The Cayuga Lake
Watershed Internship Program
EXPLORING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A ‘SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED’ AND OUR ROLES AS CARETAKERS OF THE EARTH
2025 Application Period Closed
The WIP offers young adults the chance to explore their interests and gain professional skills by working within fields related to the environment. WIP partner organizations are working side-by-side to protect and enhance life in the Cayuga Lake watershed, and work together to provide the best possible experience, and a truly holistic perspective, for our interns.
The WIP IS SUPPORTED BY GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE PARK FOUNDATION OF ITHACA, NY AND BY PRIVATE SPONSORS AND DONORS.
“I had an amazing time being a WIP intern! We had a lot of great conversations and I was able to spend a lot of time outside which improved my mental and physical well being. I was able to form connections with other youth in the community and learn about organizations that are dedicated to sustainability.”
– Eden, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network intern
Program details
The Cayuga Lake Watershed Internship Program (WIP) is collaboration of watershed based organizations offering internship opportunities for young adults. It gives interns insight into working in the fields of watershed protection, management, access and education from a variety of perspectives.
Fields of work/study include:
- ecology studies
- climate change
- environmental education
- environmental communication
- community engagement and outreach
- marketing and promotion
- outdoor recreation and access
- social and environmental justice
- farming and food justice
- eco-tourism
- environmental art
- nature therapy
“I recently switched to Environmental Science. Being able to communicate about the things I’ve learned is very important to me. This internship definitely helped me advance my public speaking skills, and I had a really good time meeting everyone in our group.”
– Jacob, Discover Cayuga Lake intern
Interns are hosted by partner organizations in line with their interests and skills where they are paid to work on program-specific projects. They also participate in paid weekly activities that enhance and enrich their collective learning experiences. The program is meant to be enriching, engaging and enjoyable!
The program runs from early June to mid-August. Positions are 20-40 hours per week with the majority of time spent working with partner organizations on projects and ~3 hours per week dedicated to WIP group activities which include presentations by community members, local organizations, field trips, and mutual sharing of experiences and learning regarding the fields mentioned. There is an initial orientation session and a final presentation of learning. Participants are expected to be active contributors to the program, developing mutual learning goals and projects and assessing outcomes.
Eligible participants are age 18-25 who are interested in increasing their professional skills and/or enhancing their college experience. Preference is given to young adults who are living in or studying in the Cayuga Lake watershed. We are interested in working with a diverse group of people from various socioeconomic, racial and gender identity backgrounds.
All positions are paid, at the minimum, a Tompkins County Living Wage ($18.45/hour).
PROGRAM DATES FOR 2025 ARE: June 2nd – August 15th with some flexibility depending on the internship positions.
2025 participating organizations and positions
ALL POSITIONS FILLED FOR 2025
Applications for 2026 will start to be accepted in February 2026
A non-profit with a mission to cultivate informed and equitable relationships between people and the watersheds upon which they depend.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION ASSISTANT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & MARKETING ASSISTANT
YOUTH PROGRAM MENTOR
LAKE DATA ASSISTANT
Cayuga Lake Watershed Network (CLWN)
A grassroots education and advocacy organization of citizens, businesses, groups, and local governments from across the Cayuga Lake Watershed.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION ASSISTANT position to be shared with Discover Cayuga Lake, as per above.
Community Science Institute (CSI)
Empowers citizens to monitor and protect local water resources for sustainable management through water testing labs, volunteerism and education.
DATA LITERACY EDUCATOR position to be shared by Discover Cayuga Lake, as per above.
Aims to increase the number of people who participate in paddle sports in the Finger Lakes region and provide services that promote environmental health and education.
COMMUNITY PADDLING & ECO=TOURISM PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT
The Soil Factory/WEAVE, in Cooperation with Oji:SDA Sustainable Indigenous Futures
Explores interactions between social, artistic and scientific networks through interactive and experiential community oriented projects
EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN ASSISTANT
NATIVE MEDICINAL GARDEN ASSISTANT
The Paleontological Research Institution
Pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth.
Museum Outreach & Climate Change Education Intern
Sustainable Finger Lakes (SFLX)
A citizen-based organization working towards the long-term well-being of our communities by integrating social equity, economic vitality, ecological stewardship, and shared responsibility.
COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH INTERN
CLIMATE FUND CLEAN ENERGY INTERN
PROGRAM LEADERS
Astrid Jirka, WIP Coordinator and DCL Director of Tourism Initiatives and Outreach, she/her
– Astrid works to develop and promote DCL’s eco-tourism and community inclusion programs. She grew up in Ithaca in a German and Spanish speaking family, has degrees in Anthropology, Natural Resource Management and Intercultural Communication, and is also a Yoga Instructor. She has taught courses in eco-tourism, and organized and led multiple student and yoga trips overseas, including to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland. She’s a big believer in working together to protect the natural world and in spending lots of time enjoying the outdoors.
Bill Foster, DCL Executive and Education Program Director, he/him
– Bill is the founder of DCL, having initially established the Floating Classroom on Cayuga Lake in 2003. He is also an Ithaca ‘townie’ and attended Cornell University for his degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, which led him to work in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mid-Atlantic Office of Water in Philadelphia for many years. His path led to the nonprofit sector and stream restoration work in the Catskills before his return to Ithaca. He’s since become well connected to and immersed in the Cayuga Lake watershed community. He loves working with kids of all ages (adult kids too!) and you’ll usually find him on his kayak or on cross-country skis enjoying our beautiful natural areas.
We’d Love to hear from you!
Connect
with Us
Community
Local Learning
Direct Experience
Equal Access
Citizen Science
607-327-LAKE/5253
1000 Allan H. Treman Park Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850
For Cruises & Charters:
discovercayuga@gmail.com
For Educational Programs:
floatingclassroo1m@gmail.com
0 Comments