t be happier about it!”

— Pamela, 2022 Naturalist Intern

Thanks to our partners and donors who support the Naturalist Internship: