Bay Nature

We often have openings for editorial internships and other volunteer opportunities, including marketing, development, event tabling, and general office support. If we have a specific opening, it will be posted here. For general information about  internships or volunteering, email volunteer@baynature.org. Current openings: Reporting Internship, Web Internship, Outings Editor, Design internship, Social media internship and Development/ Design/ Event Planning Assistant.

Reporting Internship

This BAY NATURE intern opportunity will allow you to delve into the heart of Bay Area nature and conservation news, and contribute to the growing content at Baynature.org. Bay Nature Magazine is our quarterly, award winning, flagship publication. The website is an extension of the naturalist spirit of the magazine, and allows us to report on timely news and information to an engaged audience. We are looking for savvy writers and multimedia producers who know their way around City Hall and can also hit the trails and describe, with just enough flourish, the goings about of a clapper rail or the foliage of a manzanita plant. You’ll be part of an exciting time at Baynature.org with the online development of a Bay Area trail finder, and other changes in the Website that aim to make this the portal for Bay Area nature news. If you are a nature lover, we want to hear from you. The internship responsibilities are as follows:

• Writing and reporting original stories with the aim to produce one per week and a semester-long reporting project that could be cross promoted in the magazine. Stories may also end up in the publications of our content partners.
• Creating video and audio slideshows, depending on your interests and skill set.
• Participating in social media efforts.

Our North Berkeley office is open Monday through Friday from approximately 9:30 am – 6 pm. The intern is expected to work approximately six hours per week, including a weekly on-site editorial meeting at our office. You’ll get to do more reporting if you have reliable transportation/facility with mass transit, to reach the various parks and places we cover. After the first few weeks, telecommuting is possible for especially motivated interns. Experience:

• Strong interest in journalism, nonprofits, and the environment.
• Solid computer and internet research skills.
• Mature, self-motivated, and enterprising.
• Able to work independently.
• Commitment to exploring the natural environment.

How To Apply: Send a resume, three references, and three writing samples to: Alison Hawkes, online editor: alison@baynature.org. No phone calls, please.

Web Internship

This BAY NATURE volunteer opportunity will allow you to be a part of maintaining a great website. The Volunteer Web Editor will report and write original, by-lined articles for our website and help gather nature-related event information and enter it into our Content Management System, so you’ll learn about Bay Area nature while also seeing how complex websites come together. You’ll also help us gather info on local parks and trails, take some hikes as a Trailblazer and enter them on our new Trail Finder (launching July 2012). If you are a nature lover, we want to hear from you. See examples of volunteer-written articles. Responsibilities

• Entering events on our online calendar and assisting with data gathering and data entry for our new Trail Finder (60%)
• Writing and research (internet research, phone and field reporting, writing, etc.) (40%)

Desired Qualifications

• Strong interest in journalism, nonprofits, and the environment.
• Solid computer and internet research skills.
• Mature and self-motivated.
• Able to work independently.
• Commitment to experiencing and protecting the natural environment.

Commitment This volunteer term will begin as soon as possible and we’d like a minimum three-month commitment. Office Hours, Work site Our office is open Monday through Friday from approximately 9:30 am – 6 pm. The volunteer is expected to work approximately six hours per week, partially in the office preferably in one shift, but we can be flexible about multiple shorter shifts. About half the work is in-office. You’ll get to do more reporting if you have reliable transportation/facility with mass transit, to reach the various parks and places we cover. After the first few weeks, telecommuting is possible for especially motivated volunteers. Rewards As a volunteer, you will be able to give back to the community and learn about nonprofit publishing and other nature-related organizations throughout the Bay Area. You will be acknowledged for your work on our website and in our print magazine. And you’ll have a chance to write by-lined articles for the site. We’re a small staff, so, depending on your interests, you can also get to help some with the print magazine and see how it comes together. How To Apply Send a resume, three references, and three writing samples to: Alison Hawkes, online editor: alison@baynature.orgNo phone calls, please.

Online Outings Editor

Hike for a cause and find out about lots of cool events! Do you love to hike? Are you web-savvy, a decent writer and photographer, and have some time to spare for a great cause? Volunteer for BayNature.org, the Bay Area’s most comprehensive source of outdoor information!

In summer 2012, we relaunched our nature portal website with a great new regional Trailfinder at baynature.org/trail-finder and an updated version of our comprehensive nature events calendar at baynature.org/events.

Responsibilities

• Discover new trails, hike them, take photos and a few notes, then enter them on our Trailfinder with a mapped route and description (2-4 hikes per month)
• Enter 6-8 events per week on our online calendar (1-2 hours max)

Desired Qualifications

• Strong interest in the outdoors and the environment
• Able to reach parks and trails (by car, bike, or transit) and hike in various conditions
• Competent writer of brief, clear descriptions
• Able to take decent photos of beautiful places
• Solid computer and internet research skills
• Mature and self-motivated
• Able to work independently

Commitment: This volunteer term will begin as soon as possible and we’d like a minimum three-month commitment. Office Hours, Work site: The hiking of course happens wherever you go hiking, with an emphasis on areas we haven’t yet covered. The web work can happen form any internet-connected computer, though it is nice to meet in person once a month or so. Our office is open Monday through Friday from approximately 9:30 am – 6 pm. Event entry takes 1-2 hours per week. Trail entry should amount to about 30 minutes per hike, not including the hike itself of course.

