Students Farming for Internships

The number of students looking for internships that allow them to sit around all day in an air conditioned office may surprise you. Recent consensus shows that many more students are trying to find internships doing green work or work on a farm.

These students may be onto something. Not only are they more likely to learn something if they're doing work out in the field, literally, but Fast Company recently reported that farming will be the hottest green job during the next 10 years.

A recent article by The New York Times reported that the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service found that 1,400 farms were seeking interns this year, almost three times as many as two years ago. The NSAIS is financed by the Department of Agriculture.

And not all students opting for farm internships are agricultural majors hoping for an opportunity with one of the nation's large conventional farms. Instead, most are studying a variety of majors and are more interested in internships at smaller organic and sustainable farms.

The Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships Database, which is run by the NSAIS, is a good place to see what kind of farming internships are being offered. As of today, the database has 93 pages full of available internships throughout different states.

For instance, Hay Creek Stock Farm in Sebeka, Minn. is looking for one intern at their 160-acre farm. The intern will gain skills in animal husbandry, pasture management, organic vegetable production and direct marketing. The internship runs through Sept. 15.

Lavender Hills Farm in Vashon, Wash., also is hiring an intern to work on a 1/2-acre lavendar farm and garden and live with the farm's owners and their two children. This internship lasts from July 1 to August 15.

Flat Creek Lodge in Swainsboro, Ga. and Charis Eco-Farm in Staunton, Va. also are seeking interns.

4 Tips for Finding a Summer Job

Four things that a student can do to find a summer job at the last minute are:

• Call all of your adult family members and friends of your parents. Tell them you're looking for a summer job, what you're good at, and what type of work is of interest to you. Don't ask them for a job. Instead, ask them to give you the names and phone numbers of three people you should call. You've just multiplied your network by three fold. Repeat until someone declines to give you the names and instead gives you a job.


• Don't tell people that you're willing to do anything. Focus. Recruiters and hiring managers are turned off by people who are too flexible as it tends to mean they're too desperate and desperate candidates tend to make lousy employees.


• Be willing to work for little to no pay in a position which is in line with your career path. Getting experience is incredibly valuable. For money, find a job that pays well even if it isn't of interest to you or in line with your career path. Invest in yourself.


• Don't focus your job search efforts on advertised openings as they're only 10 percent of the job openings and 90 percent of candidates spend all of their time applying to advertised jobs. Rather than being in the 90 percent chasing after 10 percent of the jobs, be one of the 10 percent who networks and therefore is chasing after 90 percent of the jobs. Your odds are much better.

Article by, Steven Rothberg and courtesy of CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Jobs that Make a Difference

Change.org recently launched Jobs for Change, a national effort to help recruit more Americans to jobs in the nonprofit, government and social enterprise sectors.

The site has come into existence during a time when many people, especially youth, have a renewed interest in public service. Many people are interested in going green and finding new ways they can help.

The site hopes to build the largest database of social change jobs on the Web, including those for nonprofit, government and social enterprise. The site also will guide people through the process of finding and pursuing a career in social change through Change.org's team of career advisers who will run a group of career blogs focused on different demographics.

"Every day thousands of people who have been inspired by the President's call to service, many of whom would have normally pursued a traditional career in the for-profit sector, are coming to us and our partners looking to find a career in the common good," Ben Rattray, founder and CEO of Change.org, said.

"This presents an unprecedented opportunity to attract the country's most promising leaders into the social sector to address the major challenges we face as a nation," Rattray added. "But the resources for helping people enter the social sector are limited, and most people don't know where to start."

Jobs for Change is in partnership with more than a dozen leading nonprofit organizations, including AmeriCorps Alums, Campus Compact, Encore Careers, Network for Good, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, New Organizing Institute and Echoing Green. Jobs for Change also is being promoted to the more than 500,000 users who use Change.org and its partner organizations.

Change.org also has partnered with nonprofit recruiting firms to help organizations recruit and retail top quality candidates. Partners include Commongood Careers and Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group.

"It is wonderful to see legions of young people and professionals from the for-profit sector seeking jobs that change their community, their country and their world," Laura Gassner Otting, president of Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, said. "Jobs for Change will provide so many with the necessary resources and strategies to make those mission-driven dreams a reality. It is our pleasure to partner with them on such an important endeavor."

A Bit About Bears

Today I read a few articles about bears in Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone National Park via the Great Falls Tribune and I thought I would share them with you.

Study to research effect of climate change on denning

The short synopsis of this one is that the U.S. Geological Survey will study if the warmer temperatures caused by global warming are affecting when the bears go into hibernation for the winter.

Where are all the grizzly bears?

