EcoStudio

Other Internship Opportunities

With EcoStudio Partners

The following are summer positions or unfilled semester positions that are still available.

Students: If you are interested in learning more about the position or applying, please contact the mentor/organization directly. You can view contact info by clicking the "More" button under each project.

 
Fork to Farm

Client: Fork to Farm

Fork to Farm Intern

The Carrboro Vermicomposting Project was initiated by a group of neighbors and funded by the town of Carrboro, to decrease methane released by kitchen scraps in our landfill. Now known as Fork to Farm, we promote vermicomposting and bokashi, and offer educational and training workshops. Our long-term goal is forming an organization that will keep the program improving and expanding after the grant period. This organization will provide introductory workshops, training, support, networking, continuing education, and on-line access to trusted resources.

Our Fork to Farm initiative makes composting kitchen scraps available to more people. We heard from many interested people who struggle to find the motivation and space to start vermicomposting. Therefore, we are adding the Bokashi method. Bokashi is a way to stabilize kitchen scraps in 5-gallon buckets for later use by fermenting. It can be used in the individual's garden or, donated to a friend, community garden or farmer. It requires even less labor and space, making it accessible to more people.

Internship tasks would include:

  1. Improve and maintain our mailing list, design brochures, fliers and displays, website design and maintenance, help write publicity articles and grant proposals and post fliers
  2. Tabling at the Carrboro Farmers Market, Carrboro Open Streets, Earth Day Events, Carrboro Music Festival, Carrboro in Motion and the UNC Climate Action Day and others. Will involve time spent on the weekends.
  3. Continue outreach and program coordination efforts with student groups on the UNC campus including the Climate Crisis Committee, CompostMates, Edible Campus, Carolina Community Garden and Epsilon Eta.
  4. Harvest vermicompost and maintain vermiculture bins. Assemble new vermicomposting bins and bokashi buckets

Project Location: Orange County, primarily Carrboro and Chapel Hill

Project Level: Entry Level



Project Type

Internship

Skills Desired

  1. Skills in technical writing and dealing with the public.
  2. Comfort with handling small wiggling creatures.
  3. Experience in social media and website development, volunteer organizations and giving presentations to small groups.
  4. Self-motivation.

Project Deliverables

  1. Top goal: Increased volunteers and overall participation in our project.
  2. Website design and maintenance.
  3. Improve and maintain our mailing list.
  4. Design brochures, fliers and displays.
  5. Help write publicity articles and grant proposals

Unpaid internship

Comments:

Regretfully, we have no funds for wages. However, there is an easy and low risk way to make money through entrepreneurship. The intern can assemble and sell bokashi buckets and vermicomposting bins. The products have been designed; all that is necessary is for the intern to fulfill their obligations with the NC Department of Revenue. The intern would sell directly to potential participants. This is something they might be able to continue after the internship is complete.

The project location is at Pacifica Cohousing. Space for office work will be available in a small room in our Common House.

Applicants should have their own transportation. Exceptions are possible.

Contact Information

For more information about this project, please contact:
Tom Smith
wormsdothework@gmail.com


About this Organization

Total EcoStudio projects since 2018: 1
Projects led by this mentor: 1

 
Orange County Solid Waste Management

Client: Orange County Solid Waste Management

Recycling Stars Internship

The “Recycling Stars” Program with Orange County Solid Waste Management has been ongoing since May of 2022. The main goal of the program is to educate residents about recycling and improve the overall quality and quantity of recyclables collected from households around the County. Residents recycling properly are rewarded through star stickers. Residents not recycling properly receive ‘oops’ tags, personalized contamination letters, and other educational materials.

Teams of inspectors go out to evaluate the recycling carts, collect data, assist with communications to residents, and help make sure the program runs smoothly.

The program involves a hands-on educational approach to educate residents on what can/can’t be recycled in Orange County curbside carts along with creating awareness around the harmful impacts of contamination.

An intern will be a part time inspector and part time data analyst, gaining both experience in the field and data management. They would help with the collection, input and analysis of data from the cart evaluations.

