What does the Western PA Conservancy internship program consist of?
The School Grounds Greening (SGG) Project has employed the help of Public Allies for the past two seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). The Allies have assisted with coordinating plant care-taking efforts at each school project, project documentation, and helping develop and distribute different forms of media such as newletters, brochures, and other informational and educational materials to the various groups involved with the SGG Project. The Community Gardens and Greenspace department has employed a number of interns over the years from non-profit internship placement organizations including Public Allies and PULSE (Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience). Several other departments within the Conservancy use interns throughout the year as well.
What are the available career paths within the Western PA Conservancy?
There are a wide range of career paths available at the Western PA Conservancy. The Community Gardens and Greenspace field staff helps maintain the community gardens and downtown planters throughout the year. They also assist with tree plantings, school events, and coordinating the volunteers at each site. The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP), Conservation Science, Watershed Conservation, and Land Conservation and Stewardship departments’ work focuses on many different disciplines within the science and biology fields. The PNHP department alone has expertise in botany, plant and aquatic ecology, ornithology, herpetology, mammalogy, invertebrate zoology, data management, and Geographic Information Systems. Fallingwater also employs nearly 100 staff ranging from tour guides, to visitor service representatives, to ground maintenance crews.
What is the education required to work at the Western PA Conservancy? Any specific degrees?
Education requirements at the Western PA Conservancy vary from department to department. Since the work done at the organization varies from landscaping to conservation sciences, education requirements range from a high school diploma, to bachelors and masters degrees, to doctorate degrees.
Are there any positions at the Western PA Conservancy that can be considered “green jobs”?
Virtually every job within the Western PA Conservancy can be considered a “green job”. The definition of a “green job” according to the United Nations Environment Program is work “that contribute[s] substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution.” The Western PA Conservancy’s mission is to protect and restore exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations. The Western PA Conservancy creates green spaces and gardens, contributing to the vitality of our cities and towns, and preserves Fallingwater, a symbol of people living in harmony with nature.
