Category Archives: Conservation

PennEnvironment

Updated 10/9/19

Mission:

PennEnvironment is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization focused on issues of special importance to the state of Pennsylvania. A constituent of the national organization Environment America, PennEnvironment works to better the environment through a number of approaches, including the protection of the natural heritage and health of residents, and promotion of sustainable resource exploitation. These goals are accomplished through activism and advocacy, by recruiting citizens,  interacting with the press, and lobbying government at the local, state, and federal level.

Programs/Services Offered:

Current initiatives include the protection of state parks and forests, the conversion of Philadelphia’s Reading Viaduct into an elevated park, and fighting the activities of coal and natural gas corporations in the state. For a complete list and detailed descriptions, see http://www.pennenvironment.org/issues.

Student Opportunities:

Students can get involved with PennEnvironment during both their time at Bryn Mawr and after graduation.

Internships are offered each semester and over the summer. These internships have been structured into Praxis III courses in the past – contact CEO Praxis Coordinator Nell Anderson (nanderso@brynmawr.edu) if interested. For more information and application instructions, visit http://jobs.environmentamerica.org/internship.html.

Fellowships are available to recent college graduates interested in making a two year commitment to environmental advocacy in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., or 29 other states. Check out http://jobs.environmentamerica.org/fellowship.html for details. If you’re interested in talking with past PennEnvironment fellows, email Nell as well.

PennEnvironment
Philadelphia Office:
1420 Walnut Street, Suite 650
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 732-5897

United By Blue

Updated 10/9/19

Mission:

United By Blue is a unique outdoor apparel store/coffee shop located in Old City Philadelphia that is driven by the idea of associating the sale of each product with a concrete environmental action. For every product sold, UBB removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company organized and hosted cleanups.

Programs/Service Offered:

By collaborating with suppliers who use sustainable practices and organizing waterway cleanups around the country, United By Blue works to affect meaningful environmental change through a for-profit business model.

Student Opportunities:

Students can sign up to volunteer at one of United By Blue’s cleanups. For locations and more info, visit http://unitedbyblue.com/collections/cleanups.

Job and internships opportunities are sometimes available. Check http://unitedbyblue.com/pages/jobs-and-internships for current listings.

Website: http://unitedbyblue.com/

Radnor Middle School Watershed Program

Updated 10/14/19

Mission:

Watershed is an Integrated Learning Program for Seventh Graders at the Radnor Middle School in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The nationally and internationally recognized Watershed Program was founded  in 1987, and for twenty- four years, Watershed has been a yearlong full day program, which has replaced the traditional 7th grade curriculum. Skills and concepts are integrated around the comprehensive study of a local watershed through a combination of classroom activities and site visits.  A heterogeneous mix of twenty boys and twenty girls are admitted each year through a lottery process. Students are encouraged to gather, retain, interrelate, apply and communicate first hand information about watersheds with special emphasis on what it means to live sustainably in the 21st century.

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Student Opportunities:

Bryn Mawr students have partnered with the Radnor Middle School Watershed Program on Praxis III courses in the past. Contact the Bryn Mawr Civic Engagement Office for more information, or contact Watershed program coordinators Jon Savitch (jon.savitch@rtsd.org) and Doug Pittman (douglas.pittman@rtsd.org).

Phone: 610-386-6300 x7210

Website: http://www.rtsd.org/Page/4725

Email:  Jon Savitch (jon.savitch@rtsd.org) and Doug Pittman (douglas.pittman@rtsd.org).

 

Elmwood Park Zoo

Updated 10/14/19
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The Elmwood Park Zoo’s mission is to foster an appreciation of wildlife and their habitat that will inspire active participation in conservation. As one of only 225 zoos in North America to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Elmwood Park Zoo strives to be a leader in conservation efforts.

The Volunteer Program is a very important part of the zoo’s continued success. Each year, dedicated volunteers donate thousands of hours to help the Elmwood Park Zoo be the best it can be. They support EPZ’s mission of conservation and education throughout the zoo and in a variety of ways. Depending on their interests and background, individuals can apply for Education, Marketing, and Maintenance volunteer positions, just to name a few. For more information, as well as a link to our online application, please visit http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/volunteer.php.

Website: http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/

Location: 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, Pennsylvania 19401

 

Bartram’s Gardens

Updated 10/14/19

Mission:

Situated on the banks of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Bartram’s Garden is best known as the home, farm, and garden of John Bartram (1699-1777), America’s first naturalist botanist and plant explorer. The non-profit John Bartram Association, in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, seeks to preserve the historical legacy of the site while making a meaningful impact on the surrounding community and promoting environmentally responsible practices.

Programs/Services Offered:

The Gardens serve as a host site for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Roots to Re-entry program; offer educational programming and workshops for visitors of all ages; include a section of the Schuylkill River Trail; and house  the John Bowman Bartram Special Collections Library, which curates the writings, genealogical information, books, and photographs by and about the Bartrams and their garden.

Student Opportunities:

Bartram’s Gardens host public volunteer days on the second Saturday of each month from March to October, 9 am to noon. Preregistration is necessary. Special events for volunteers and opportunities in the nursery and store also occur regularly. For upcoming events and registration, visit http://www.bartramsgarden.org/volunteer/.

