One Day, One Job » outdoors

National Ability Center

Willy Franzen — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:33:18 +0000

I absolutely love playing sports and participating in other outdoor activities. Physical activities are great because they provide nearly immediate feedback. You have a great idea of how you’re performing and how hard you can push yourself. That’s why the National Ability Center in Park City, UT uses activities like “alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, swimming, cycling, waterskiing, horseback riding, rafting,” and more to aid the “the development of lifetime skills for people of all ages and abilities.” By using specially designed equipment and well-trained instructors (many of whom are individuals with disabilities), The National Ability Center is able to bring these wonderful activities to people who may otherwise never have a chance to participate.

Discover Your Abilities

Last year the National Ability Center delivered lessons and outing to 15,545 individuals. The participants were able to “build self-esteem, confidence and physical development,” which are absolutely essential skills that can be taken back to everyday life. The National Ability delivers their programming with a number of core values in mind. These include Innovative, Integrity, Affordable, Caring, Inclusive, Empowerment, Quality, and Customer Service. The National Ability Center website is a bit hard to navigate, but they do provide a ton of information on their programming, so I highly recommend that you dive in and learn more. If you like what you see, then you can move on to their Jobs page where they have opportunities including Lead Program Staff, Program Staff, Public Relations Coordinator, Facilities and Capital Manager, and Events Coordinator. These look like amazing job opportunities, so don’t pass them up.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about National Ability Center?

Outdoor Research

Willy Franzen — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:41:18 +0000

This weather is insane. Yesterday it hit 80 degrees in Chicago. The 10-day forecast would be awesome for June… and it’s mid-March. As a result, all I want to do is be outside. But to be honest, even when the weather sucks, I still usually want to be outside. With the kind of gear that companies like Outdoor Research put out, there’s no excuse no matter what the weather. Outdoor Research is based in Seattle, WA, and they’re focused “on creating functional solutions for human powered adventure.” The company was founded in 1981 by a physicist named Ron Gregg. He was unhappy with how his gear performed on one of his outdoor adventures, so he decided to make a better version. They started with handwear, headwear, and gaiters, but after finding success in those areas started developing new product lines.

Do Your Research

What differentiates Outdoor Research from a lot of other companies in the space is that they take a deep dive into very specific niches, or as they say, “We do weird well.” The video on their Our Story page does a great job of explaining how they do this and what they mean by performance. It’s not just about serving markets like alpinism, backcountry skiing / riding, hiking, backpacking, ice climbing, rock climbing, trail running, and paddling. It’s about considering all of the situations that those activities occur in and designing gear that will perform in the situations they’re intended for. If you love that approach, then take a look at Outdoor Research’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Front-end Web Developer and a Product Developer – Apparel, but the best posting is definitely for I’ll do anything to work at Outdoor Research!. I think it’s pretty self-explanatory.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How are you enjoying the weather?

Chewonki Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:51:06 +0000

I’ve mentioned before that my middle and high school sent its classes on annual trips to promote bonding and discourage cliquiness. In 6th grade it was a Whale Watch, in 7th grade it was Camp Hi-Rock, and in 8th grade it was supposed to be Chewonki. We had been hearing about Chewonki from the older kids for years, but for some reason they changed it to Camp Sloane for our class. That ended up being a 1-year experiment after 20 members of my 8th grade class (including me) got lost in the woods overnight with one teacher. I thought it was fun, but some others (and their parents) weren’t so amused. Anyway, when I was looking for a non-profit to feature today, I came across the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, ME. The name is obviously familiar, even if I never got to go. The simplest way to describe Chewonki might be as a camp, but that doesn’t really do justice to the wide range of programs that they offer.

Appreciate the Natural World

Chewonki’s mission is to provide “educational experiences that foster an understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural world and that emphasize the power of focused, collective effort.” They do this with a variety of programs that includes camps, wilderness trips, outdoor classrooms, and more. All together, they reach more than 40,000 young people every year. That’s a lot of people for anywhere, let alone coastal Maine. Since I sadly never got to visit Chewonki, I can’t tell you all about their campus and lands, but I’m sure they’re wonderful. If you’d like to spend time at Chewonki and you’re too old to be a camper, take a look at their Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a French Teacher, Teaching Fellows, a Health Center Assistant, Camp Counselors, Support Staff/Activity Leaders, Wilderness Trip Leaders, and Outdoor Classroom Instructor/Trip Leaders. A lot of these are seasonal positions, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever been to Chewonki?

Madison Square Park Conservancy

Willy Franzen — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:30:09 +0000

I’m lucky to live smack dab between two parks. Though they’re both small but very lively–filled with dog walkers in the winter and everybody else when it gets a little bit nicer out. Park space really makes cities better, which is why managing and maintaing parks is an extremely important job. That’s exactly what the Madison Square Park Conservancy in New York, NY. Madison Square Park is owned by the city, but is managed by a partnership of the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Conservancy. It wasn’t all that long ago that the park “was neglected and crime-ridden.” After $6 million and a lot of work from caring people through the Campaign for the New Madison Square Park, it is now a place that people want to visit again with “lush and brilliant horticulture” and a variety of cultural programs.

A Walk in the Park

I don’t know that I’ve ever visited Madison Square Park, but I hope that if you live in NYC you have or will. It sounds like a great place with Art, Kids’ Programs, Music, Literary Programs, and all kinds of other things to do. There’s even free wi-fi, so it’s even a place you can get work done (or goof off). There’s also some great horticulture, so you can even just sit and appreciate the beauty. Madison Square Park really sounds like a wonderful place, and that’s mostly thanks to the Conservancy. If you’d like to help them continue to maintain and improve the park, then check out their jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for a Playground Activities Assistant and an Art Development Associate. Both jobs look like good fits for new or recent grads, so check them out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you ever visit Madison Square Park?