In this case, the wintry conditions in both parks are perhaps causing the bears to linger inside of their lairs a bit longer. As the days get longer and the temperatures warm up, they'll leave their dens. For some however, the departure from their dens may be as late as mid to late May.

Black bear season opens April 15

The last article is more of the reality situation of nature talking about the beginning of the hunting season for black bears. It's not my kind of activity, but there you go. Grizzly bears, conversely, are under protected status and, therefore, cannot be hunted.

All this talk of hibernation just makes me sleepy and especially on a day in Seattle where the skies are relatively gray compared with last week and it's wet...again. It also reminds me of the sweet scene from the Disney film where Flower the Skunk asks Bambi, "Is it spring yet?" Nope, not quite yet.



A bit more on bears can be found on the detailed Wikipedia page - Bears.

Free Range Kids

I love this blog called Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy. Her most recent post is "Up With Recess! (And Down with Homework)" and it talks about the added value of giving kids more time to play. For me, it's a practical blog with tips for making sure that your children, and adults for that matter, get outside and not be fearful of living.


It's a great pairing with the book by Richard Louv called Last Child in the Woods (Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder). His website is The Future's Edge and I highly recommend checking it out too.




In late 2007, I attended a meeting for the ACA (American Camping Association) and was yet again inspired by wonderful stories about how spending a week or a summer at a day camp or residential camp can really change lives. Both the campers and the counselors learn a lot about themselves, nature and about life. I wrote about that meeting here. I think it's critical for anyone interested in the outdoors to share their experiences with children and young people. There is more to life than TV, video games or Facebook.



If you are interested in working with kids and sharing your knowledge, please check out the Camp Jobs page. There are so many wonderful summer camps around the United States, each with a different focus like business, the performing arts, religion, outdoor recreation, some co-ed and some just for girls or boys, but they all have a significant impact on children. If you're still not sure what you want to do this summer and don't want to work at a resort, check out the camps. It may be the best summer job you ever have.

Working in the U.S.

We get a lot of inquiries from people living abroad who would like to work a summer or winter in the U.S.

In order to work for the employers listed on Cool Works, you will need to have the appropriate work visa. Most of the foreign workers who work temporarily in the U.S.are foreign students and have a J-1 visa.

The J-1 Visa

There are twelve different categories of the J-1 Visa. The three most common categories for foreign workers who work for the employers listed on Cool Works are:
* The Work & Travel Visa - allows foreign students to work in the U.S. for four months in guest service positions.
* The Camp Counselor Visa - Allows foreign students to work at a summer camp as a camp counselor.
* The J-1 Trainee Visa - allows foreign students and professionals to train with a U.S.-based host organization for up to 18 months.The qualifications for these visas vary depending on your country of residence.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: It is best to contact an agency and begin the process of obtaining your work visa BEFORE you apply to any employers listed on Cool Works. Most employers prefer that you are already working through an agency.

All J-1 work visas require you to be a full-time university student or within 6 months of graduation.

Other Temporary Work Visas for the U.S.

The H2-B and Q-1 visas are also available to both students and non-students seeking temporary employment in the U.S.

* The H-2B Visa - Allows students and non-students to work as temporary or seasonal non-agricultural workers in the U.S. for up to 10 months. H-2B workers are able to return for multiple seasons year after year. Companies must be labor certified by their state Labor Department and the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to offer the H-2B visa.
* The Q-1 Visa – Allows temporary workers to share the history, culture and traditions of their home country with the American public for up to 15 months. Typical jobs include performing in a show featuring the participant's local culture at an amusement park. Both students and non-students are eligible for the Q-1 visa.

There are many sponsoring agencies you can contact to begin the process of obtaining your Visa. There are costs involved, and Cool Works recommends that you check with the different agencies to find the one that best fits your needs.

Gear Talk

So, it's April on Wednesday. No joke! Do you have your summer job yet? Yes? Well, congratulations and I bet you're excited. No? Well, no worries, because there is still time to snag a job in a great place. Check the What's New page to see the latest and greatest summer job opportunities at any time, and if you needed a job yesterday, check out the Help Wanted Now page for employers seeking employees immediately.

Now to those of you who do have your summer jobs and you're chomping at the bit to "get outta dodge," you probably have a long list of outdoor activities you want to do once you get to your summer job and might have no idea what type of gear you may need. To aid you in the endeavor for post-work fun, we recently created a group called Gear Talk on My CoolWorks to cover just such questions. We hope that this group will be a melting pot for everyone to share their shopping secrets and favorite stores for getting themselves ready for their summer fun. Plus, another cool benefit for you is that CoolWorks.com has secured discounts for our tribe from some of our favorite vendors so by clicking on the ads in that group, you'll get deals on the things you may have already planned on buying. So, please join in the discussion and take advantage of discounts on gear too because we all know that the best part of a summer job in a great place is the fun you get to have when the work day is done.

