Sustainability Fellowships: Community Learning Lab

The Community Learning Lab is a sustainability fellowship program that invests in professional growth and academic achievement for undergraduate students while bringing needed capacity to advance place-based sustainability initiatives in local organizations, schools, agencies, and businesses in the Methow Valley. 

The Community Learning Lab consists of a small cohort of fellows living in the Methow Valley while participating in the program. The fellowship involves a paid work opportunity to help an organization in the Methow Valley advance initiatives in sustainability, including, community health and equity, economic vitality, social justice, environmental quality, and place-based learning. This year we are offering 16 fellowships for undergraduate students to be part of a cohort living in the Methow Valley.

The program runs for 10 weeks, from June 21 to August 27. Most positions are 24 hours per week, with a couple of exceptions (one at 30 hours and one at 10 hours). Please also note that some positions have the option of running longer into September. Most positions offer a combination of an hourly wage and housing.

This year's cohort will consist of 16 students, where 5 positions have already been filled. The remaining fellowships positions are listed below:

  • Fish Passage Barrier Assessment Technician
  • River to Raven Land Stewardship Fellow
  • Methow at Home Sustainability Practicum
  • Methow Valley Fire Lookout Sustainability Fellow
  • Room One Advocacy Practicum
  • Shafer Museum Sustainability Fellow
  • Sustainable Pathways Communications & Outreach Practicum
  • Willow Brook Farm Crew / Sustainability Fellow
  • Youth Advocate & Sustainability Pathways Fellow

Fellows also learn as a cohort, enrolling in a section of the 3-credit Sustainability Planning Studio course (ENVS 471) that involves applied, community-engaged projects. This course will support development of professional and leadership skills including project management. Past projects can be viewed on the Office of Sustainability website.

Depending on your major, the Sustainability Planning Studio course may be taken as an elective or may also be applied to the Sustainability Minor (see WWU catalog for more information). Please consult with your advisor to see how ENVS 471 fits in your degree path.

This is an interdisciplinary program and students from all colleges and departments are encouraged to apply!

Internship credit is also available (up to 8 credits for most positions) but not required.

Application Process:

  1. Review position descriptions and complete the online application, indicating which position(s) you are applying for. Candidates will be selected for interviews based on online application responses.
  2. Once offered a fellowship position, students can register for Campus Sustainability Planning Studio (ENVS 471), and if registering for internship credits, complete an internship / learning agreement for the appropriate number of internship credits.

Complete the online application by clicking here.

Please direct questions about the program, your application, or any of the fellowship positions to: Joshua.Porter@wwu.edu