Interested in gaining some experience in Sustainability work? Come work for us!

Sustainability Experience Center AmeriCorps Member

The Sustainability Institute is seeking to fill a National Service AmeriCorps position at the Sustainability Experience Center (SEC), a nine-acre site dedicated to engaging the Penn State community around the topics of food, water, energy, and community.

Application deadline = September 1!

As the SEC continues to reinvent itself in the wake of pandemic restrictions, the SEC AmeriCorps Member will support long term planning efforts that engage stakeholders from campus and the community.

Successful candidates will have a passion for sustainability, are organized and dependable, and comfortable speaking to groups of various kinds. Some evenings and weekends may be required.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and maintaining SEC features (i.e. edible landscaping, kitchen garden)
• Creating and delivering educational elements about SEC features
• Coordinating and leading group tours of the site, collecting feedback from tour participants
• Maintaining and reporting tour metrics (i.e.: size, type, age-range, date, etc.)
• Develop Living Lab projects
• Recruit and train SEC volunteer tour leaders
• Attend weekly meetings with the Sustainable Campus Strategist, biweekly All Hands Sustainability Institute meetings, and other Sustainability Institute events as needed

This is a 1,700-hour National Service AmeriCorps position with the Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps (PMSC).

This position includes a living allowance and, upon successful completion, an educational award that can be used to pay for higher education or repay qualified educational loans. To qualify for PMSC AmeriCorps service, you must be a United States citizen, United States national or lawful permanent resident of the United States and be at least 17 years of age. PMSC AmeriCorps will conduct a full criminal background check as part of the application process.

To apply:

• Interested candidates are required to submit a cover letter and resume to Krista Bailey, Sustainable Campus Strategist, at kbailey@psu.edu. Review of candidates will take place weekly and will continue until the position is filled.

Sustainability Experience Intern

Penn State Sustainability is seeking a Penn State student who is energized by envisioning and creating programs which will engage the community and Penn State staff in sustainability initiatives at the Sustainability Experience Center (SEC).

This position will prioritize Community Service Federal Work-Study students, although others may be considered. This position’s work will involve working with the community and providing community-focused programming and support.

Successful applicants will have a passion for sustainability, are organized and dependable, and are comfortable speaking to and with groups of various kinds. They will be a team player, with a GPA above 3.0, and superb written, interpersonal and oral communication skills. Must be a quick learner, able to manage and organize multiple sources of information, meet deadlines and enjoy a fast-paced and teamwork-oriented work environment.

Preferred applicants will have an interest in and knowledge about sustainability issues and concepts and will be willing and able to work through the 2023-24 academic year and the summer of 2024.

The SEC is a nine-acre site dedicated to engaging the Penn State community around the topics of food, water, energy, and community. Currently, the Sustainability Experience Center is home to several elements: the Community Garden, the Eco-Machine™, the MorningStar Solar Home, a Sweet Gum Tree Grove, and two wind turbines. Adjacent to the SEC are complementary features including a Black Walnut Provenance Study, the East campus steam plant, and stormwater infrastructure. It has been and is home to several Living Lab projects which utilize campus as a place to understand and advance sustainability initiatives.

As the SEC continues to reinvent itself in the wake of pandemic restrictions, the Sustainability Experience Intern will also support long term planning efforts that engage stakeholders from campus and the community.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Learning about the global sustainability goals and translating those concepts into events and outreach materials.
• With the Education Intern, create SEC programs and resources for Penn State’s Green Teams and campus units, and community groups to use in their education and engagement efforts related to sustainability.
• Plan and coordinate events for campus and community members including service events, workshops, and educational events.
• Developing and maintaining SEC features (i.e. edible landscaping, kitchen garden) as educational resources.
• Creating and delivering educational material about SEC features.
• Coordinating and leading group tours of the site and collecting feedback from tour participants.
• Maintaining and reporting tour metrics (i.e.: size, type, age-range, date, etc.).
• Recruit and train SEC volunteer tour leaders.
• Attend weekly meetings with the Sustainable Campus Strategist, biweekly All Hands Sustainability Institute meetings, and other Sustainability Institute events as needed.
• Routine interaction with minors under the age of 18; will require successful completion of background checks

Some evenings and weekends may be required.

A successful candidate must be eligible for Federal/Community Service work study. If you’re unsure of your eligibility, contact communityservicefws@psu.edu with a subject of “FWS Eligibility and include your PSU ID# and/or visit https://sites.psu.edu/communityservicefws/applying-for-csfws-2/ for more information.

Candidates who are eligible for Federal/Community Service work-study will be given preference for this position.

This paid internship will start in September 2023 for the 2023-24 academic year. The schedule will be 10 to 15 hours a week during the academic year. Summer opportunities may be available.