Bartram’s Garden
54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19143
215.729.5281

Philadelphia Zoo

Updated 10/14/19

Mission:

The Philadelphia Zoo, the first of its kind in the U.S., aims to advance discovery, understanding and stewardship of the natural world through exhibition and interpretation of living animals and plants. An accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Philadelphia Zoo has a reputation for excellence in conservation and scientific research.

Programs/Services Offered:

The Philadelphia Zoo curates a diverse range of living creatures, leads endangered species conservation and research projects, and also enables the public to experience the great diversity of nature.  Many educational programs for kids, families and adults including classes, workshops, seminars and camps are offered.

Student Opportunities:

Bryn Mawr students have been involved with the Philadelphia Zoo in a number of ways, including Praxis III courses, volunteer work, and internships. To learn more about structuring a Praxis III course, contact Nell Anderson, the Civic Engagement Office Praxis Coordinator, at nanderso@brynmawr.edu.

As volunteers, students have the opportunity to work with a variety of programs, depending on the needs of the Zoo at any given time. These programs include AFZ Camera Club, Conservation Stewards, Camp Counselors (March- May), Zoo Docents, and many others. Current information is available at http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/participate/Volunteer/Adults.htm. Potential volunteers must submit an online application and pass Criminal Background, Child Abuse and FBI Background checks. Contact the Civic Engagement Office for help with this process.

Internships in areas including animal care, conservation, zoo administration, and development are regularly offered. Check out http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/Get-Involved/Volunteer/Career-Internships.aspx for current openings, position descriptions, requirements, and applications. You can also call 215-243-5200 or email zoointerns@phillyzoo.org for more information.

Address: 3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104-1196
Phone: 215-243-1100

Clinton Foundation: Clinton Climate Initiative

Updated: 10/14/19

Mission:

Founded by former President Bill Clinton and based primarily in New York City, the Clinton Foundation convenes businesses, governments, NGOs, and individuals to improve global health and wellness, increase opportunity for women and girls, reduce childhood obesity, create economic opportunity and growth, and help communities address the effects of climate change. Under this umbrella, the Clinton Climate Initiative approaches the issue of climate change by increasing energy efficiency in cities, increasing the large-scale supply of clean energy, and working to stop deforestation.

Programs/Services Offered:

The Clinton Climate Initiative achieves its goals through a multifaceted repertoire of projects, including investing in green energy in Haiti, reducing the carbon emissions of built environments by improving construction and maintenance standards and instituting an employee-based benefit loan program to help people retrofit their homes to be more energy efficient, and working with governments and local partners in Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania and Guyana to develop sustainable forest management projects and measure forest carbon emissions.

Student Opportunities:

Fellowships, internships, and volunteer opportunities are offered in conjunction with many of the Clinton Foundation’s projects and allow students to participate in research, communications, logistics, and technological support. Visit http://www.clintonfoundation.org/careers for current listings and application instructions.

Website: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/our-work/clinton-climate-initiative

Address: The Clinton Foundation, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-348-8882

Harriton House

Updated: 10/14/19

Mission:

Harriton House is a historical site and local cultural gem, dating back to 1704. This site and adjoining land was the home of Charles Thompson, the first and only Secretary to the Continental and Confederation Congresses. Harriton House is surrounded by a park, gardens and a stream, in addition to a site apiary and a thriving bee keeping program.

 

Programs/Services Offered

Harriton House offers instructional tours of the site for groups on a daily basis. They also host a wide variety of camps for children and educational programs for adults, including visiting lecturers and opportunities to learn beekeeping, woodturning and blacksmithing.

 

Student Opportunities:

There are opportunities for volunteers in areas of building maintenance, assisting in group tours, and helping with educational programming. Those interested in learning more about Harriton House should contact Curator Bruce Gill or Assistant Kayla Block at (610) 525-0201 or info@harritonhouse.org.

Address: 500 Harrition Road, P.O. Box 1364, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: 610.525.0201

Website: http://www.harritonhouse.org/

The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University

Updated 10/14/19

Mission:

Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences is America’s oldest natural history museum and a world leader in biodiversity and environmental research. The mission of the Academy is to encourage and cultivate the sciences, explore the remarkable diversity of the natural world, and share these discoveries with the public through innovative exhibits, publications, and educational programming.

Programs/Services Offered

The Academy of Natural Sciences offers educational programs, camps, workshops and exhibits for visitors of all ages, including  the annual George Washington Carver Science Fair and the Women in Natural Sciences Enrichment Program.

The Academy also encompasses the Center for Environmental Policy (CEP),  a key player in the environmental and sustainability community of the greater Philadelphia region. Bringing together scientists, policy makers, and the general public around issues of critical environmental importance, the CEP provides non-partisan, science-based information on key environmental issues, promotes solutions, and builds awareness. The CEP offers regular public programs held at the Academy on relevant topics, and also serves as a logistical hub for local working groups organized around sustainability issues.

Student Opportunities:

The Academy of Natural Sciences offers both volunteer and internship opportunities.

Volunteers can serve as exhibit guides, research assistants, or can help in the  live animal center and children’s summer camp. Browse current listings at http://www.ansp.org/get-involved/volunteer.

The Academy regularly offers internships related to exhibition development and management, as well as opportunities to take part in scientific research (see http://www.ansp.org/research/fellowships-endowments/research-internships/).

Address: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 299-1000