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Internship: 

White River Natural Resources Conservation District

The White River (Wassabaastekw) NRCD is a local, non-regulatory subdivision of Vermont's state government which provides natural resource conservation support for land stewards in 23 towns throughout the White, Wells, Waits, Ompompanoosuc (Pmômanosek), and Connecticut (Kwenitekw) River Direct Watersheds. We provide agricultural outreach and education throughout our watershed. We are a close - knit staff that cares deeply about the environment, supporting farmers and creating opportunities for education, public engagement and advocacy around food sovereignty, agroforestry, climate solutions and community centered democracy. 

We run a number of programs including the Working Lands for Conservation Corps, a workforce development program to train conservation planners as well as a youth education program that connects high school students to local, place based climate solutions around the Upper Valley. We also steward 8 mini-nurseries, a ¼ acre food justice garden, host Local Working Group circles for building local democratic decision making power and advocacy. 

As an intern, you will be working under our Nursery and Project Manager to assist with maintenance of our tree nurseries and Food Justice Garden, where we grow and distribute annual vegetables to local food shelves.

2. Expected responsibilities of the intern:

You will be responsible for helping to maintain our annual vegetable garden;  helping with seeding, weeding, watering, mulching, harvesting and delivery of annual vegetables to the local food pantry and community refrigerators. Additionally, you will be the co-lead on maintaining ‘Open Garden Hours’ for 2-4 hrs, 2 times a week. 

Other responsibilities include:

  • Assisting in maintenance of our tree nurseries 
  • Collaborating with the WRNRCD staff on projects related to our education programs and local working group events. 
  • And assisting with various tasks related to building curriculum activities related to composting and agroforestry.


 

a. Day to day work of your organization 

We work with farmers, land owners and land stewards to do what’s called Conservation Stewardship Planning, host Local Working Group meetings to actualize local and direct democracy, facilitate a Working Lands for Conservation Corps program with 15 members from VT and 15 from the VI, manage tree nurseries for sale and local agroforestry projects and facilitate public education 


 

b. A semi-independent project the intern can pursue:

  • Organizing our Master Curriculum Resources document spreadsheet by category.
  • Compiling curriculum on agroforestry  
  • Updating our tree nursery maps 

3. Specific skills/Interests you are looking for 

a. Degree or field(s) of study you require/prefer. Food systems, food sovereignty, agroforestry, agroecology  

b. Areas of interest or experience (This can be general or very specific.) Gardening experience is must, weed identification, no till gardening, sheet mulching etc. 

c. Skills needed or helpful (ability to relate to people, compassion, attention to detail, driver’s  license). Good communication skills, flexibility, passion for gardening and community engagement. 

d. Career competencies: (critical thinking, leadership, communication, teamwork) 

e. Computer/technology/tool experience necessary 

  • Excel
  • Gardening tool competencies - ability to work hard and efficiently for long hours 

4. A list of skills the intern will learn and practice on the job 

a. job specific skills - no till garden maintenance, exposure to many different agroforestry sites and food forests. 

b. Career competencies 

c. Opportunities to make community connections 


 

This position is part of a cohort of 12 interns working with organizations that support the White River Valley Community Schools. Funded by the UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, free housing for interns will  be provided at Vermont University in Randolph, VT. Interns will participate in a week-long community  orientation, weekly intern cohort workshops for professional development, networking, and reflection and a  final sharing event on Monday, August 4, 5:30-7 pm. 



 

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



 

Position Details: 

Position Title: Agroforestry & Garden Intern 

area. Position Type: Internship 



 

Location Requirements: 


 

White River Junction - District Offices 

Sharon VT - Food Justice Garden 

And locations around the Upper Valley’s/ WRNRCD 23 towns


 

Time Requirements: Part-time 20 hours/week  

Seasonal, June 7-Aug 15, 2025 

Compensation and Benefits: 

Expected Pay: $18/hr (choose the range where this fits) 

Categorize Your Job: 

Community Food Security, Agroforestry, Agroecology,