The work completed during the six week course follows our theory of experiential education which combines hands on work, traditional study and reflection to develop a strategic plan for change. Our goal is to develop theoretical unity as to what we should do and acquire the tools to accomplish this by learning the skills to make our ideals possible. The work is designed to empower participants to take responsibility while simultaneously building the habits to make collective change in real time.

The educational work during the Internship program is divided into the following categories:

• Experiential learning: Interns will utilize a hands-on “apprentice model” approach to learning how to build, grow, organize and live simply.

• From learn by doing to learn by teaching: Once skills are acquired through hands on work, interns will share what they know by helping to run educational programing for young people onsite and in the community.

• Shared inquiry: Interns will study in classes with the goal of improving our theoretical framework to guide the work at the UGC and beyond.

• Reflection and documentation: Interns will document our work through various forms of media. They will then take time to reflect and translate our work into strategies to share with others for free.

Academic Course:  One component of our internship is a collaborative academic reading group and guest lecture series. This will include two sessions a week, where we will collaboratively develop theories and strategies of how to build a social movement of land based practices from the bottom up. This will be a college level academic course. Although we can differentiate workload based on ability, reading, discussing, analyzing and writing about critical ideas in history, politics, social theory, and environmental science will be a component of this course. Some of the questions we will explore throughout this course will be:

• What can we learn from the strategies of activists in the past who have attempted to address environmental degradation, inequality, and poverty? How can we improve on their analysis by applying our own experiences organizing locally as well as new knowledge in the social science and ecology fields?
• How can we correct the destructive nature of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, nativism (and others), that have prevented solidarity and aborted so many environmental and workers movements in the past?
• To the best of our knowledge, what are the coming decades going to look like socially/environmentally, and what kind of  social/cultural, economic, environmental changes should we make to accommodate what the upcoming decades will look like?
• What are appropriate ways for settlers interested in social and environmental justice to become allies (if not accomplices) of indigenous people without furthering the settling of indigenous lands and the displacement of indigenous people?

Gardening and Soil Building:  An important component of the internship is learning how to grow food sustainably. We will introduce interns to our methods of soil building and intensive food growing. Also, interns will get a chance to help with garden design and implementation. We will also be designing a perennial garden, building soil and planting fruit trees. Garden maintenance, harvesting, processing and cooking will be ongoing, weekly work.

Natural Building and off grid infrastructure:  Our philosophy of building is to extract resources, create and use the structure without exploiting the environment or the people involved. Additionally, we strive to create a food growing infrastructure that doesn’t require fossil fuels. Applying this principle in action, we will be building an underground, timber framed greenhouse this year and creating farm infrastructure around our site. Interns will be:

• Dropping trees from the forest on site and processing them into timbers for construction.

• Framing structures using round wood and traditional timber frame techniques with hand tools.

• Building cordwood walls with clay mortar for insulation and structural support.

• Installing off grid utilities such as solar panels, compost bins and rain catchment systems.

Running Educational Program with Youth:  An important element of our work at the UGC is sharing our knowledge with members of the community, specifically young people. Throughout the summer, we will participate in various field trips, workshops and tours to demonstrate our work. Interns will help run these programs based on their familiarity and comfort with the topics. Some programs we will run are:

• Maintenance of a community garden in town with the Boys & Girls club.

• Hosting classes and tours on site.

• Hands on classes to install off-grid utilities.

• Guided work days with visitors of various ages and ability levels.

Documentation of Strategies and Systems: Throughout the 6 weeks, interns will maintain a journal to document the work that we are doing. Everyone is encouraged to keep notes throughout the week. Once a week, interns will have a chance to consolidate their notes and turn them into shareable strategies. Some examples of this documentation will be:

• Blueprints of systems we design and build.

• Drawings of techniques of building soil.

• Written suggestions of methods of organizing community.

• Lesson plans for kids in the gardens.

Experiences Gained

During our summer internship, participants will gain the following experiences:

• learning skills for educating youth on food sovereignty
• community organizing to develop sustainable local infrastructure
• academic discourse and collaboratively published strategic plans
• experience off-grid homestead living
• learn skills in natural building, off-grid infrastructure construction and sustainable food production
• exploring the Catskills and Hudson Valley area to experience the outdoors and meet other local groups invested in collective or social justice initiatives

Qualifications

Our summer internship has three openings. The primary focus of our selection process are people under-represented in the dominant sustainability movement culture: people of color, religious minorities, low-income people, women, and members of the LGBTQ community. Previous experience is not required, but a passion for the environment, social justice, and a commitment to helping others (especially helping children, the elderly, those with special needs, and the socio-economically marginalized) is a must to be considered for this opportunity.

