Eight-Week Summer Internships –
June 18 to August 13, 2012.
Do you have excellent conversational skills, a passion for energy conservation and sustainability, and a desire to make real change this summer? Energize Corvallis is hiring nine Public Outreach Interns for our Communities Take Charge team this summer. Click here to complete the online application .
Position Summary: Public Outreach Interns are dedicated to raising awareness about energy efficiency and conservation. Interns will reach out to Corvallis residents by going door-to-door and tabling at community events. This internship does not involve selling anything or asking for donations. Interns are responsible for registering people for the Communities Take Charge program, signing people up for free home energy kit installations, promoting other Energize Corvallis programs, and working on a Program Development Team. No experience is necessary, and training will be provided.
What We Offer
- A great resume-building and skill-building internship with a fun, supportive organization.
- Paid training in energy efficiency and conservation, community outreach, and community organizing.
- All canvassing materials including Communities Take Charge shirts and water bottles.
- Up to nine internship credits at OSU with the approval of your academic advisor. Internships can be customized to meet the requirements of many OSU departments.
- A bike during your internship if you need one.
- Up to a $1,000 living stipend and weekly bonuses to the team that registers the most people (e.g., free burritos, gift certificates to the Co-op).
Responsibilities
- Participate in trainings and weekly meetings.
- Have a comprehensive understanding of Energize Corvallis programs and energy conservation (included in training).
- Work 40 hours per week and spend at least 20 of those hours per week doing outreach for the program (e.g., canvassing, tabling, or talking with people at events).
- Register at least 320 residents for the Communities Take Charge program (average of two residents per hour canvassing or tabling) and register at least 32 residents for free home energy kits including CFLs and low-flow faucets (average of 1 in every 10 residents who register for Communities Take Charge).
- Ensure that all appropriate information is completed on registration sheets.
- Promptly and accurately enter data into our online database.
- Distribute Energize Corvallis promotional materials.
- Participate on one of four Program Development Teams: 1)Event Coordination – coordinate community and tabling events. 2) Media Outreach – write press releases and articles, manage a social media campaign. 3) Community Building – foster relationships with community partners such as apartment complexes, businesses, faith groups, etc. 4) Direct Installs – receive additional training in installing efficient light bulbs and faucet aerators. Install light bulbs and aerators in people’s homes at no cost to the resident.
Requirements
- Be available to work 40 hours per week from June 18 to August 13, 2012 (8 weeks) including weekday evenings and Saturdays (see example work schedules, below).
- Have a strong desire to excel and a positive attitude.
- Be punctual, professional, dependable, and energetic.
- All interns must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and be a US citizen.
- All interns must consent to a criminal background check.
Work Environment: This internship requires frequent travel to Corvallis neighborhoods and will include varying outdoor weather conditions. Interns must be able to carry a backpack with up to 15 pounds of materials and climb stairs. We encourage interns to ride bikes or take the bus instead of driving.
What previous interns say about Energize Corvallis internships:
“I would recommend this program because its fun and you feel like you are actually contributing to a goal rather than getting someone coffee and begging for a chance to get involved.”
“I would recommend the internship for sure because it feels good to be working towards a good cause that will benefit our community, and the work environment is really welcoming and comfortable. I really like working on a team where you are always allowed and even encouraged to ask others for help if you need it, and I like being on a team where we are all passionate about energy conservation so we are all motivated by that passion to work hard.”
“The internship is about connecting with those who have common goals, and connecting with those who may be more challenging, but that is what makes this whole internship a learning experience and worth your time.”
“I have been able to balance my other job and schoolwork with this work and have met new people and gained experience in the field of my future career.”
“I would recommend the program because you get to work for a nonprofit doing important work in the community while learning how the organization works. You also gain leadership skills, as well as work on planning techniques.”
Example of Weekday Schedule (Monday – Friday)
1:00 – 3:00pm Office work: Team meeting, organize materials for the week, put door-hangers on 100 doors in an assigned neighborhood, collaborate with Program Development Team, address postcard reminders for current participants, and/or enter data from previous canvassing day.
3:00 – 3:30 Prepare for canvassing.
3:30 – 4:00 Bike, take the bus, or drive to your assigned neighborhood with your team. Have a snack in the park.
4:00 – 8:00 Outreach work: Canvass in your assigned neighborhood and invite people to join Communities Take Charge and/or register to have an energy saver kit installed in their home. (Shift Goals: register 12 Communities Take Charge participants and three participants who would like a free home energy kit).
8:00 – 8:30 Debrief in the park with your neighborhood team. Complete paperwork.
Example of Special Event Schedule (often on weekends)
8:00 – 9:00 Set up tabling display at Saturday market.
9:00 – 1:00 Outreach work: Table at Saturday Market or talk with people on the street in downtown Corvallis. (Shift Goals: register 12 Communities Take Charge participants and three participants who would like a free home energy kit).
1:00 – 2:00 Break for lunch.
2:00 – 4:00 Office Work: Break down tabling materials and bring them back to the office, enter registration data collected from tabling, send postcard reminders, and schedule home energy kit installation appointments.
How to Apply
- Click here to complete the online application by midnight on Sunday, May 27.
- Discuss your internship with your academic advisor if you’d like to receive academic credit.
- Click here to download a pdf of the position description.
Contact Us
- For more information, contact Carly Lettero, Energize Corvallis Program Director at info@EnergizeCorvallis.org.