The National Champion Tree Program currently has three paid internships for current college/university students available. All three internships are remote.
The National Champion Tree Program protects, preserves, and keeps record of the largest trees in the country through public engagement and education. This program has existed since the 1940s and is currently undergoing a transition from American Forests to the University of Tennessee. We are seeking motivated and passionate interns to support our mission of conserving the largest trees in the United States.
Select the position title below to learn more about each and how to apply.
As a GIS Intern, you will play a crucial role in creating story maps that help share information about our Champion Trees with the public. This internship offers an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to tree and forest conservation while gaining valuable experience in the nonprofit sector. You will build transferable skills that will benefit you long-term.
Key Responsibilities:
- Story Map Creation:
- Develop interactive story maps to showcase National Champion Trees, their stories, and their significance.
- Utilize GIS software to integrate spatial data with multimedia content.
- Data Management:
- Collect, manage, and analyze geographic data related to Champion Trees.
- Ensure data accuracy and consistency across all platforms.
- Public Engagement:
- Combine data such as measurements and locations with the stories of these remarkable trees to create engaging narratives that capture the hearts and imaginations of the public.
- Collaborate with the communications team to create engaging content for public outreach.
- Assist in organizing virtual tours and educational sessions using story maps.
- Collaboration:
- Work closely with other interns and staff members to support overall program goals.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute creative ideas.
Qualifications/Essential Skills:
- Currently pursuing a degree in Geography, GIS, Environmental Science, or a related field.
- Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
- Experience with creating story maps or similar interactive tools.
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to reliably work independently and as part of a team.
- Passion for conservation and a desire to contribute to positive social and ecological change.
Benefits:
- Gain hands-on experience in GIS within a nonprofit setting.
- Build a professional portfolio with real-world projects.
- Develop valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and converting data and scientific research into compelling narratives that engage the public.
- Make a meaningful impact on a historic conservation program’s growth, success, and environmental efforts.
- Become a part of the national conversation about conservation and influence environmental preservation across the United States.
Duration: 6 mo.-1 year, future employment depends on funding availability; position starts approximately Jan. 6, 2025
Schedule: Approximately 10 hours/week, plenty of flexibility to work around school schedules and other commitments
Pay: $17/hr
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of relevant work (e.g., story maps, maps and visualizations, or other GIS projects) to contact@nationalchampiontree.org.
As a Graphic Design Intern, you will play a vital role in enhancing our branding, managing social media content, and creating merchandise that reflects our mission. This internship offers an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to tree and forest conservation while gaining valuable experience in the nonprofit sector and building transferrable skills that will benefit your long-term career and add to your portfolio of professional work.
Key responsibilities:
- Branding:
- Assist in developing and refining the visual identity of the National Champion Tree Program.
- Create graphics and visual content for various platforms including print, web, and social media.
- Help implement cohesive style and imagery for our various outreach efforts – education, research, and conservation.
- Social Media:
- Design engaging social media posts to promote program activities, events, and educational content.
- Collaborate with the communications team to develop a consistent posting schedule.
- Merchandise Creation:
- Design merchandise such as t-shirts, stickers, posters, and other promotional items.
- Ensure all designs align with the program’s branding guidelines.
- Collaboration:
- Work closely with other interns and staff members to support overall program goals.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute creative ideas.
Qualifications/Essential Skills:
- Current enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in Graphic Design or a related field.
- Proficiency in graphic design software such as the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Strong communication skills.
- Proficiency in social media platforms and content creation tools.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to reliably work independently and as part of a team.
- Creative approach to problem solving and building community connections.
- Passion for conservation and a desire to contribute to positive social and ecological change.
Benefits:
- Gain hands-on experience in graphic design within a nonprofit setting.
- Build a professional portfolio with real-world projects.
- Develop valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and converting an artistic vision into reality.
- Make a meaningful impact on a historic conservation program’s growth, success, and environmental efforts.
- Become a part of the national conversation about conservation and influence environmental preservation across the United States.
Duration: 6 mo.-1 year, future employment depends on funding availability; position starts approximately Jan. 6, 2025
Schedule: Approximately 10 hours/week, plenty of flexibility to work around school schedules and other commitments
Pay: $17/hr
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter (including an artist’s/designer’s statement that describes the elements or qualities that make your work unique), and a portfolio of relevant work to contact@nationalchampiontree.org.
As a Program Support & Community Engagement Intern, you will play a crucial role in helping implement the mission of the Champion Tree Program by connecting with the public. This internship offers an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to tree and forest conservation while gaining valuable experience in the nonprofit sector. You will build transferable skills that will benefit you long-term.
Key Responsibilities:
- Data Management:
- Assist with collection and management of Champion Tree data including measurements, locations, and cultural/community importance.
- Internship may include a trip to measure Champion Trees with a trained tree measurer – previous experiences have included day trips to areas within their state, multi-day road trips involving camping both in populated campgrounds and remote areas, and travel to professional conferences with lodging in hotels.
- Community Engagement:
- Develop and implement programs and materials to engage communities in your state with the National Champion Tree Program, encouraging thoughtful stewardship of the environment, and educating members of the public about the importance of preserving mature trees and all their impacts on the world around them.
- Complete at least one community engagement event or project – previous interns have created informational brochures and hosted a table at a local arboretum, providing interactive activities for kids and information for property owners.
- Program Support:
- Assist the Director with tasks including (but not limited to): archival research, writing blog posts and articles, social media content creation, developing training programs and documentation, helping with the creation of GIS story maps, and
- These tasks will be tailored to your current skill set, your career goals, and your interest in developing new skills. There’s no “busy work” to keep you occupied – everything has a purpose and is important for furthering both the goals of the NCTP and your own professional development.
- Collaboration:
- Work closely with other interns and staff members to support overall program goals.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute creative ideas.
Qualifications/Essential Skills:
- Currently pursuing a degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field (Communications and fields involving public education/engagement will also be warmly considered)
- Tree identification and tree measurement experience is preferred but not required.
- Experience with converting scientific information and hard data into engaging & digestible public communications is preferred but not required.
- Experience engaging communities, building or participating in community programming/education, or educational outreach is preferred but not required.
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to reliably work independently and as part of a team.
- Passion for conservation and a desire to contribute to positive social and ecological change.
Benefits:
- Gain hands-on experience in environmental conservation within a nonprofit setting.
- Build a professional portfolio with real-world projects.
- Develop valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and public engagement.
- Make a meaningful impact on a historic conservation program’s growth, success, and environmental efforts.
- Become a part of the national conversation about conservation and influence environmental preservation across the United States.
Duration: 6 mo.-1 year, future employment depends on funding availability; position starts approximately Jan. 6, 2025
Schedule: Approximately 10 hours/week, plenty of flexibility to work around school schedules and other commitments
Pay: $17/hr
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, and (optional) a portfolio of relevant work (e.g. written work for a public audience such as articles or blog posts, creative work such as photographs or art, or examples of participation in community engagement events) to contact@nationalchampiontree.org.
