Information for Hosting Organizations

Three hikers standing at water’s edge watching a moose drink, with snow-covered Mt. McKinley in background by AlaskaWildland.com. Host Organization Responsibilities

Sponsoring or host organizations must commit to the following:

Work with ACF to create a job description for recruiting prospective students.
Create an independent project and work plan for the intern.
Identify low-cost, temporary housing for the intern prior to their arrival.
Provide appropriate workspace and equipment.
Provide direct supervision.
Orient the intern to the host organization and local community.
Provide the intern with relevant work and opportunity to learn.
Provide an active mentorship to the intern, both while they are in Alaska and ideally beyond.
Keep ACF informed of the intern's work and any problems or other issues relating to the intern.
Cover overhead expenses related to hiring an intern (i.e., employer's portion of Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, etc.)
Complete an intern evaluation.

How Host Organizations Become Eligible for an Intern
ACF facilitates recruitment of interns in cooperation with interested organizations and institutions by working with selected host organizations on possible internship needs and opportunities. Host organizations are selected each August for the following summer. For more information, call ACF at 907-276-1917.

Internship applications from students are accepted beginning in November with a hard deadline of February 15, 2008.

Host organizations will receive candidates to interview by March 1 and will be required to interview and make hiring decisions by March 17, 2008.

Internship assignments are generally between May and August of each year. Flexibility exists to adjust the internship time period based on student and host organization needs. ACF has the ability to fund approximately 15 to 18 positions each year, though we receive 30 to 35 requests for interns each year. To make this as equitable as possible, we do ask groups to sit out to allow other groups the opportunity to host an intern. In determining host organizations, ACF will consider:

How proposed projects best match the mission of ACF and current funding priorities and opportunities
Diversity of issues represented in program, especially taking into account emerging threats and opportunities
Geographic representation
Host organizations ability to locate low-cost, temporary housing for their intern
Past performance as a host organization
Current standing with ACF (i.e., current with all reporting requirements)

Funding
ACF provides funding support to student interns through grants to the host organizations. This constitutes a stipend of $4,000 and reimbursement of travel to/from the host organization of up to $1,000. Host organizations cover the employer's share of payroll tax, worker's compensation, and benefits. Host organizations may withhold applicable state and federal employment taxes.

Program
Internships are 12 weeks in length. Interns are placed in nonprofit groups, state and federal agencies, Alaska Native groups, and other interested organizations that have identified assignments complementing ACF's mission. The actual content of the internship is determined by the sponsoring organization in coordination with ACF. ACF works with interested organizations to ensure that internship assignments offer enough opportunity for students to learn and contribute to Alaska conservation in a meaningful way. Host organizations are identified each August for the following year.

ACF's Role
ACF manages and operates the internship program and is responsible for coordinating with colleges, universities, and other organizations to identify candidates for internship assignments. ACF will:

Respond to questions about the program.
Receive applications.
Work with each host organization to identify the type of intern needed.
Serve as a liaison and a resource for the intern and the host organization.
Facilitate “brown bags” and/or other formal and informal opportunities for interns to meet, learn, and have an enjoyable experience.
Provide stipends and travel support for interns.
Conduct all fundraising for the program.

Program Overview
ACF's Board of Trustees believes that it is possible to achieve broader support for conservation in Alaska by offering career-oriented educational experiences to graduate and undergraduate college students in Alaska and throughout the United States. Students participating in this highly competitive internship program are provided with a unique opportunity to:

Learn firsthand about Alaska's magnificent natural environment and diverse cultures.
Help preserve and protect Alaska's pristine environment by working with a host organization representing the state or federal government, the private sector, or a nonprofit arena.
Gain important and practical job skills in the conservation field while also helping the host organization meet its conservation program goals.
Obtain college credit if approved by an accredited university.
Meet and network with Alaska conservationists, agency personnel, local Alaskans, and other interns.
Become mentors and sources of information for other students interested in Alaska conservation issues.
Contribute to the protection of Alaska's resources and environment by completing an internship project that addresses important Alaska conservation needs.

It is ACF's hope that each of the students selected as an intern will choose a career path in conservation and make a long-term commitment to preserving and protecting the pristine environment and diverse cultures of Alaska.