Common Ground | Intern

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Common Ground welcomes applications from individuals interested in interning on our site. Most internships are available during the summer, but other opportunities may be available during the school year.

If you are interested in one of the internship opportunities below, please fill out our online application form. For information about internships, contact Rebecca Holcombe at rholcombe@nhep.com or at 203.389.4333 x1213.

We currently seek applicants for two internships during summer of 2010: camp counselors and garden interns. Please note: Intern positions are intended for college students, or for post-college applicants looking to gain experience in a new field.

Common Ground Camp Intern

The Common Ground Ecology Camp is operated by the New Haven Ecology Project, which is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. Campers enjoy lessons and activities that take advantage of the site’s 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals.

The primary work of the intern will be to serve as one of the lead camp counselors for either the 6-8 or 9-12 year old ageww group (possible openings for ages 4 – 5, please inquire if interested). Interns will learn camp curriculum, lead lessons and activities, participate in field trips, and in all other ways be involved in the daily operations of the camp. Camp curriculum is provided, but the opportunity to develop additional lessons and activities or a special project with the campers is available if desired. Interns who wish to work BEFORE June 27 will also have the opportunity to participate in a great deal of hands-on work on our on-site organic farm (planting, weeding, greenhouse care, general garden work, helping with animal care, etc).

Specific skills/experience required for the internship:

Ability to work with children in a patient, nurturing manner and manage behavior without yelling, threats, etc (staff training provided to help learn skills in this area)
Interest in and basic knowledge of the natural world
Willingness to get dirty and work hard in all weather (including summer heat & humidity and/or rain)
Ability to work on a team of adults and teenagers, including both taking and giving direction
Work includes being a supervisor and role-model for high school students working as assistant counselors. Some teenage counselors may be close in age to the intern, so the ability to work with a group of peers while still maintaining appropriate supervisory boundaries is essential.
Ability to carry a daypack with supplies (up to 20 lbs), to hike several miles, to lift up to 30 lbs, and to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day
Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs

Additional requirements:

There will be two overnight campouts that all staff are required to work. Staff stay in their own tents (not with campers). The campouts are on a Thursday night, with early dismissal for campers and staff on the following Friday.
All adult staff must attend “CPR for the Professional Rescuer” and become certified. Common Ground will pay for this training.

Detailed description of Summer Camp program

The Common Ground Ecology Camp strives to provide a diverse group of children with a fun, safe summer experience, emphasizing building friendships and developing an appreciation for the natural world. Campers experience nature as an exciting place to explore, and discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected. The camp was founded in 1991, and has been under the leadership of its current director since the summer of 2001. Since its inception, the camp has served a diverse group of campers, integrating low-income, primarily minority children from some of New Haven’s poorest neighborhoods with their middle to upper class suburban counterparts. The campers come together on “common ground” as they discover that we all have the responsibility and opportunity to help protect the Earth. Over the years, the camp has evolved from a small group of campers and staff to an energetic community of over 200 children and adults who come together to learn about how all things are connected, from dirt and sun to the food on our plate and the water we drink.

The primary goal of the Common Ground Ecology Camp continues to be to help children discover the wonder and excitement in the natural world, and to turn that enthusiasm into everyday actions that help promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This goal is accomplished through a variety of structured and unstructured activities and lessons that inspire children to teach their families about recycling, pick up litter, take advantage of city parks for hiking and recreation, grow a garden, ask their parents to purchase locally grown food, and start a compost pile in their backyard because they learned to appreciate the impact of these actions during their time in Ecology Camp. Many campers come back year after year and some eventually return as camp counselors to share what they have learned over many summers at Common Ground.

It is also worthwhile to note that the children, schools, and local communities touched by the Common Ground Ecology Camp also benefit from the breaking down of barriers erected by race, class, neighborhood lines, and socioeconomic status. The camp serves a very diverse group of families from all over the city and surrounding towns, and when campers come together to complete a challenging hike, build a shelter from leaves and branches, and giggle the night away in a tent, they make friends with children that they may never have met outside of camp. Many of these children keep in touch with their camp friends all year long, thus connecting neighborhoods and families and emphasizing the idea that all things (and people) are interconnected.

Daily work involves being an integral part of this community, teaching, playing, mentoring, getting dirty, eating strawberries, rounding up chickens, bandaging knees, and making memories.

Internship logistics and details

Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered from May 3 through August 31, 2010. Minimum commitment is 6 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Interns who are applying to work with the Summer Camp MUST work from June 27 through August 16, 2010. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired.

Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days!

Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing.

Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood.

Applications: Please fill out our online application form.

Common Ground Garden and Market Assistant
New Haven Ecology Project is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. The site includes 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals.

The primary work of the intern will be to assist in maintaining our one-acre organic farm and to assist in running our two weekly farmer’s market stands.