Rewards

• Opportunity to discover and share new parks and trails
• Free one-year subscription to Bay Nature magazine
• Invitations to quarterly issue release parties and otehr special events

As a volunteer, you’ll also give back to the community and learn about nonprofit publishing and other nature-related organizations throughout the Bay Area. You will be acknowledged for your work on our website and in our print magazine. We’re a small staff, so, depending on your interests, you can also get to help some with the print magazine and see how it comes together.

Application Process: Email volunteer@baynature.org with a note about you and why you’d like to volunteer. No phone calls please.

Advertising Design Intern

We are seeking a qualified Intern for a three-month period to assist with our advertising department. Bay Nature Magazine is the award-winning quarterly publication now in its eleventh year. This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in print and web advertising, for a significant Bay Area nonprofit. As a volunteer, you will learn about nonprofit publishing and other nature-related organizations throughout the Bay Area. You will be acknowledged for your work on our website and in our print magazine. Duties will include but are not limited to: 1. Research advertising prospects 2. Database management 3. Research market special advertising features 4. Assist Advertising Director 5. Assist in Direct email campaign 6. Assist with advertising layout process 7. Track submissions of client CRC artwork Your skills should include proficiency in graphic design with web / internet experience. An art background is ideal, as you may have the opportunity to design and enhance client ads. Interest or knowledge of Bay Area outdoors and environmental organizations and projects is a plus. The Bay Nature office is in West Berkeley. Internship hours are flexible, but we expect a 8-10 hour/week commitment, for three months. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to ellen@baynature.org.

Social Media Internship

This BAY NATURE INSTITUTE intern opportunity will allow you to take the reigns of Bay Nature’s social media presence and help us find new ways to bring our nature content to larger and more diverse audiences.

We are looking for a social media maven who can help drive outreach on a number of fronts, including promoting hikes from our new Trailfinder and events calendar. We’d be thrilled if you’ve experimented beyond Twitter and Facebook, and can help guide Bay Nature into new social media platforms like Pinterest and Tumblr.

You’ll be part of an exciting time at Baynature.org this winter as we further expand our new website in ways that make this the online portal for the Bay Area nature community. If you are a nature-lover, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities:
* Experiment with a variety of social media platforms to expand our reach
* Pick hikes for our Trailfinder Picks section and promote them to Bay Area hiking groups and outdoors audiences via social media channels.
* Create compelling content for our existing Facebook and Twitter feeds, including nature quizzes, photos, and more.

Desired Qualifications:
* Strong interest in journalism, nonprofits, and the environment.
* Tech-savviness
* Mature, self-motivated, and enterprising.
* Able to work independently.

Commitment:
This volunteer term will begin immediately and we’d like a minimum six-month commitment.

Office Hours, Work site:
Our North Berkeley office is open Monday through Friday from approximately 9:30 am – 6 pm. The intern is expected to work approximately six hours per week, including a weekly on-site editorial meeting at our office. After the first few weeks, telecommuting is possible for especially motivated interns.

How to apply:
Send a resume and three references to:
Beth Slatkin, Marketing & Outreach Director,  beth@baynature.org
No phone calls, please.

Development/ Design/ Event Planning Internship

We are seeking a qualified intern for a three-to-nine month period to assist in our development efforts. In this role, you will do research, organize your findings, and create materials leading up to a local nature-oriented special event. You’ll learn about, and get hands on experience doing marketable nonprofit job tasks, including:

1. Researching prospects for corporate and organizational sponsorships;
2. Building and managing a database of prospective sponsors and inkind donors;
3. Supporting the Development Director with a variety of tasks as they arise;
4. Assisting with event planning and promotion process
5. Designing event-related artwork

All for a great cause — protecting and learning about the natural world of the Bay Area!

Desired Qualifications:

• Three to nine month commitment.
• Strong interest in nonprofits and the environment.
• Solid computer and internet research skills.
• Proficiency in graphic design with web / internet experience. An art or graphic design background is ideal, as you may have the opportunity to design event-related materials.
• Ability to work independently.
• Commitment to the local natural environment.

Commitment: This volunteer position will begin as soon as possible and we’d like a minimum three-month commitment.

Office Hours, work site: Hours are flexible, but we expect you to work 3-6 hours per week at the Bay Nature office  in West Berkeley. Our office is open Monday through Friday from approximately 9:30 am – 6 pm. After the first few weeks, telecommuting is possible for especially motivated volunteers.

Rewards: You will be acknowledged for your work on our website and in our print magazine. You will gain marketable job skills — nonprofit marketing, fundraising, and event planning — with a  respected organization.

Application Process: Send your resume and a note about the skills and experiences you could bring to this position to volunteer@baynature.org.