New 2026 TEK Workforce Opportunity

By Rose High Bear (Deg Hit’an Dine, Inupiaq)

Founding Director

Image of Sacred Tree graphic

Elderberry Wisdom Farm is excited to announce the expansion of our TEK Workforce Development Internships for Native Americans and other interns interested in conservation careers. In 2026 we will offer 6-month TEK Urban Forestry Internships that expand work with partners including Oregon Department of Forestry: Urban Forestry, City of Salem Urban Forestry, Friends of Trees and 3 local Salem high schools. 

Interns will learn to strengthen climate resiliency and biodiversity by learning to plant tree, shrub and pollinator ground cover species in three of Salem's socially vulnerable neighborhoods. They will work with EWF staff to engage the next generation of high school students in after school activities and in the classroom as they learn to propagate, plant and maintain trees in low-tree-canopy neighborhoods, schoolyards, neighborhood parks and natural areas around their schools. 

Interns’ will expand their conservation career pathway planning skills working in EWF's Native American Plant Nurseries designed to strengthen their workforce readiness. We will provide culturally tailored classroom education and experiential service-learning activities by germinating and cultivating containerized trees and companion plants for project partners.

In November we will begin accepting inquiries from Native American and other interns interested in this expanded paid six-month opportunity. Candidates must live near Salem or be willing to move to the surrounding area in order to participate. They must also be able to work indoors and outdoors: standing, walking, climbing, lifting, and carrying objects for periods of time in any terrain and weather conditions ranging from hot, dry, dusty, foggy, cold, and rainy. They may work around heavy equipment and in areas with poison oak and other noxious plant species. But it’s fulfilling work that will teach you a lot about yourself, build your stamina and employment skills, immerse you in nature, perhaps prepare you for self-employment in one of EWF’s businesses, or for another job in the fields of conservation, natural resources, and agriculture. If you are interested in applying or have questions, please feel free to contact us. You can send your resume and letter of interest to rose@elderberrywisdom.org.