Lastly, some members of our tribe have set up other groups by hobbies and activities so you can connect with people who like to do the same stuff as you.

Like to hike? Check out Hiking Partners.
Shutterbug? Check out Photo Phanatics.
Addicted to the seasonal lifestyle? Check out Seasonal Addicts Anonymous.

There is bound to be a group for you!

WHTI - Travel Document Requirements

WHTI, or Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, is going into effect on June 1, 2009. More correctly, the full requirements of this initiative are going into effect at that time. With the summer season upon us, and many summer job holders potentially driving through Canada to reach their seasonal jobs in Alaska, it seems like a good time to refresh everyone on the rules. The WHTI also affects Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region (17 nations). And, frankly this is more about getting home than going to another one of these countries.


From their website, here is the why of WHTI.

ABOUT WHTI

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.

The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.

As it stands today, here are the basic rules of required travel documentation.


AIR TRAVEL - All persons traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. (Source: U.S. Department of State)


LAND/SEA TRAVEL - Beginning January 31, 2008, the United States ended the practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship at the border. (Source: DHS)


What does this mean? Well, if you are crossing a border into the U.S. from Canada by vehicle or arriving by boat, you will need to provide certain documentation that proves both identity and citizenship.


Identification documents must include a photo, name and date of birth. When the initial initiative went into effect, this included the U.S. Passport Book, U.S. Passport Card (like a passport but not good for air travel), or other documents approved by the DHS. They also allowed a combination of documents like a driver's license (identity) plus a birth certificate (citizenship).


To see a visual version of the documents, click here.


As far as I can tell, the only major change for the June 1, 2009 update to the WHTI, is to the age of children and what they can use to prove their citizenship. More details available here.


I did want to share that this blog post exists because of discussion started on our social network, My CoolWorks, a wonderful source of ideas for blog posts, and honestly, since I have been in possession of a passport since 1994, I really hadn't paid too much attention to these changes, but figured I might learn a bit more about them by writing this piece. So there you have it. And, as someone pointed out in the discussion, the passport is a great document to have with you when you complete your I-9 form at the start of your new job. It's always nice when a document has a dual purpose.


And a bit about the dollars - Passport Fees. Although, the passport ($100) is more expensive than the passport card ($45), try to think like an accountant by amortizing the cost over 10 years. You'll only pay $10 this year and you'll certainly make more than that at your summer job.





Lastly, please make note that we have also scheduled a chat to discuss these requirements for Monday, March 30 at 9pm Eastern / 6pm Pacific. I hope you'll join us.

Internships at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you're looking for a unique outdoor internship this summer, you should take note that Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting. Visit http://www.experience.com to learn more about internships.

High school students in North Carolina are being recruited for the park's summer internship program, which takes place from June 22 to July 31. Interns will work three to four days each week and receive $10.31 per hour, according to an article by the Citizen-Times.

Interns, who will need to provide their own transportation, will be based in the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center.

Interns will have a chance to work on park research projects and education programs, including: high elevation bird migration; inventories of beetles, waterbears and other groups for the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory; monitoring salamander populations and effects of ozone on native plans and assisting the national park staff with conducting the children's Junior Ranger programs.

Those interested must be at least 16-years old by June 22 and enrolled in an accredited high school or have been accepted into a college for the fall 2009 semester. To apply for an internship, send a resume, reference and cover letter explaining why you would be good for the job to: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, P.O. Box 357, Lake Junaluska, N.C,. 28745 by March 21.

The internship program is funded through a three-year, $1 million science education grant from Toyota to Friends of the Smokies, a non-profit organization that supports conservation, education and other park priorities.

The grant is meant to provide students with science-related experiences that may encourage them to seek a career in science. Students generally work with park staff, scientists or graduate students from various local colleges. Since 2003, about 70 students have participated in these internships.

Try Something New

With job news like this, I would say that it's time to throw your caution to the wind and find the summer job you've always wanted. Can't take a vacation this year? Get a job and live where you want to go. Think you're too old? Not so. Now is not the time to let the economy tell you who's boss, do something about it. I'm not saying I'm happy about the way my retirement funds are dwindling daily, but, it's not going to stop me from enjoying time with friends and family, meeting some new people like possibly Dave Morin on my mini-break up at Whistler, or trying to snowboard today after a two year hiatus. I think that now is the time to just do it as they say at Nike.

Need some motivation? Watch this.