Project Location: Chapel Hill and some remote

Project Level: Entry Level



Project Type

Internship

Skills Desired

Valid driver’s license preferred

Strong oral and written communication skills

Excellent program management skills

Proficiency in both Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite programs

Capability with GIS database program is a plus

Be motivated to improve recycling in Orange County

Project Deliverables

Collaborate on a GIS and data monitoring program to track the stage of the recycling evaluation to be carried on by future interns

Collaborate on a streamlined contamination inspection and recording process

Collect and analyze data from STARS program

Minimize contamination through education efforts

Track common contaminants and rate of contaminants

Improve communication efforts

Funding$17.65/hr

Comments:

Work will primarily be done mornings in person from 7am-11am.

It's a plus if intern is able to work occasional community events.

Accepted interns will need to fill out a county application and paperwork.


Contact Information

For more information about this project, please contact:
Rachel Potts
rpotts@orangecountync.gov


About this Organization

Total EcoStudio projects since 2018: 35
Projects led by this mentor: 17

 
Orange County Solid Waste Management

Client: Orange County Solid Waste Management

Multifamily Recycling Internship

The “Multifamily Reusable Bag Program” with Orange County Solid Waste Management is a project aimed at reducing contamination in multifamily recycling carts. Through continuous education efforts, residents living in multifamily housing receive information and resources that help them understand county recycling guidelines and how to recycle right. Educational resources include reusable, washable tote bags fitted with county guidelines, informational flyers, and signage at their recycling sites.

The main goal of the program is to educate residents about recycling and improve the quality of recyclables collected from multifamily around the county. Contamination is a common and challenging issue at multifamily recycling sites, especially due to plastic bags. The reusable tote bags are a convenient and effective way for residents to collect and transport their recyclables to the carts.

Interns go out to various sites to update cart decals, evaluate the recycling carts, collect data, deliver tote bags, assist with communications to property managers, and help make sure the program runs smoothly.

Communications and data management will be key as interns will be responsible for interacting with residents and property managers and updating and organizing program documents.

Project Location: Chapel Hill and Remote

Project Level: Entry Level



Project Type

Internship

Skills Desired

Valid driver’s license required

Strong oral and written communication skills

Excellent program management skills

Proficiency in both Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite programs

Self-motivated and able to work independently

Be motivated to improve recycling in Orange County

Project Deliverables

Collaborate on a streamlined contamination inspection and recording process.

Collaborate on a data collection and analysis protocol to be carried out by future interns.

Collaborate on strategies for improvement and implementation.

Minimize contamination through education efforts.

Track common contaminants and rate of contaminants.

Maintain consistency with all program requirements.

Improve communication efforts.

Submit weekly summary of work and hours at the end of the week.

Funding$17.65/hr

Comments:

Work can be done when it fits student’s schedule

It's a plus if intern is able to work occasional community events.

Accepted interns will need to fill out a county application and paperwork

Contact Information

For more information about this project, please contact:
Rachel Potts
rpotts@orangecountync.gov


About this Organization

Total EcoStudio projects since 2018: 35
Projects led by this mentor: 17

 
Town of Chapel Hill

Client: Town of Chapel Hill

Stormwater Education Intern

The Town of Chapel Hill is looking for curious, self-motivated students who are interested in preventing water pollution. Students in this position will teach the public how to nurture deeper connections to the world around them while protecting our local streams from pollution.

In this position, students will learn about protecting our local waterways from the lens of local government. The purpose of this position is to assist with creating and managing opportunities for public involvement and education in support of the mission and goals of the Town's Stormwater Management Division.

Project Location: Chapel Hill, hybrid

Project Level: Entry Level



Project Type

Internship

Skills Desired

To be considered for an internship position with Chapel Hill Stormwater, candidates must:

  • Previous experience with water quality data, database management, coding, and information sciences are helpful
  • Demonstrate effective communication orally, in writing, and/or graphic forms
  • Be proficient with computers and software applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Be eager to learn and able to work both independently and in a team

The following content knowledge can be helpful but is not required:

  • Principles, practices, techniques, and trends in environmental education and management
  • Stormwater management and pollution prevention
  • Principles, practices and trends in marketing, and community outreach
  • Principle, practices and trends in project management
  • Graphic design software packages
  • Global Information System (GIS) software packages
  • Data management
  • Computer languages
  • Relevant state, Federal and municipal laws