Stipend

People from communities who would benefit most from the skill sets we offer are the ones most often locked out of the workshop culture, even when costs are sliding scale. The main goal of the UGC is to offer these skill trainings for free to dedicated participants who will utilize the skills gained to help others.

We recognize that interns could use their summers to make money in a traditional job, so the UGC will collaborate with colleges to secure funding to support interns and compensate them for their time here during the summer. If interns aren’t affiliated with a college that can provide funding, we can provide a stipend of $1,500 for the 6 week program.

Internship Dates and Selection Process

• This year’s summer internship is from June 27th to August 6th.
• The internship selection process is in three stages:
  1. Prospective interns must fill out the online application.
  2. A phone interview will be conducted.
  3. Chosen applicants must be able to commit to a visit to the UGC prior to the start of the program for an in-person interview and a tour of our site to make sure it is a good fit for both parties.

Prospective Interns Must:

• Be able to commit to a 6 week, living on-site program.
• Be responsible, on time, clean, and conscientious of others. This is critical because we are sharing spaces, tools, resources, and ideas.
• Have an open mind for new experiences and perspectives, and show emotional maturity when dealing with people different than themselves.
• Be able to participate in academic classes. Although we can differentiate the workload based on ability, reading, discussing, analyzing, note taking, and writing about critical ideas in history, politics, social theory, and environmental science will be a component of this course.
• Be able to participate in strenuous physical activities that may require lifting a minimum of 40 pounds and work outdoors in the summer months during various weather conditions.
• Have more than an introductory understanding of the concept of privilege and possess an interest ecology, food justice, agriculture, community organizing, and mutual aid.
• Be able to share common space, help in preparing common meals, and participate in clean-up.

Accommodations: Two cabins are available on the property; one for a single occupant, one for two occupants. Cabins are to be kept clean and orderly at all times.

Aside from the cabins, all other spaces on the property are common-spaces, including the outhouses, sheds, and an outdoor shower. Please consider your needs for personal space and privacy.

Personal items such as electronics and toiletries that are brought into the common areas must be returned to the cabins after use. Interns are expected to follow the UGC’s rules for clean up after meals, keeping the common areas clean, and rules for laundry and cabin upkeep.

What To Bring*: 

-bicycle, reusable water bottle (no disposables), sleeping bag and extra blankets/pillow, work clothing that can get messy, clothing for going out into the community – dress for the weather: sometimes it’s hot during the day but cool at night, water proof work boots, comfortable sneakers for walking and biking (it’s good to have multiple shoes in case a pair gets wet so you have something dry to wear), lots of socks, towel, rubber flip-flops for the outdoor shower.

*If you have trouble getting any of items on this list please contact us and let us know, we may be able to help. 

*Rules on Toiletries – Only biodegradable toiletries are used at the UGC. Natural toothpaste, unscented soaps and shampoos that are biodegradable will be provided by the UGC. If interns want to bring their own toiletries these items must be checked to make sure they fit the UGC’s standards for biodegradability.

On-Site Culture:

• The UGC is a tobacco, alcohol and drug free environment (this includes in the cabins and throughout the grounds).
• We believe in communication that is timely, open, and honest while also being respectful of diverse identities, lived experiences, and perspectives.

• We are committed to the practice of mutual aid and establishing a community of giving. With this comes a change of narrative – consciously moving away from asking “What can I get?” toward asking “What can I give?” instead.
• A goal of our work at the UCG is to challenge the compulsive  use of smartphones and consumption of media. We request that all participants on our grounds be fully present and engaged during our work day and common times by staying off their phones.

Pet Policy: There is a farm dog and cat that live on the premises. No other pets are allowed on the UGC grounds during the internship.

Transportation: Interns who have their own car will be given designated parking. A car is not necessary for this internship. There is a Trailways bus to travel long distances outside of the town and rides can be arranged on a needed basis or for an emergency.

Meals/Dietary Restrictions: The UGC has a covered outdoor kitchen space. We will provide ingredients for three meals a day. Interns are expected to participate in commonly prepared meals. Applicants should list dietary restrictions upfront.

Guest Policy: As this is an intensive 6 week program, we ask that interns do not bring guests during the work week. Interns may have a guest on the weekend but must discuss this with UGC staff at least one week prior.

Media: We will be documenting our work throughout the internship via video and photos to be shared on our website. Please let us know of any specific restrictions or ways you want your identity to be shared publicly.