We offer opportunities in the field and in the office!
Friends of the Clearwater began as an all-volunteer organization in the early 1990s. Today, volunteers and interns assist with policy analysis, fundraising events, educational programming, administrative tasks in the office, field monitoring, and much more. Whatever your talent or amount of time, our staff is willing to tailor an opportunity that fits your strengths, expertise, and passions to protect wild Clearwater country.
We strive to offer rewarding internships that match your development and career goals with our objectives and mission. Many times this results in positive experiences for all parties. We are happy to offer internships with students from Lewis – Clark State College, University of Idaho and Washington State University, as well as work with students from out of the region via on-line communication.
Many current and former staff members of Friends of the Clearwater started as interns and volunteers for the organization. It’s a great gateway into the non-profit world! Gain invaluable experience working with experts in public lands policy, environmental law, grassroots organizing, non-profit management, and more. We will create an internship that fits your interests. We accept artists, activists, media gurus, English majors, budding scientists, policy people, law students, and those that just want to gain a little experience for the future.
Noah Hoff, 2015
Washington State University
Major/Minor: BA in Sociology, Minor in Communications
My internship experience has been very exciting and action packed. Not only have I gained a ton of experience in event organization and planning, but I have also received quite a bit of hands-on experience with computer programs like Indesign and Photoshop. I was also able to help out with the weekly radio show a few times and gain some broadcasting knowledge! Brett, Gary, and the members of Friends of the Clearwater are some of the nicest people I have ever met and have all made my experience unforgettable. I highly recommend interning with this outstanding organization and supporting its remarkable cause.
Ava Isaacson, 2016
University of Idaho
Major: Environmental Science
My experience as an intern at Friends of the Clearwater was exceptional and something that I would recommend to others. Volunteering is a rewarding experience for me and I am a passionate environmentalist. Two loves of mine came together in a perfect cohesion at FOC, where I was able to have an impact in my community and watershed. Working on policy with Gary was informative, leading me out to the South Fork of the Clearwater, a beautiful, unique experience. I would love to continue to pursue more on-the-ground environmental work in a preservation capacity. Volunteering with Brett was exciting and enriching, as education is my comfort zone.
While interning with FOC, I had the privilege of working behind the scenes of the Free the Snake Flotilla, a wonderful dam removal demonstration in October 2015. Event organization is a skill of mine and being able to expand on this pre-existing skill set was a remarkable experience.
I enjoyed working with Brett and Gary at the Friends of the Clearwater, and I wish that graduate school had not gotten so busy, so that I may have been able to continue a more in depth time with these two important environmental leaders. Interning with this group helped refine my views on environmental preservation and see what it truly takes to have active preservation and conservation in our wild places.
Clare Eigenbrode, 2017
Beloit College
Major: Environmental Justice and Citizenship; minors: Spanish and Journalism
Since I’m endemic to Moscow, Friends of the Clearwater and their work in the area was always in my periphery while I was growing up here. From May to July in 2017, my internship with FOC gave me the best possible glimpse into just what the organization does for the wilderness and communities of the Clearwater region.
Over the course of just a few months at FOC, I learned a great deal about the brass tacks of outreach, fundraising, and data collection as well as my rights and duties as a public land owner, and I felt like I was finally doing my part for the wilderness that’s so much a part of my identity as an Idahoan. I also loved how quickly I was welcomed into the FOC family by Ashley, Brett, Gary and all the organization’s members.
I would definitely recommend this experience to any of my peers who want to see what life is like at a great nonprofit, and who want to help preserve our region’s public lands!
Sonja Lierman, 2018
University of Idaho
Major: Recreation
Let me tell you, the amount of work the four staff members at Friends of the Clearwater can accomplish is mind-blowing. There is no wondering if their hearts are truly in their work because it shows abundantly with every task they take on. With a mission area the size of two Yellowstone National Parks there is never a lack of work to be done to protect it. I like to think that this semester I was able to be a small part of the incredibly important work they do.
I have had the privilege of working in outreach, membership, and even a little policy this semester. However, the best knowledge I gained was just being in the office while the staff dealt with different issues that came up. Seeing Ashley deal with finding grants, Brett deal with public and press, and Gary and Katie combining their powers to wade through all the government mud taught me so much about this type of work.
I enjoyed my internship immensely and would highly recommend any student interested in an environmental non-profit to look into giving a bit of their time to Friends of the Clearwater. You will not regret it and you will learn so much.
Bryce Poplawsky, 2019
University of Puget Sound
Major: Biology
My experience as an intern at Friends of the Clearwater was eye opening, inspiring, and very enjoyable. I was able to spend most of my summer in the outdoors, a passion of mine. I took pictures of botched slash burns, ineffective bear-safe containers, and potential timber sale areas around the beautiful Gospel-Hump wilderness. I enjoyed my internship an incredible amount, and learned a lot about the politics and details of wilderness and roadless management. I also was able to explore areas of Idaho that I had never been and see places that need to be protected that I hadn’t thought about before.
However, through this, I gained a lot of insight into how important organizations like FOC are. I realized that if such a small organization can have such a big impact on timber sales, grizzly bear reintroduction efforts, and education about conservation, there really is a lot of hope for the environment. Working for FOC inspired me and helped me realize that we can make a bigger difference than we think.
For more information, email us at foc@friendsoftheclearwater.org or call 208-882-9755. Thanks!