Project Deliverables

Fall 2025 students will work on these core projects:

  • Continuing a community science framework to study and reduce trash sources around town (litter). This work is an excellent thing to have in your portfolio later on.  Past interns worked on the first stage of this project and you will pick up where they leave it.
  • Where does trash end up on the ground and in creeks in Chapel Hill?
  • What types of trash are most common?
  • What are the sources of the trash? Illegal dumping? Design issues?
  • What possible programs can the town start with local partners to reduce the amount of waste going into the environment?
  • Help develop a business certificate program to promote pollution prevention and sustainable practices
  • Develop a community science component for an upcoming adopt-a-storm-drain program
  • Planning and implementing the 5th Annual Orange County Creek Week (March 2026) with various partners around the county. You will start business outreach!
  • You’ll be able to flex those public speaking skills by attending (and maybe designing) outreach events for audiences of all ages.

This is a flexible position that is tailored to student interests and skills.  All interns are required to develop a professional portfolio to track deliverables and lessons learned. The semester will end with us fine-tuning your resume, cover letters, and job interview questions.

Unpaid internship

Comments:

Our spring 2025 intern's take on why this internship is worthwhile: "This internship is a really great way to have a deep dive of your own community here in Chapel Hill where you work on projects that have a real-life impact and gain skills that are transferable to all kinds of jobs in the private and public sectors"

Contact Information

For more information about this project, please contact:
Sammy Bauer
sbauer@townofchapelhill.org


About this Organization

Total EcoStudio projects since 2018: 23
Projects led by this mentor: 16


Other Internships At UNC

Pavel Molchanov Scholars Program for Summer Internships

The Molchanov Scholars Program is an endowed internship program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institute for the Environment. The program is a partnership between the UNC Institute for the Environment and environmentally-focused small businesses, non-profit organizations and government institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Each summer undergraduate students are matched with an environmental internship where they gain hands-on, professional training. Each Molchanov Scholar receives a $5,000 stipend to support their summer experience.

More Information

Carolina Dining Services

CDS has a website for internship opportunities. There's an interest form when active listings aren't available, as well.

More Information




These are other internship opportunities that we've heard of that may be of interest to our students. You will need to contact and apply to each organization and opportunity separately. We'll do our best to keep this page up-to-date, but there may be some opportunities that have already expired.


Off Campus - Regularly Occurring

STEM Internships and Fellowships

Undergraduate Internships and Fellowships: Find opportunities to conduct authentic research through internship programs across the country

Internships with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA Student Internships

NOAA Student Opportunities

This listing includes all kinds of opportunities for students at every grade level. You can filter the results to just show what you want. Also check out the NOAA undergraduate scholarships, because they have some paid internships listed here.

Internships with USDA

Check out the Resource Assistants Program. All RAP interns receive Direct Hire Authority (DHA) at the successful conclusion of their internship, which is a useful tool that can help with future employment in a federal agency.

Kay Blada Recycling Internship Program

Kay Blada Recycling is a 501(c)(3) certified non-profit, founded in 2015 and dedicated to alleviating poverty and cleaning up plastic waste in Haiti, while providing environmental education to the children of the community.

Internships with NCPIRG

NCPIRG Students is a student organization that works with UNC students to protect the environment, and promote civic engagement. This Fall our priority campaign is our New Voters Project, where we will be working with the student government and other student groups this fall to make sure no one misses Election Day. We have virtual volunteer and internship opportunities doing outreach, organizing events, and spreading the world through media and social media. Click here to sign up for an information session and apply.

Peace Boat US

Interns and volunteers support office administration, attend events at the UN as Peace Boat US representatives, support campaigns, projects, and educational programs through outreach efforts, and write news and blog articles about our activities. Especially valuable skills and qualities include being multi-lingual (Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, and Japanese are especially helpful), graphic design, networking, photography, communications, public speaking, and very importantly, a passion to support the issues that Peace Boat US works on.




Off Campus - Periodic

Let us know if you want us to list your position by emailing ecostudio@unc.edu

Questions?

Send an email to ecostudio@unc.edu.


 

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