Experiential learning is one of the core tenets of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. Whether a student opts to take a spring break travel course, chooses to conduct research alongside a faculty member, or to do an internship, seeking learning beyond the classroom is highly encouraged.

Internships are a particularly great way to explore career interests, build relevant skills, and make professional connections. The Rubenstein School established a unique program in 2012 to help facilitate annual internship opportunities specifically for Rubenstein students. As its name implies, the Perennial Summer Internship Program is committed to building lasting relationship with organizations that benefit students year after year.

Photo of Abby and Quote: “It was incredible to get hands-on experience working in a greenhouse and managing the plants in the Aiken Center Solarium,” said Abby O’Shaughnessy ‘23, an Environmental Studies major and Perennial Intern in summer 2022. “Through this internship, I gained confidence in myself and my future career path, and I am excited to use this experience going forward!”

The program creates consistent, reliable, paid internship opportunities for Rubenstein students each summer. The School relies on established partnerships with employers working to solve environmental challenges. Together with the Rubenstein School’s Experiential Learning Coordinator, these employers design an internship that is robust and beneficial to both the student and the organization. Rubenstein staff review applications and provide support throughout the internship.

“The Perennial Internship Program is unique in that it allows for intentional relationship building with community partners, centered around enhancing student experiences in the field as they prepare for future courses and next steps in their professional lives,” says Meghan Young, Experiential Learning Coordinator in the Rubenstein School. “This, paired with the fact that students are able to be paid at a known rate, gain college credit, and have a set number of hours designated for this work, make the program truly special!”

Over the years the program has grown to now offer 30 12-week, paid, credit-bearing internships for summer 2023. They range from part-time to full-time and while most are in Vermont, a number are available throughout the Northeast.

In summer 2022, 26 Rubenstein students worked as Perennial Interns. Their employers and projects ranged from working with the Nantucket Land Council assessing algal blooms, to diving into recreation management with Westport Hospitality, to protecting drinking water sources with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, to conducting geospatial research in the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab.

Photo and Quote “Every day was different and full of new experiences,” said Isabella Genova ‘23, an Environmental Sciences major who worked for the Nantucket Land Council. “I conducted water quality, eelgrass restoration, green crab monitoring, attended board meetings and conservation commission and select board meetings. It was a great introduction to working at a small environmental nonprofit.”

At the end of their internship each student creates a presentation to summarize their experience. In the fall, the School hosts an Internship and Undergraduate Research Slam, giving the students an opportunity to exercise their public speaking skills and share their learnings with peers. All presentations from summer 2022 are viewable on YouTube.

The program also creates a mechanism for feedback from both students and employers. This allows for continuous improvement and a high-quality reference for students as they prepare for post-graduation.

“Without the support of Perennial Interns, our summer field season would be nowhere near as successful as it is today. We are grateful for all the support that the program provides, from gathering and providing applications, all the way down to managing timesheet systems. Thank you!” – The Nature Conservancy, Vermont Chapter.

All Perennial Internships for summer 2023 are posted online and applications are open in Handshake. Rubenstein School students in their sophomore and junior years are eligible to apply. Applications are due February 6, 2023. For more information contact Meghan.Young@uvm.edu.