Specific skills/experience required for the internship:

Good communication and interpersonal skills with people of all ages
Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task
Willingness to get dirty, hot, and to work hard physically
Willingness to ask questions, and also take initiative, to work both with and without direct supervision
Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day
Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs
An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and local food
Maturity, and the willingness to be a positive role-model to young people working on the farm (including teenagers ages 14 – 18)

Detailed internship description and goals

The internship will have two distinct activities and goals:

1. Working on the one-acre organic farm:

Farm work will be done with our full time Garden Manager, caring for the farm through the growing season. Working on the farm, the intern will gain experience in all aspects of planting, growing, and maintaining a diversified organic vegetable operation. Common Ground grows nearly 10,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Specific farm tasks may include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, preparing for market, preserving food, maintaining irrigation, keeping crop records, fixing fences, mowing, and a variety of other tasks. Interns may also learn to operate the tractor. Several summer programs for children ages 4 – 18 take place on the farm. Interns do not have daily responsibilities for working with these programs, but must be mature and a good role model for all children on the farm. Interns may sometimes lead small work groups of teenagers who are employed by Common Ground, and will have the opportunity to interact with and lead groups of younger children (summer campers) if desired.

2. Managing an on-site farm stand on Wednesday afternoons.

Interns will have primary responsibility for setting up and managing our Wednesday on-site farm stand, assisted by the Common Ground Youth Crew. An on-site market has been in high demand by our local neighborhood, and especially by the nearly 100 summer camp families who pass through the farm daily to drop-off and pick-up their children. We piloted this market in Summer 2009 and will continue it into Summer 2010. By offering this additional weekly market, we are increasing potential farm revenues and making local, organic food more easily available to the New Haven community.

Most weeks are structured as follows:

Monday: Interns will work with our Site Manager and/or Assistant Chef on Mondays, as our Garden Manager and Youth Crew have the day off. This provides a nice change of pace and the opportunity to learn from a different mentor. Work will usually involve disease and pest management in the garden, ongoing weekly garden tasks, and cooking and/or preserving the leftovers from market.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are devoted to general farm care, including working with the Youth Crew in the garden. Planting, weeding, harvesting, and managing Wednesday market fill up the days.
Friday is spent harvesting for Sunday market, assisted by the Garden Manager and the Youth Crew.
Interns are not required to work the Sunday market, however it is possible to work an alternative schedule of Sunday through Thursday (with Fri and Sat off) if there is need for a Sunday Market Assistant.

Internship logistics and details

Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered from May 3 through August 31, 2010. Minimum commitment is 6 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired.

Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing.

Applications: Please fill out our online application form.


