Internship Opportunities.
Come Intern With Us!
We are a regenerative ‘beyond organic’ demonstration farm located adjacent to the ancestral Sinixt village site of n’kʔáwxtən, in Sinixt təmxwúlaʔxw and within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) at the confluence of the Slocan River and Little Slocan Rivers. Here, you will learn how innovative agricultural practices, habitat conservation & restoration go hand-in-hand AND all about the honeybees and wild pollinators that make Elk Root Conservation their home.
Why Intern?
Through internships at Elk Root Conservation, you have the opportunity to support the community, apply your creativity and most importantly, help protect and restore the environment around us for the future generations. Check below for detailed descriptions of our different internship opportunities.
At Elk Root Conservation, we think ‘outside-the-box’ and are committed to biodiversity. Our mission is to provide inclusionary environmental education opportunities for our entire community. Our commitment to diversity and inclusionary focus is reflected in our hiring practices and flexible scheduling. We welcome ALL interested youth ages 16-30 to apply.
Farm-Garden Landscape, Apiary & Environmental Internships
As a Farm-Garden Landscape, Apiary & Environmental Intern at Elk Root Conservation’s not-for-profit Educational Demonstration Farm located in Vallican BC, you will have the opportunity to support your community, apply your creativity and get your hands dirty at the same time!
Summer 2024 Applications now closed. Check back for new postings!
1 - Farm, Garden & Apiary Helper
Applications Closed
Gardens
You will be assisting with all aspects of the design, development, care, and harvesting of our Educational Demonstration Gardens including the:
existing horticultural pollinator and bee gardens;
integrated edible orchard-gardens;
herb and vegetable gardens;
bee forage cropped landscape;
development and installation of our Native Plant Educational Demonstration Garden Project;
invasive plant management and removal; and
Regenerative Educational Community Food Gardens;
Tasks & Responsibilities
Specifically, you will be weeding (a lot), starting and collecting seeds, planting trees, bushes, flowers, and shrubs. You will also assist with pruning, deadheading, mowing, wheelbarrowing, compost building, irrigation, applying plant nutrition, mulching, and non-toxic organic pest management (please note we are not a vegan farm).
An interns’s job isn’t simply all about plants. You may also help with building and maintaining wildlife protective fences, erecting gazebos, arbours, benches, constructing rock gardens & gabion structures, and positioning patio slabs. Essentially, doing everything required to help develop our educational outdoor spaces and to create and maintain a beautiful, integrated farm-garden ecosystem.
You will work independently, in pairs, and in teams. You may also participate in our mentoring program if you choose, including ‘Fun Friday’ learning workshops.
You will also be interacting with students, volunteers and tourists who may ask you questions about your job and time at Elk Root Conservation so we will provide you with all the information you need to have positive interactions with the community. Our goal is for all visitors to have a wonderful experience at Elk Root Conservation and be inspired to spread the word and take positive steps to improve the environment.
You will also have the unique opportunity to observe, participate and learn about habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement. Our consultant team of biologists and bio-engineers will also be on-site at times throughout the growing season working on conservation projects. We will welcome you to take the opportunity to observe these professionals in action and be inspired by all they do.
At Elk Root Conservation, we all pitch in to maintain the order and cleanliness of the demonstration farm’s public spaces inside and out. As such, you will be required to participate in the cleaning and organization of personally designated tools, wash station clean-up, washroom facility clean-up after your own personal use to ensure everyone’s safety. Organization and maintaining cleanliness of the Bee Barn, warehouse, shed spaces, wash station, washroom facility and public use spaces will also be a shared responsibility of the entire intern team.
If you are interested in natural beekeeping and bee wellness innovations, Elk Root Conservation is the perfect place for you to work this summer!
2 - On-Farm Infrastructure Builder
Applications Closed
This position is similar to our Landscape Gardener Helper Internship in that you will have the opportunity to observe, participate and learn about habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement along with assisting with the planning and implementation of our open-house community outreach event in August! You will also contribute to maintaining the order and cleanliness of our farm’s public spaces through personal designated tool management and care, wash station clean-up, and washroom facility clean-up after your own personal use to ensure everyone’s safety. Organization and maintaining cleanliness of the Bee Barn, warehouse, shed spaces, wash station, washroom facility and public use spaces will also be a shared responsibility of the entire team.
More builder-specifically tasks will involve working on the preparation of areas for building, as well as the maintenance and building of wildlife protective fences, irrigation systems, erecting greenhouses and other building structures, trellises, benches, constructing rock gardens, ponds, pouring foundations and other similar tasks. Essentially, doing everything required to help develop our educational outdoor spaces and to create and maintain a beautiful, integrated farm-garden ecosystem.
You will also assist the Landscape Gardener Helpers in the Educational Demonstration Gardens with heavier tasks including forest management, mowing, invasive plant removal, planting trees, wheelbarrowing, compost building, applying plant nutrition, mulching, and non-toxic organic pest management.
As with all our positions, if you are interested in natural beekeeping and bee wellness innovations, Elk Root Conservation is the perfect place for you to work this summer!
Administration, Fundraising, Education & Media Internships
Administrative Assistant & Project Coordinator
Applications Closed
You will be assisting the Board of Directors of Elk Root Conservation in all things administrative. This is a unique opportunity to learn and be mentored in executive not-for-profit functions. Learning from the ground up ‘literally’ as we are all about growing at Elk Root Conservation. Think ‘Hand of the King’ in Game of Thrones minus the tyranny. Lol!
This job can be done remotely from home if you have a computer and good internet access. You will also be welcomed to spend time working at the Educational Demonstration Farm in Vallican BC if you choose.
You will be working independently, and will be assigned tasks with direction and supervision by our executive team. You may also participate in our mentoring program if you choose. We will encourage and support you to take the lead and responsibility on tasks if you demonstrate initiative and are comfortable doing so.
You will also be interacting and answering inquiries via email from students, volunteers, tourists, funders and the general public. We will provide you with client service and training in communications along with all the information you will need to have positive interactions with the community. It is of the utmost importance that our community feels supported and have a wonderful experience and interactions with Elk Root Conservation so that everyone we are in contact with is inspired to spread the word and take positive steps to improve the environment.
Specific Tasks
All things administrative, and specifically assisting with:
Public communications, community building & outreach
Event planning & co-ordination
Educational programming
Grant writing
Liaising with other organizations
Project management – nontechnical
Organic certification planning and co-ordination Fundraising planning and initiatives
Digital task including:
Word & data processing, template creation, webinar and presentation preparation
Management of website, Google Drive, forms and social media;
Digital marketing (including hardcopy poster and mailer design);
Mailchimp email campaigns; and
Email and social media communications.
And last but not least, if you are interested in cutting edge natural beekeeping and bee wellness innovations, Elk Root Conservation is the perfect place for you to work!
We Are Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2024!
If you are interested in applying, please send your cover letter and resume to elkrootconservation@gmail.com. Youth must be ages 16-30 to apply. We encourage youth who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+ and women in STEM to apply.
As always, if you have any questions about our internships, don’t hesitate to reach out to us through email.