RISE Internship: Hermitage Program of the Cascabel Conservation Association
Position Title: Network & Accompaniment Person(s)
Reports to: Susan Tollefson, Co-Chair, CCA Hermitage Program
Hours/Week: 5 – 8 hours/week
Internship Date Range: October 2023 – April 2024
Location: Cascabel, AZ & University of Arizona
About the Resilience Internships and Student Experiences (RISE) Program
The RISE Program is hosted by the Arizona Institute of Resilient Environments and Societies (AIRES) and aims to provide both undergraduate and graduate students with paid internships related to resilient environments and societies. RISE internships give students experience in workplace settings with an opportunity to grow their interpersonal skills and prepare them for careers after graduation.
About the Cascabel Conservation Association (CCA)
CCA stewards a Sonoran Desert wildlands habitat in southeastern Arizona, about 25 miles north of Benson. It encompasses over 600 acres in the uplands of a major watershed of the San Pedro River and has been preserved for solo and small-group sojourns, or rural retreats for the past 25 years. The sojourn site is located in a sparsely populated rural community of people who care for this land and are focused on living in a symbiotic relationship with it and each other. The habitat is available to sojourners seeking solitude and a more intimate experience of the Sonoran Desert. It is for those of any faith, artists, writers, activists, students, conservationists, or contemplatives of any persuasion.
CCA offers two hermitages for solo sojourners—the Caravan Hermitage and the Cottage Hermitage—as well as a primitive small group (8-10 people) retreat campground at the Corbett Retreat & Research Center.
In order to maintain the integrity of the surrounding wildlands, all facilities are intentionally primitive.
Internship summary
Participate in a 2-to-3-person interdisciplinary team that will network with, invite, and accompany small groups (no more than 10 people) of UA students and/or faculty to sojourn (retreat) at the CCA Corbett Retreat and Research Center. The desired team will compose of students in a variety of disciplines, such as but not limited to: Theology, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Art, Archeology, Education, Sociology, Medicine.
Internship description
As part of the interview process (September 2-4, 2023), prospective interns will participate in an overnight camping stay at the CCA Corbett Retreat & Research Center in order to make an informed decision regarding internship desirability. Transportation will be provided for this stay.
- The chosen team will participate in meetings via Zoom to determine a networking plan within the University campus, identify and meet with a broad base of potential campus groups and faculty who might be interested in small group sojourns (or retreats) of 8-10 people.
- Members of the team will invite interested small groups to tour the area and the two hermitages.
- Under the guidance of the Hermitage Program co-chair, team members will plan, organize, and participate in scheduled tours.
- During the internship, the team will spend 3 overnight periods at the Corbett Retreat & Research Center in order to become familiar with the wildland setting and hermitages, and to meet with Cascabel community members who have participated in the creation of the Hermitage Program and/or accompanied sojourners over the past 25 years.
Requirements
- Review the Hermitage Program on the CCA Website and read the History of the program.
- Have a personal desire to get to know the Sonoran/Chihuahuan desert natural environment.
- Recognize the benefit of small groups taking time away in nature for reflection and reconnection with the earth, their deeper self, and each other in intentionally simple circumstances.
- Desire and ability to be part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to network with a variety of campus groups and organizations that might desire the opportunity to spend reflective time together in a wildland setting.
- Be available to participate in an interview process that involves a weekend, overnight camping stay at the Corbett Retreat & Research Center.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to collaborate in an inter-disciplinary team.
- Ability to interact with an eclectic community.
- Comfortable with outdoor camping in a wild and primitive environment.
- Recognize the need for small group reflection time in a natural setting away from the bustle of life.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Compensation
The Network & Accompaniment Person intern is compensated by The University of Arizona. The pay rate will be $18/hour.
How to Apply
Please email your application containing a resume/CV and a short text explaining why you think this internship would be a good fit to Susan Tollefson at smtollefson51@gmail.com. After you submit your application, the internship host will review the candidates and follow up.
Applications for the Network & Accompaniment Person internship must be submitted no later than July 1, 2023.