	Internships INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Common Ground welcomes applications from individuals interested in interning on our site. Most internships are available during the summer, but other opportunities may be available during the school year. If you are interested in one of the internship opportunities below, please fill out our online application form. For information about internships, contact Rebecca Holcombe at rholcombe@nhep.com or at 203.389.4333 x1213. We currently seek applicants for two internships during summer of 2010: camp counselors and garden interns. Please note: Intern positions are intended for college students, or for post-college applicants looking to gain experience in a new field. Common Ground Camp Intern The Common Ground Ecology Camp is operated by the New Haven Ecology Project, which is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. Campers enjoy lessons and activities that take advantage of the site’s 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals. The primary work of the intern will be to serve as one of the lead camp counselors for either the 6-8 or 9-12 year old ageww group (possible openings for ages 4 – 5, please inquire if interested). Interns will learn camp curriculum, lead lessons and activities, participate in field trips, and in all other ways be involved in the daily operations of the camp. Camp curriculum is provided, but the opportunity to develop additional lessons and activities or a special project with the campers is available if desired. Interns who wish to work BEFORE June 27 will also have the opportunity to participate in a great deal of hands-on work on our on-site organic farm (planting, weeding, greenhouse care, general garden work, helping with animal care, etc). Specific skills/experience required for the internship: Ability to work with children in a patient, nurturing manner and manage behavior without yelling, threats, etc (staff training provided to help learn skills in this area) Interest in and basic knowledge of the natural world Willingness to get dirty and work hard in all weather (including summer heat & humidity and/or rain) Ability to work on a team of adults and teenagers, including both taking and giving direction Work includes being a supervisor and role-model for high school students working as assistant counselors. Some teenage counselors may be close in age to the intern, so the ability to work with a group of peers while still maintaining appropriate supervisory boundaries is essential. Ability to carry a daypack with supplies (up to 20 lbs), to hike several miles, to lift up to 30 lbs, and to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs Additional requirements: There will be two overnight campouts that all staff are required to work. Staff stay in their own tents (not with campers). The campouts are on a Thursday night, with early dismissal for campers and staff on the following Friday. All adult staff must attend “CPR for the Professional Rescuer” and become certified. Common Ground will pay for this training. Detailed description of Summer Camp program The Common Ground Ecology Camp strives to provide a diverse group of children with a fun, safe summer experience, emphasizing building friendships and developing an appreciation for the natural world. Campers experience nature as an exciting place to explore, and discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected. The camp was founded in 1991, and has been under the leadership of its current director since the summer of 2001. Since its inception, the camp has served a diverse group of campers, integrating low-income, primarily minority children from some of New Haven’s poorest neighborhoods with their middle to upper class suburban counterparts. The campers come together on “common ground” as they discover that we all have the responsibility and opportunity to help protect the Earth. Over the years, the camp has evolved from a small group of campers and staff to an energetic community of over 200 children and adults who come together to learn about how all things are connected, from dirt and sun to the food on our plate and the water we drink. The primary goal of the Common Ground Ecology Camp continues to be to help children discover the wonder and excitement in the natural world, and to turn that enthusiasm into everyday actions that help promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This goal is accomplished through a variety of structured and unstructured activities and lessons that inspire children to teach their families about recycling, pick up litter, take advantage of city parks for hiking and recreation, grow a garden, ask their parents to purchase locally grown food, and start a compost pile in their backyard because they learned to appreciate the impact of these actions during their time in Ecology Camp. Many campers come back year after year and some eventually return as camp counselors to share what they have learned over many summers at Common Ground. It is also worthwhile to note that the children, schools, and local communities touched by the Common Ground Ecology Camp also benefit from the breaking down of barriers erected by race, class, neighborhood lines, and socioeconomic status. The camp serves a very diverse group of families from all over the city and surrounding towns, and when campers come together to complete a challenging hike, build a shelter from leaves and branches, and giggle the night away in a tent, they make friends with children that they may never have met outside of camp. Many of these children keep in touch with their camp friends all year long, thus connecting neighborhoods and families and emphasizing the idea that all things (and people) are interconnected. Daily work involves being an integral part of this community, teaching, playing, mentoring, getting dirty, eating strawberries, rounding up chickens, bandaging knees, and making memories. Internship logistics and details Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered from May 3 through August 31, 2010. Minimum commitment is 6 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Interns who are applying to work with the Summer Camp MUST work from June 27 through August 16, 2010. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired. Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days! Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing. Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Applications: Please fill out our online application form. Common Ground Garden and Market Assistant New Haven Ecology Project is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. The site includes 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals. The primary work of the intern will be to assist in maintaining our one-acre organic farm and to assist in running our two weekly farmer’s market stands. Specific skills/experience required for the internship: Good communication and interpersonal skills with people of all ages Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task Willingness to get dirty, hot, and to work hard physically Willingness to ask questions, and also take initiative, to work both with and without direct supervision Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and local food Maturity, and the willingness to be a positive role-model to young people working on the farm (including teenagers ages 14 – 18) Detailed internship description and goals The internship will have two distinct activities and goals: 1. Working on the one-acre organic farm: Farm work will be done with our full time Garden Manager, caring for the farm through the growing season. Working on the farm, the intern will gain experience in all aspects of planting, growing, and maintaining a diversified organic vegetable operation. Common Ground grows nearly 10,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Specific farm tasks may include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, preparing for market, preserving food, maintaining irrigation, keeping crop records, fixing fences, mowing, and a variety of other tasks. Interns may also learn to operate the tractor. Several summer programs for children ages 4 – 18 take place on the farm. Interns do not have daily responsibilities for working with these programs, but must be mature and a good role model for all children on the farm. Interns may sometimes lead small work groups of teenagers who are employed by Common Ground, and will have the opportunity to interact with and lead groups of younger children (summer campers) if desired. 2. Managing an on-site farm stand on Wednesday afternoons. Interns will have primary responsibility for setting up and managing our Wednesday on-site farm stand, assisted by the Common Ground Youth Crew. An on-site market has been in high demand by our local neighborhood, and especially by the nearly 100 summer camp families who pass through the farm daily to drop-off and pick-up their children. We piloted this market in Summer 2009 and will continue it into Summer 2010. By offering this additional weekly market, we are increasing potential farm revenues and making local, organic food more easily available to the New Haven community. Most weeks are structured as follows: Monday: Interns will work with our Site Manager and/or Assistant Chef on Mondays, as our Garden Manager and Youth Crew have the day off. This provides a nice change of pace and the opportunity to learn from a different mentor. Work will usually involve disease and pest management in the garden, ongoing weekly garden tasks, and cooking and/or preserving the leftovers from market. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are devoted to general farm care, including working with the Youth Crew in the garden. Planting, weeding, harvesting, and managing Wednesday market fill up the days. Friday is spent harvesting for Sunday market, assisted by the Garden Manager and the Youth Crew. Interns are not required to work the Sunday market, however it is possible to work an alternative schedule of Sunday through Thursday (with Fri and Sat off) if there is need for a Sunday Market Assistant. Internship logistics and details Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered from May 3 through August 31, 2010. Minimum commitment is 6 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired. Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days! Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing. Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Applications: Please fill out our online application form.