The Sharon Audubon Centeris a unit of the National Audubon Society located in northwestern Connecticut.Sharon Audubon’s intern program provides pre-professional training in conservation, education, and advocacy as practiced by a non-profit organization with a local focus plus national and international reach. Undergraduate or graduate students considering careers in wildlife conservation, environmental advocacy, and related fields are welcome to apply.
Policy Internship 2024.
Duration 8-10 weeks between June 3 and August 9.
Community and policy internship. Primary mentors, Bethany Sheffer ([email protected]) and Rob LaFrance ([email protected] ). The community and policy intern will focus on the interface between bird conservation and the process of policy-making, with emphasis on policy that creates conditions where both birds and human communities can thrive. This will entail learning about the drivers of bird decline and at the same time learning about our region’s land and people, including systems, policies, and practices that exacerbate inequalities. With SAC’s Naturalist, Bethany Sheffer, the intern will explore ways to advance bird conservation goals while maximizing benefits (economic, educational, environmental, and social) to a broad range of groups and communities. They will identify opportunities to communicate and collaborate with non-traditional partners to co-create programs, events, projects, and initiatives that advance multiple, shared goals. At the same time, the intern will work with Audubon CT’s policy director, Rob LaFrance, participating in up to four online or in-person training sessions on issues relevant to Audubon’s mission, and learning processes and skills for effective advocacy. The intern will meet with elected officials at the town, state, or federal level to discuss policies for natural climate solutions, green energy, biodiversity protection, and pesticide regulation—as implemented with equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and community partner priorities in mind.
The initial expectation is that the scholar will spend approximately equal amounts of time researching bird conservation issues that also have major and inequitable impacts on people: finding an opportunity for SAC and a partner group to co-create a project with shared goals; and acquiring knowledge and experience in lobbying. However, the investment in each can evolve as appropriate to the scholar and the opportunities available.
Skills acquired in this internship will include researching the history of multiple groups in a region; applying principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion to the development of new program initiatives; and techniques and tools for influencing public policy.
The intern should have their own vehicle for the duration of the internship; housing may be available.
Applicants should provide a cover letter, transcript and/or resume by March 15 to [email protected] .