Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Requirements

What are the dates of the internship?

The tentative dates of the internship are mid June - mid August, 2011. These dates are flexible depending on your school schedule.

How old do I have to be to apply?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old by May 15, 2011, and must be enrolled in college or university, or a recent graduate.

Do I need to be in the United States to apply?

You must be either a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident, legal resident with a valid work permit, or be able to obtain a valid work visa independently to be considered eligible for this program.

When is the deadline?

Your complete application must be submitted by March 16, 2011.

How do I apply?

The application deadline for 2011 has passed. Fill out our application form and upload a video (90 seconds or less) talking about why you love the outdoors and why you should be the Sierra Club's next Youth Outdoors Ambassador intern. (As part of the application form, you can send us the URL to your video.) PLEASE NOTE: You MUST follow the instructions below in "How do I upload my video correctly?"

The Video

How do I upload my video correctly?

IMPORTANT! You need to post your video in response to our original video on YouTube. On this page, look for on "Video Responses" right above the comments. Click on "Sign in to post a video response," and YouTube will guide you the rest of the way. Here's a shortcut. THEN you need to paste the URL of your video into the application form. If your video does not appear on this page, we will not be able to consider your application.

Can I submit my application now and submit the video later?

No, you must submit all of your application materials at the same time. Applicants that have not filled out the video URL submission field correctly and completely will not be considered.

I don't have an expensive video camera, just the one on my computer or phone. Do you judge the quality of the video, or the content?

We're looking for someone who has the enthusiasm and skills to promote the Sierra Club's youth outdoors programs. Any video camera should be fine - we're more interested in what you say.

About the Internship

What are the job responsibilities for "the Best Internship on Earth?"

Our Outdoors Youth Ambassador for "the Best Internship on Earth" is required to travel around the country to different Sierra Club outings for our Youth outdoors programs (Inner City Outings, Building Bridges to the Outdoors, and Volunteer Vacations), go hiking and rafting in spectacular natural settings, and learn about all of the different ways the Sierra Club is helping young people experience the outdoors. The intern then gets to film and host a regular video blog about youth in the outdoors.

Where do you travel and what kinds of Sierra Club trips do you attend?

The itinerary for The Best Internship on Earth is still being developed, but will include at least one rafting trip, multiple hikes, a "volunteer vacation" where you help improve a beautiful park area, and some of the most glorious and spectacular scenery in the country. Many of these trips will be in California and some will be in other parts of the country.

I'm not an experienced hiker and I don't have lots of outdoors experience but this sounds really amazing. Can I apply?

Yes! If you love the outdoors, and if you think you can do a good job of communicating that enthusiasm to others, this internship is for you. No previous backpacking or rafting experience is required. You will be attending outings with Sierra Club programs where many of the attendees will also be experiencing these activities for the first time; however you should be in good health and physical condition to enjoy these trips, with adequate muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance.

I'm really excited about the video blogging part of this, but I've never done a video blog before. Will I have any help?

Yes, our production company, Sierra Club Productions, will be available to equip and help you. You operate the camera and film your experiences, and work later with the production company staff for help and guidance with the editing. Editing abilities are a plus, but the most important requirements are a good eye for a story, and excitement about interviewing people about why they are passionate about the outdoors.

Where will I stay in San Francisco?

The intern will be provided with a $2,500 stipend to cover living expenses while in San Francisco. We can help point you towards local online resources that will be helpful in finding a place to stay. The intern is responsible for arranging his/her own housing while in San Francisco. Housing arrangements while on the road to film outdoors events will be covered by the Sierra Club.

Are all of my travel expenses covered? Really?

Yes, really! You just need to get yourself to and from San Francisco at the beginning and end of the internship. We'll cover all the Sierra Club travel during the internship.

Other

Do you have a flier I can circulate on my campus?

Funny you should ask.