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Community Engagement Intern

Retreat Farm
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Position: Community Engagement Intern
Reports to: Director of Community Engagement

This position is part of a cohort of 10 UVM summer interns working with organizations that support the Brattleboro community, including resettled New Americans, in partnership with the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp and the School for International Training (SIT). The UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships will fund a stipend of $4,000 per intern and provide housing at the SIT campus in Brattleboro, Vermont.

This is a 20-hour-per-week internship with the following components:

  • 15 hours per week: Primary internship as described in this posting
  • 2 hours per week: Collaborative work with other cohort members to support the New Vermonter Education Program’s ESL instruction and program activities, providing additional hands-on experience working with refugees in an educational setting
  • 3 hours per week: Weekly intern cohort workshops focused on professional development, networking, and reflection, including a community orientation and a final sharing event in August 2026

Questions about the cohort? Contact UVM Internship Coordinator kristen.andrews@uvm.edu 

Overview

Retreat Farm’s mission is to connect people to the land and one another with a vision of creating a just, healthy, and sustainable community. Retreat Farm creates gathering spaces and opportunities to connect with the natural environment, with others, and with yourself through public and educational programs featuring regional foods, agriculture, the arts, and outdoor recreation. Retreat Farm maintains eight historic farm buildings, 500 acres of forest, farmland, and waterways, 11 miles of trails, and a public common accessible to all, 365 days a year. At Retreat Farm’s Market and through events, Retreat Farm works to highlight local, value-added food producers, farms, artists, and makers who are doing good in their own communities, and for the natural environment.

Retreat Farm is a hub for community interaction, and interns at Retreat Farm will get an insider view of a growing land-based non-profit focused on the development of community through events, agriculture, outdoor education, and food. 

 

 

Required Skills

  • Background or interest in the performing arts, community development and organizing, event planning, or museum administration
  • Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently, creatively, and with a sense of humor to enhance the experience of audience members and guests to the farm
  • Valid driver’s license; ability to drive a golf cart; and ability to lift up to 50 lbs. are required for setup and breakdown of events
  • Basic computer and telephone skills
  • Background or interest in basic quantitative and qualitative research skills

Expected Responsibilities
Intern responsibilities are split into two categories:

Event Support (70%)

  • Collaborate with events team on setup and breakdown of live events including ticketing, volunteer coordination, parking coordination, artist and vendor support, and more
  • Support communications coordinator with marketing and communications needs such as postering, social media, direct outreach
  • Manage Collective Impact program, a program which features local non-profits and social service organizations at public events
  • Attend to audience and public questions and needs as they arise
  • Support both Retreat Farm events and lands team with maintenance needs associated with trail- and farm-based programs and events

Museum Development Research (30%)
Retreat Farm is working on a long-term plan to develop a museum and educational center, a project currently titled The Land and Its People initiative. Interns will support the executive director of this initiative in a variety of independent research projects to:

  • Conduct online and phone research on a variety of museums, educational centers, and land-based initiatives to:
    • Document audience and participation demographics for a variety of similar institutions
    • Collate information on the rotating exhibits, live events, interactive workshops, and programming at institutions with a similar mission to Retreat Farm
    • Compile a report on findings and present to Retreat Farm staff and board members

 

Learning Opportunities
Interns in this position will have the opportunity to work under the supervision and mentorship of Retreat Farm’s Director of Community Engagement, Events Manager, Communications Coordinator, and other staff to:

  • Improve multi-disciplinary event management and production skills
  • Practice research and data collection skills and learn how they apply to strategic planning for non-profit organizations
  • Develop skills to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
  • Explore how one non-profit organization is working to further community development and cohesion through performing arts and land-based programming

 

Position Details:

  1. Job Title: Community Engagement Intern
  2. Position Type: Internship
  3. Work-Study program (leave blank)
  4. Location Requirements: Onsite (Brattleboro, Vermont)
  5. Time Requirements: Part-time 20 hours/week 
    1. Seasonal, June 1-Aug 7, 2026

 

Compensation and Benefits:

  1. Expected Pay:
    1. $18/hr
    2. 25% Discount at Retreat Farm Market
    3. No additional compensation, benefits or perks