Recreation Intern Description: Nevada is among the nation's most urban states. Tourism is the main industry in the state and since the economic downturn Nevada has seen a major increase in use of public lands by residents. This coupled with significant state, county, and city budget cuts for parks and recreation, has meant the recreation resources are used more than ever, yet there is less funding available for conducting public programs and community events at parks. In Washoe County alone, more than 150 seasonal park positions have been eliminated due to budget cuts. This leaves the parks significantly understaffed and unsupported.
The Great Basin Institute is hiring one recreation intern to provide staff support to the Nevada BLM. The intern will assist with land management and visitor services needs that are presently under-supported. Activities may include, but are not limited to: visitor services (staff support for visitor centers and information kiosks); environmental educational, outreach, and interpretive talks to general public; maintain site conditions (may include cleaning/improving public land areas); environmental monitoring; natural resource management; and recreation use permit administration. Each intern will also facilitate clean energy education and outreach to the general public. As renewable energy development continues to increase, the communication of clean energy efforts to the public is of increasing importance. Interns may address a variety of clean energy topics which may include, but are not limited to: types of renewable energy developments in Nevada, potential environmental impacts of renewable energy development, and the significance of renewable energy development for land management issues and strategies. Location: Carson City, NV Compensation: o Living Stipend: $8,457 o Education Award: $2,675 Timeline: o May 18, 2011 (6 month contract) Qualifications: o Coursework in Environmental studies or related field (with interest in clean/renewable energy development) or equivalent experience; o Knowledge of clean energy movements and renewable energy development projects in the western US; o Experience using Microsoft Office software; o Experience providing education and outreach to the general public preferred; o Good communication skills (both verbal and written); o Ability to work independently and in a team environment; o Motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, andpossess good organizational skills; o Experience with project development, preferred; o Applicants should possess relevant or related field experience knowledge of and/or experience working in arid environments, preferable; o Ability to lift up to 50lbs; o Ability to navigate and set a bearing using a compass and to read a topographical map; o Experience operating 4x4 vehicles on off-road terrain; o Ability to collect, QA/QC, and post-process data using handheld GPS units, required; o Experience using ArcGIS software preferred; o Possess a clean, valid, state-issued drivers license and the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;and o Applicants having education and/or experience in recreation, tourism, interpretive services, communication (specifically public speaking) or engineering are encouraged to apply. o Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks. o Ages 18-25 are encouraged to apply. How to Apply: Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Bridget Walden, at bwal...@thegreatbasininstitute.org. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.