Current Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
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OEC volunteer and internship opportunities are unpaid unless otherwise indicated.
Community Outreach Volunteers
Do you like talking to people and attending community events?
If you want to get out there and educate people on "living green" and the fantastic work OEC does, this is your chance!
Outgoing, eco-happy volunteers staff our booth at various events in the Portland area, connecting people to solutions and getting the word out about OEC.
Typically, tabling is in on weekends, with morning and afternoon shifts, three to four hours maximum. Volunteers are encouraged to develop their own style, and communication skills are a definite plus.
OEC has had a booth everywhere from the Portland Auto Show and the Fix-It Fair, to Babyfest and Portland International Women’s Day.
Sound like fun?
To join us, give Lily a call at 503-222-1963 ext. 115, or e-mail volunteer at oeconline.org. Or follow this link to tell us more about yourself so that we can link you to current opportunities.
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS
You are always welcome at our beautiful, historic office in Old Town. Help us keep on top of the daily workload by committing to a couple hours of work per week. Occasionally we have an especially big task requiring extra hands. If you would like to be ‘on call’ for these volunteer opportunities, contact Lily at 503-222-1963 ext. 115, or e-mail volunteer at oeconline.org.
INTERNSHIPS
- Economics Research Internship Opening
Oregon Environmental Council is looking for a graduate student in economics to aid us as a research intern. This position will work with the executive director and some other program staff mainly identifying and reviewing state projects of concern to OEC sponsored issues, including policy research and writing. This will be comparable to the Green Scissor Project done by Friends of the Earth.
The internship positions are unpaid and require a minimum of eight hours a week and a three month minimum commitment but are a great way to gain practical experience while making a real difference for environmental policy and practice in Oregon and as a model for the nation.
Work can be done in the office or from remote locations.
If interested, please send a cover letter, resume and a writing sample to
volunteer@oeconline.org. Resumes will be reviewed immediately starting May 15, until the position is filled.2. Environmental Health Education Intern
The Environmental Health Education Intern will assist in conducting outreach, recording participant data and developing resources to promote OEC's Eco-Healthy program line, which includes the Eco-Healthy Childcare Program and the Tiny Footprints Program. Both of these programs seek to reduce children's exposure to toxics that negatively impact health, and to educate parents on how to be informed, proactive consumers.
Time commitment is flexible, but estimated to be 10 hours per week for 3 months. Please send a resume to the below email address. Application materials should be submitted before May 15, 2008. Resume reviews will begin shortly thereafter.
To apply and for more information on this opportunity please send all inquiries to volunteer@oeconline.org.
3. Clean Rivers Information Resources Intern
The Clean Rivers Information Resources Intern will assist the Clean Rivers Program Director in making OEC's information resources more accessible to the public.
Primary projects include:
- Writing case studies of Low Impact Development demonstration projects. Contact local governments and developers around the state to gather information about their sustainable stormwater management projects and write up information about those projects in a consistent case study format. The casey studies will be posted on OEC's "Stormwater Solutions" webpage, and used in Low Impact Development workshops this fall.
- Gather additional resources (links) for the Stormwater Solutions webpage.
- Develop a 50 Ways to Love Your River webpage. OEC's popular "50 Ways to Love Your River" booklet could be more effective resource in a web-based format that includes links to additional information that can help users take action. (web experience is not necessary)
Time commitment is flexible, but approximately 6-10 hours per week for 8 weeks.
To apply and for more information on this opportunity please send all inquiries to volunteer@oeconline.org.
4. Social Networking/Communications Intern
Be our social networking guru! Intern needed to work with the marketing/communications department at the Oregon Environmental Council as we expand our social networking presence. Use your Facebook, FLICKR, Myspace, del.isio.us, etc. skills to help us keep content, events, images, and video fresh and exciting and expand our online networks by seeking out new, like-minded friends, groups, and organizations. We need you to help us tell folks what you're about to find out: we do some pretty cool stuff and we're working every day to help preserve and protect what we all love about Oregon. Think of it as Facebooking - but with a purpose! If you're interested, send us a link to your social networking pages and submit your resume to volunteer@oeconline.org, and lets talk!
