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The Office of Sustainability is now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 Sustainability “Green Raider” Internship program. As Colgate University approaches its Bicentennial, the Office of Sustainability is actively working to help the institution attain its 2019 Carbon Neutrality Goal with the help of “Green Raiders” who play an important role in promoting sustainable behavior across campus. This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in learning and using community-based social marketing skills to inspire and educate the Colgate Community about sustainability and environmental issues in the hopes of reducing Colgate’s greenhouse gas footprint.

Interns are enthusiastic, self-motivated, high-achieving students who have demonstrated a commitment to the environment and sustainability. Interns will have the opportunity to develop events and programs throughout the year.

“Being a Green Raider since sophomore year has been one of my best experiences at Colgate. It’s fun, is great for professional development, and makes you feel like you’re making a real difference,” states Isabel Dove ’19 who is also the founder of the Colgate Beekeeping Club.

Students of all class years and majors are welcome to apply. The Office of Sustainability encourages students studying abroad in the fall or spring to apply, as well. The expected work hours are 6 to 10 hours weekly. To apply, applicants should email their resume and cover letter (required), to Pamela Gramlich, the Office of Sustainability Program Coordinator at pgramlich@colgate.edu. Applicants are also encouraged to send a letter of recommendation and a writing/work sample to support their application.

The application deadline is Tuesday, July 10th at 11:59pm.

See the full job description below:

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW AND PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Interns will:

• Promote sustainable living practices across campus
• Be an accessible resource to students on campus with any questions they may have about sustainable living
• Promote a culture of sustainability using blogging, social media, email, and other outlets
• Plan and execute high-profile campus events that engage and educate students about sustainable behaviors
• Carry out waste, water, and energy reduction projects
• Manage P.E. programs focused on sustainability
• Assist in the completion of Colgate’s annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory and State of Sustainability Report
• Manage the long-standing Green Bikes Program
• Work on various other tasks supporting sustainability at Colgate.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively and respectfully in a collaborative, culturally diverse work environment
• Detail-oriented and possessing the ability to accomplish results in designated time frames
• Understanding of sustainability-related topics and issues
• Able to work in a fast moving/changing environment and having the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Able to effectively motivate community members to action
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent written and public presentation skills
• Computer literacy and proficiency in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other office applications
• Proficiency with Google Apps (Drive, Calendar, etc.)
• Able to maintain a productive and healthy work/life balance
• Knowledge of design and publicity, as well as associated design programs is helpful
• Bike knowledge is helpful
• Professional experience using social media networks, such as Instagram and Facebook, is helpful

For more information, visit the Colgate Portal or contact Pamela Gramlich  (pgramlich@colgate.edu).

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-Adam Zaharoni ’21

Food is a fundamental part of human life both biologically and socially.  Yet, despite its importance, many people are unaware of where their food really comes from. Last week, Colgate’s Community Garden interns and I got the chance to experience the work that goes into sustainable food production first hand at the local Community Supported Agriculture Farm (CSA), Common Thread.

Located only a few miles from Colgate, Common Thread’s mission “is to produce healthy food for our local community using sustainable growing methods, provide opportunities for people to connect with the land and their community, and contribute to larger efforts towards a just and sustainable food system”. So what exactly is a CSA?  A CSA creates a direct and strong bond between consumers and farmers, with members of the community becoming shareholders of the farm, thus funding it in exchange for weekly shares of the fresh produce. This unique relationship is designed to help build a stronger community and allows citizens to take direct responsibility for their local agriculture.

But what is it like to actually work on a farm? What goes into using these sustainable growing practices?  While I only worked there for a brief five hours last Friday, I can tell you confidently that it is a lot more than expected. Along with three other workers, I spent my time at Common Thread weeding a patch of cauliflower, kale, and cabbage. It took us five hours to finish weeding just these three plants, a mere fraction of the much larger fields of produce in Common Thread’s two plots. I can only imagine how much time and effort go into weeding the entirety of their land, not to mention the planting, harvesting, upkeep, and watering of the plants as well.   Not to mention that the work is not easy, but intensive and strenuous.

At the end of the morning as we were leaving, we stopped by the strawberry plants, and picked some straight from the plant to eat. Tasting those strawberries showed me that everything we had been doing and that Common Thread and farmers around the world do on a daily basis is worth it.  Fresh produce grown in sustainable ways tastes delicious and is worth all of the hard work that goes into growing it. Next time you are eating, try to remember that the food you have came from somewhere, maybe a farm like Common Thread, and the amount of effort that went into that food ending up on your plate.  And if you ever want to see the process for yourself go check out your local farm or visit Colgate’s very own Community Garden!

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