Interns and Fellows Build Conservation Skills

How to Apply for an Internship

The intern application period for 2023 is now open and we have six internships available this summer:

• Communications and Outreach Intern: This position will support communications and outreach efforts for the East River Collaborative (ERC), a partnership engaged in improving flood resiliency along the East River in northeastern Wisconsin, and for TNC’s broader work in Wisconsin. Approximately 30% of the Communications & Outreach Intern position would be working on social media content related to TNC’s Wisconsin preserves, current projects, and the ERC. The other 70% of the internship would be specifically related to communications and outreach around the East River Collaborative. Projects could include working on newsletters, web stories, fact sheets, case studies and a story map.

• Agriculture Projects Intern: This position will support TNC’s work with farmers and partners in the agriculture industry to increase the adoption of conservation practices on farms that lead to healthier soils, cleaner water and a solution to climate change. The intern will support TNC and partners’ agriculture projects and assist with data collection and analysis on agriculture’s environmental footprint. The intern will be responsible for data collection that will track farms’ environmental achievements. The intern will also support partners’ independent projects, such as maintaining and setting up field trails. The intern may assist with marketing efforts, including creating newsletters, uploading videos and maintaining contact lists. This position provides opportunities to understand how TNC, farmers and partners can work together toward environmental sustainability.

• Articles of Dedication Specialist Intern: This position will organize legal and other documents to support upcoming TNC requests for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Governor to approve dedication of conservation lands owned by TNC. Articles of Dedication, once approved by the Governor, provide the highest level of protection possible in the State of Wisconsin. We also will work together to make our preserves welcoming to all, including minority and marginalized groups. Preparing draft Articles of Dedication will include reviewing materials from land management and land protection files, coordinating with other staff as needed to summarize key facts and submitting draft packets to TNC legal staff for review. Another project will be assisting with research and review of Wisconsin TNC preserves to ensure they reflect our organizational values, flagging any that reveal culturally insensitive or racist origins. If time and timing of the internship permits, the Articles of Dedication Specialist may also assist with purging unnecessary land protection documents from our files in preparation for our effort to digitize our files.

• Baraboo Hills Land Stewardship Intern: This position will work with TNC staff to participate in field work and land management, equipment and tool maintenance and conservation easement monitoring. The intern may also work with conservation partners in the area to expand the intern’s skill set and learning. This internship is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with land stewardship and learn about conservation topics such as hardwood forest management and oak regeneration in the ecologically valuable Baraboo Hills in Sauk County.

• Mukwonago Land Management Intern: This position will work with the Southeast Wisconsin Land Steward and other staff to maintain habitat quality and manage preserves in the Mukwonago River Watershed in southeast Wisconsin. The intern will conduct land management work on TNC preserves, assist with preventing and controlling aquatic invasive species (AIS) and assist with agricultural research. Approximately 40% of the position will be focused on general land management work, with another 40% focused on aquatic invasive species management and 20% on agricultural research data collection.

• Philanthropy Operations Intern: The Philanthropy Operations Intern will be responsible for various activities, including conducting and presenting donor research, drafting correspondence, assisting with field trips and event planning and performing other administrative duties. They will implement process improvement projects (such as file organization and file digitization) and will apply established processes and practices in order to improve effectiveness. The intern may provide program information to prospects and donors and may assist with writing philanthropy publications and proposals. The intern uses the available fundraising management system (Blackbaud CRM) to produce donor reports and perform analysis and research. They will provide other staff with information needed to make decisions and solve problems. The intern will have contact with staff and donors, including assisting with field trips and events for prospects and donors, as needed.

To apply for one of these internships, please go to the TNC Careers web page, scroll down and click on the Current Job Opportunities button, and then search on Wisconsin. Application deadline is Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 10:59 p.m. CT.

Learn More about Fellowships with TNC in Wisconsin

Fellowships are one-year, full-time, paid positions open to recent graduates from a college or graduate program. They offer meaningful work experience on a tangible set of projects and opportunities for independent work and professional development. Topics range widely from conservation science and program planning to marketing and more. One or two positions are hired each year. 

The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin offers competitive compensation and has a friendly and flexible office environment, including opportunities to get outdoors. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to a diverse and culturally competent global workforce.

We do not currently have any fellowship positions available for 2023 in Wisconsin.