The Sustainability and Environmental Education Intern will work to implement Star Island’s sustainability initiative (the Green Gosport Initiative) by engaging and educating staff and guests about environmental issues in order to increase awareness, inspire behavior change, foster a sense of environmental responsibility, and to promote the culture of reduce, reuse, recycle across the island community.
This will be accomplished by:
- Leading behind-the-scenes sustainability walks highlighting island systems such as water, power generation, compost, and gardens.
- Offering weekly presentations to create an open and ongoing dialogue with guests and staff about island sustainability.
- Tracking parameters such as daily water use, waste separation efficiency, and power usage and communicating results and progress through a “dashboard”, daily updates, and announcements to guests and staff.
- Developing informative and creative outreach materials: posters and displays about island sustainability and current projects (ex: green energy project).
- Organizing sustainability programming (events, activities, and projects) for staff and guests.
- Working with other interns and staff to identify projects related to energy use, waste management, and water conservation; working to implement these projects through systematic social marketing campaigns.
Internship Site: Star Island, Isles of Shoals, NH
This is a residential position on Star Island. Star Island is part of the Isles of Shoals, a small group of islands just off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire. The island is home to a seasonal conference center serving nearly 300 guests and operated by just over 100 staff members. Star Island is a great place to be a part of a dynamic community, experience island living, and enjoy a unique natural environment.
Sustainability on Star Island
The Green Gosport Initiative (GGI) is Star Island’s sustainability program. The GGI focuses on supporting the concepts of reduce, reuse, recycle across the island, but also describes the general approach to island energy, water, food, and waste systems.
Here are some highlights: In the fall of 2014 Star installed the largest off-grid solar array (micro-grid) in New England. The upcoming season is the first year in the island’s transition to solar, and the expectation is that the array can provide up to 60% of island power demand; the goal is to use only 5,000 gallons of diesel in 2015. In 2014 Star installed a rainwater filtration system, which, in addition to reverse osmosis and boat water deliveries, provides drinking water for the island. In the upcoming season Star is working on designing a resource recovery center, which will serve as the operations hub for managing food waste (poultry flock and compost), on-island resource recovery (cardboard shredding and glass crushing), and recycling. Additionally, the island is in the process of designing and receiving approval for a wastewater treatment facility upgrade, which will include water reuse in toilets. Click here for more information about Star Island. Click here for more information about Star Island sustainability.
Desired qualifications/skills/coursework:
Recent graduate or student pursuing degree in environmental studies, sciences, or related field; Proven communication skills and ability to speak publicly in group settings; Ability to both work independently with limited supervision and work collaboratively in group settings; Safe, cooperative, respectful individuals who will thrive in the close working and living quarters of Star Island’s remote setting.
Supervision:
Kristen Simard, Environmental Services Manager at Star Island.
Start and End Dates:
June 8, 2015-August 28, 2015 (exact start/end dates are flexible)
Time Commitment:
36-42 hours/week
Compensation: $1500 stipend will be provided in 3 monthly payments. Position also provides the opportunity to earn 3-6 credits through the intern’s institute of study. Room and board is provided, including all meals, dormitory-style accommodations in staff quarters, and a rustic island environment. Island residency is required 5-6 days/week with transportation to and from the island provided from Star Island’s dock in Portsmouth, NH. Upon completion of internship, can apply to work both through ‘end of season’ (mid-September) and into ‘close-up’ (October). During internship contract, there may be opportunities to make additional income.
Deadline:
We will be accepting applications through May 27, 2015
How to apply:
Submit (as PDFs) a resume, cover letter, and two references (professor or work/internship supervisor name and contact information) to ksimard@starisland.org.