Environment and Sustainability

Hannah Gelle '15 on the Environmental Psychology in Rocky Mountain National Park 2015 Interim Trip

GlacierRescueProjectExplorer1600x1000 — Gus Reynolds ’19 displays a Glacier Rescue Project flag during a polar expedition training trip across Lake Winnipeg this February with a group that was led by arctic explorer Eric Larsen ’93.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Internships
Wild Rivers Conservancy Internships (St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers)
United States Forest Service Internships (natural resource management, biologist, soil conservation, etc.)
Conservation Corps of Iowa and Minnesota (various summer programs)
Environmental Protection Agency Internships
Internship & Research Programs: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Nature Conservancy Internships
National Park Jobs and Internships
Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology (REU)
Field Biology Summer Program – University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center
Department of Energy Scholars Program (various roles in D.C. and other locations)
Minnesota Zoo Internships
Hennepin County
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps
Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers (Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa)
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Alaska Conservation Foundation – Conservation Internships
Tree Trust – Summer Youth Program Crew Leader/Field Coordinator/etc. (Twin Cities)
Summer Research at Other Institutions (biology, earth sciences, ocean sciences, polar programs, etc.)
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (REU) (includes ecology and crop sciences)
Udall Fellowship (very competitive)
Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative

Learn more about internships, research opportunities, and fellowships or review the St. Olaf Internship Database to see where Oles have interned over the past five years.

Minnesota Green Corps (AmeriCorps)
CivicSpark – AmeriCorps program focussed on addressing emerging environmental and social equity resilience challenges; 135 placements in California, Colorado, and Washington
Climate Impact Corps (AmeriCorps)
Conservation Corps of Iowa and Minnesota (see Individual Placements)
Green Corps – The Field School for Environmental Organizing (paid environmental organizing training program)
United States Forest Service (roles for recent graduates)
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (graduate naturalist training)
The Aldo Leopold Future Leaders Program (post-graduate conservation fellowship)
Farm Apprentice – Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming (New York)
Food Corps (AmeriCorps)

Seek out opportunities to explore your interests, gain valuable professional experience, and develop new skills through Student Employment.

What types of roles are there for students?

Check out the Student Employment Guide to learn about roles students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. There are a wide variety of opportunities!

Here are a few examples:

Leadership roles including Junior Counselor/Resident Assistant positions in Residence Life, Peer Educator in the Wellness Center, Peer Advisor in the Piper Center, TRIO Upward Bound summer staff, Admissions positions
Teaching assistant (various departments, including Environmental Studies), tutor, or Supplemental Instruction Leader with the Center for Advising and Academic Support
Biology department positions including Greenhouse worker, animal care assistant
Community Work Study positions with local nonprofit organizations, including opportunities at the Greenvale Park Community School, the Middle School Youth Center, and the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI)

Student Employment Resources

Student Employment Job Board – this is the best resource for identifying current openings on campus. Occasionally, departments will also share opportunities on Handshake.

Student Employment Guide – this guide includes many of the positions that students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. If you see a position you are interested in, but do not see it posted as a current opportunity on the Job Board you may wish to reach out via email or by stopping in to the office to learn more about the role and hiring process.

Top 10 Green Dream Jobs
A Guide to Green Careers
Cyber-Sierra’s Natural Resources Job Search
Environmental Careers: 13 Most In-Demand “Green” Jobs in 2021
Solar Industry Career Map – Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
Careers in Solar Power – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Green Buildings Career Map – Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)

Green Career Information – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Includes in-depth information on careers in the following fields: water conservation, sustainable forestry, biofuels, geothermal energy, environmental remediation, sustainability, energy auditors, recycling, electric vehicles, green construction, solar power and wind energy)

Handshake

How-To Guides Resumes • Cover Letters • Interviewing • Networking • LinkedIn • Personal Statements

Where Can I Find Funding?

Coaching and Resources

There are many interesting careers connected to the environment and sustainability, with specializations related to policy, research, resource management, corporate sustainability, energy, agriculture, education, conservation, and more.

The Piper Center is eager to support you in finding internships and research related to the environment and sustainability. Please stop by the Piper Center anytime during business hours to have an initial conversation with a Peer Advisor. When you are ready to go further and meet with our environment and sustainability career coach Nate Jacobi, please schedule an appointment through Handshake.