See Below

Type of Internship

Unpaid Non-Profit Internship

Industry Type:

Sustainability, Community, Agriculture/Farming, Renewable Energy

Sustainable Community Internship

Employer Description:

As a cooperative community of over thirty years Windward is dedicated to preserving and developing the cultural and technological solutions needed to create a self-reliant, sustainable rural village on marginal land. The 501c(3) Not-for-profit Windward Center provides opportunities for practical, hands on learning with the tools and raw materials needed to build a life in concert with the natural world.

Description of Internship Opportunity:

A Windward internship is a full immersion experience helping to create sustainability at the small community level. Interns live day to day in the context of a land-based intentional community, working side-by-side with other interns and members of the community research cooperative.

We are bringing together diverse and highly integrated sustainable systems. This means that there are opportunities for learning in many fields of study: from organic gardening, permaculture/agro-forestry and animal husbandry to the conversion of forest biomass into liquid fuel, from the history of intentional communities and how they inform the task of sustaining communities today to researching the role of mycellium in our dry-land forest ecosystem.

Our programs are co-developed by interns, their University advisors, and Windward Members. There is no “one-size-fits-all” program. Each internship is tailored to fit the needs and desires of all involved.

We have projects which are suited to both sustainability B.S., B.A. and minor Students. Science majors in chemistry, biology, and physics are well suited to work within our research/modeling/application approach to creating sustainable systems.

We also have ample opportunities for B.A. students interested in the social, cultural, economic and organizational components of sustainability community.

The nature of our approach to sustainability and the kinds of social, ecological and technological systems we are modeling are available on our website (http://www.windward.org).

We have a few highly specific internship projects in the fields of chemistry, ecology, agriculture and forestry. If you are interested in learning more about them, ask about them when you apply.

Whatever program we co-develop, interns will be participating in, and helping to create, integrated sustainable systems in support of a real living community.

The Internship Experience:

Since the internship program is determined on an individual basis, the project specific tasks and responsibilities vary greatly.

In addition to working on their specific internship projects, interns will contribute an hour or so daily to the general tasks associated with living systems, such as watering plants, harvesting from the garden, and feeding animals. Interns have the ability to decide what kinds of living systems they are most interested in working with, but we stress the importance of every intern working with some kind of living thing throughout their internship.

Interns are also expected to contribute to regular community kitchen tasks which are assigned on a revolving basis between all the members of the community. These ‘chores’ include washing dishes, sweeping the floor, and preparing a noon-time meal with food grown on-site (we give assistance in cooking to anyone who needs it). An intern can expect to be assigned a chore 3-4 times a week, and contribute an average of 4 hours a week to these tasks.

Six days a week we gather in the afternoon for 1-2 hours for a “work party” and work on a task which is best suited to multiple people. Work party tasks can range from moving something large, to planting in the garden, cleaning out an animal pen, or pouring a large batch concrete on a build site. It depends on what needs doing.

This leaves several hours in the day for an intern to work on their individual project as well as time for personal time and leisure activities.

Minimum & Desired Qualifications:

At minimum we need people who are in good physical condition and who can work in moderately physically demanding situations for several hours a day.

Windward’s approach to sustainability is community focused. We are developing technologies which help enable small communities to become more resilient and self-reliant. Interns should want to live in a community context, and should expect to learn and define their projects in terms of how it serves human communities.

We desire self-motivated people who come here to pursue their purpose and projects; who take work and safety seriously and want to make a difference; and who will accept the guidance of Windward members.

Individuals who have the capacity for research, critical examination, a desire to learn new skills and put ideas into practice.

Learning Culture:

We believe that sustainability ultimately requires diligence and consistency; working everyday to move projects to completion, and working everyday thereafter to keep those systems alive and functioning. This is a paramount lesson which is found across all internships.

Self-direction and autonomy are also found in our approach to sustainability and community. We believe any strong resilient group endeavour is composed of strong resilient individuals. Windward provides an opportunity to see first hand how well grounded and centered individuals- people who take responsibility for their own personhood- can work together to envision and realize a sustainable culture.

Windward has an ever growing library of resources for study of every imaginable facet of creating a sustainable community. From technical scientific works, to sociological analysis; from memoirs of people who lived in community, to how-to books on anything from biomass gasification to soap making.

Our combined focus on both research and hands-on work allows interns to develop their ideas, and see them come to life through hard work and adaptation. Interns have a unique opportunity to learn and get comfortable in working with their bodies and with a variety of tools and equipment.

Our work with living creatures, from sheep and goats, to orchards, annual gardens and native ecology provide the opportunity to learn how the threads of life can be woven together to meet the basic needs (food, fuel, clothing, housing, soil fertility, and much more) of a human community.

Length of Internship:

Internships are 12 weeks on average although longer or shorter stays are acceptable under some circumstances. We believe that the full-immersion experience of an Windward internship necessitates at least a three month stay in order for an individual to become acclimated to the flow of life here, and have adequate time to work on projects once they get their bearings.

Compensation:

This is an unpaid internship, however, Windward covers the cost of basic food, shelter, parking, storage, internet and laundry facilities.

Estimated work load, and schedule:

About of 5 hours a day, 6 days a week, totalling 30 hours a week.

Approximately 3 hours a day with group work, writing, and general tasks associated with a sustainable community (feeding animals, washing dishes, etc). 2-4 hours a day working on individual sustainability internship project(s), having conversations or getting guidance from coordinators, researching, reading and studying as needed.

One blog post (1-2 pages) every 2 weeks outlining their projects progress or some experience living at Windward.

Internship Location:

Internships are hosted at Windward’s rural 131 acre property near the town of Klickitat Washington. Interns are housed on-site in individual billets, and share a common kitchen facility and workshops.

Workspace and Technology Availability:

Interns have access (under the guidance or assistance of on-site staff) to Windward’s wood, metal, welding and fabrication workshops, small-scale farm machinery, power and hand tools, and a variety of specialized equipment. As well as the natural resources on windward 131 acre living laboratory.

Wifi internet is available in all the billets, as well as in common spaces, and in some of outside sitting areas. There are computers for use by interns who don’t bring their own. Also available is Windward’s extensive library as well as access to knowledgeable members of windward.

Oversite:

Members and other onsite staff of the Windward Center will be working with and supervising interns throughout much of everyday. Since we live on property as the interns we are available 24/7.

Depending on the intern’s projects, they will work closely with a coordinator with relevant knowledge and experience to his or her interests.

Application Instructions:

Our application process happens through email. We have a group of people who jointly give input, ask questions and formally accept interns. Email is the best way we have found to allow each applicant to be heard in their own words.

To apply, send an email to Windward@gorge.net with Ping! In the subject line.

Tell us about yourself, what you are interested in, what draws you to Windward, and how your life has brought you to applying. The conversation will continue from there. If you know what time of year you are wanting to come, including that in the initial email is also helpful.

Our internship program runs from March to November. To ensure that we can reserve a space for you, starting the conversation three months to a year in advance is helpful. Although we are willing to accept people with as much as a weeks notice if it appears that they have their priorities straight, and can work out the necessary arrangements with their advisors.