Thank you for your time and interest!
To apply and for more information on this opportunity please send all inquiries to volunteer@oeconline.org.
5. Chemical Policy/Environmental Health Intern
Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) and the Collaborative for Health and Environment—Oregon Chapter (CHE-OR) have an internship opportunity available to evaluate and summarize three recent reports on the presence of toxic chemicals in the people.
Biomonitoring – directly measuring for chemicals in people’s bodies – has been used effectively in a number of states and nations to raise the profile of the presence of chemicals in our bodies. These studies are often conducted with the intent of using the results to raise the profile of the issues and to support policy reforms.
In 2006, Washington state released a report entitled “Pollution in People: a Study of Toxic Chemicals in Washingtonians.” This report was followed in 2007 by similar reports from both Oregon and Alaska (see links below for access to the reports). In an effort to bring regional attention to the issue of chemicals in our bodies and the lack of federal oversight on chemical use in the US, a summary of the findings of the three reports would be a useful education and outreach tool.
Responsibilities
- Read the three reports and identify commonalities and differences between them.
- Prepare a 2 page report summarizing the biomonitoring results from the three states.
- Develop a powerpoint presentation suitable for the general public which summarizes the three reports, highlighting key findings and policy options.
Required Qualifications
- Strong organizational, communication & writing skills.
- Self-starter/ positive/ detail-oriented/ resourceful.
- Skilled in Word, Powerpoint, and internet applications.
Flexible schedule, approximately 10-15 hours a week.
The internship is not paid, however there are many opportunities to receive excellent practical experience.
If you are interested in this internship opportunity with OEC, please contact Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis at reneep@oeconline.org
Washington Pollution in People:
Oregon Pollution in People:
www.oeconline.org/pollutioninpeople
Alaska Pollution in People (as part of an 8 state report):
CHE-NW: http://www.chenw.org/
6. Healthy Food and Farms Summer Intern
June - August 2008
30 hours/wk
$1,500 Stipend
The Oregon Environmental Council’s Healthy Food and Farms Program is seeking applications for a summer 2008 Intern. The Healthy Food and Farms Intern will play a critical role in designing and launching two new projects.
Farm Fresh
OEC’s new Farm Fresh Program will use the workplace to educate individuals about the impacts of their food choices, and connect individuals to local Community Supported Agriculture farms. The program seeks to support easier access to local, healthy food, a sustainable food production model, the economic vitality of local farms, and closer connections and understanding between growers and eaters.
Sustainable Foods Market Connections
You will also work on a new place-based pilot project to create market connections between sustainable food and farm businesses and buyers who value their stewardship principles and the protection of a local agricultural economy.
Join the Oregon Environmental Council in a fast-paced office where a “get it done” attitude is balanced with humor and fun. Applicants with an academic background or work experience in sustainable agriculture or food businesses are preferred. Please submit a letter of interest and your resume to Lily Guajardo at volunteer@oeconline.org by May 21, 2008 for consideration. Questions may also be directed to Lily via email. No phone calls please. To learn more about the Oregon Environmental Council, please visit our website at www.oeconline.org. Thank you for your interest!
Jobseeker Resources
Click here to download Jobseeker Resources [PDF], our helpful fact sheet for those seeking environmental positions in Oregon and beyond.
Meet our volunteers!
Read profiles of some of our fabulous volunteers here...
General Information.
Our internships consist of about 80% program-related work and 20% administrative work. They are unpaid positions unless otherwise indicated. OEC seeks interns who possess excellent research, writing and communication skills, and have the ability and motivation to work independently. We offer a fun, pleasant atmosphere, easy to reach by public transportation, and flexible schedules.