Boy Scouts of America

Willy Franzen — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:37:46 +0000

Despite my outdoorsiness, I was never a boy scout. I’ll admit that I was a little jealous of the other kids when they came into school with their uniforms covered in patches, but I’m sure I earned plenty of patches as a kid–even if I never actually got patches (now I can buy them from Best Made Company). Still, I have a ton of respect for Boy Scouts of America. They’re an organization that has lasted more than a century by staying focused on a core set of values. They believe “that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society,” and they’ve continuously adapted the way that they’ve helped you to keep current. Boy Scouts of America is headquartered in Irving, TX, but they operate (and have job opportunities) all across the country.

Always Be Prepared

The best way to get a sense of the scale that Boy Scouts of America operates on is to look at the numbers. In 2010 they had “more than 2.7 million youth members and more than 1.1 million volunteers.” Combined these people gave 28,335,249 hours worth of time with an estimated value of $605,240,919. Service is a huge part of scouting, but what I think is more impressive is how far reaching Boy Scouts of America has become. The organization’s goal is to build character, and the fact that 57.4% of astronauts were scouts and 206 members of the 112th Congress participated in Scouting indicates that they’ve done a good job. (Ok, the Congress one not so much). Still, Boy Scouts of America prepares kids for success. So as you prepare yourself for success, you may want to look to the Boy Scouts of America Careers page. They divide opportunities into a few different sections: National Office, Scout Camp, Supply, High Adventure Bases, and Regional Locations. While the National Office positions are probably most attractive, there aren’t any great fits for new grads at this point; however, the Regional Locations includes a ton of District Executive positions. The are clearly stated to be entry level positions, and they’re offered all across the country. The employer is the local council, so you have to do some legwork to find their contact information, but there are dozens of these opportunities. The other links above also lead to some interesting opportunities, so do some exploring and remember to always be prepared.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Were you a Boy Scout?

CampInteractive

Willy Franzen — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:55:22 +0000

Last weekend we took a look at Outward Bound and their amazing outdoor programming. Today we’re going to look at an organization with a similar approach, but a much tighter focus. It’s called CampInteractive, and they introduce “the creative power of technology and the inspiration of the outdoors to underprivileged inner-city youth.” They’re based in New York, NY, but they often venture well outside of the city limits. The combination of nature and technology seems like a bit of an odd one, but CampInteractive is making it work. They realize that inner-city youth often lack both technical and leadership skills, so they’ve built programs to address both, albeit in different ways.

Go to Camp

Although CampInteractive may sound like a sleep away camp where you adventure outdoors during the day and type away on a keyboard at night, that’s not really what it is at all. If you read up on their programs, you’ll see that they operate year round with a variety of offerings. The summer program gets the longest description, as it includes a ” journey into environments such as Vermont, New Jersey, South Dakota and Colorado for 5-30 day hiking, camping, rock climbing, and canoeing experiences” followed by “a two-week intensive information technology and digital design program hosted at the CI Tech & Trek Center in the Bronx.” My guess is that leading with the outdoor adventure probably opens the kids up to be much better learners during the tech program. If you’re a nerd who loves the outdoors, then a job with CampInteractive might be a great opportunity. Right now their Jobs page shows that they’re looking for a Development Associate. Take a look at the job description and see if it makes sense for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about CampInteractive?

Outward Bound

Willy Franzen — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:52:46 +0000

I went to small, private middle and high school. They were really big on outdoor education, so almost every year we took some kind of class trip to promote bonding and a kind of learning that can’t be done in the classroom. The trips were wonderful–even when 20 of us got lost in the woods with one teacher overnight. I was lucky to get these kind of experiences through my school, but if I hadn’t, there’s a good chance I would have done something like Outward Bound. They are “a non-profit educational organization and expedition school that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through active learning expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery and service both in and out of the classroom.” Outward Bound is headquartered in Golden, CO (but operating across the country), and “was founded in 1941 in the tumultuous waters of the North Sea during World War II, to provide young sailors with the experiences and skills necessary to survive at sea.” They got their start in their current state in 1961.

Job Bound?

While Outward Bound may no longer be about teaching survival skills to people who are actually likely to use them, they still do some really important educational work. Outward Bound’s programs serve all kinds of people ranging from “at-risk youth” to corporate employees, and they stretch across all kind of activities including Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Dogsleeding, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, and more. I know that Outward Bound has an extremely strong connection with alumni, and that speaks to how truly great their programming is. If you want to be part of the Outward Bound family, take a look at their Careers page. Right now they have some great opportunities for new and recent grads including:

Backpack/Canoe Instructor (Baltimore, MD)
Backpack/Canoe Instructor (Philadelphia, PA)
Canoe/At Risk Instructor (Ely, MN)
Backpack/Canoe/At Risk (Newry, ME)
Course Director (Omaha, NE)
Field Instructor (St. Paul, MN)
Insight Facilitator (Baltimore, MD)
Insight Instructor (St. Paul, MN)
Logistics Coordinator (Midpines, CA)
Logistics Coordinator (Newry, ME)
Logistics Coordinator (Wheeler’s Bay, ME)
Logistics Coordinator (Redmond, OR)
Logistics Coordinator (Moab, UT)
Mountain Instructor (Leadville, CO)
Mountain/Raft Instructor (Redmond, OR)
Program Manager (Omaha, NE)
River Instructor (Moab, UT)
Sailing Instructor (Wheeler’s Bay, ME)
Urban Center/Field Instructor (Omaha, NE)

If you love the outdoors and want to work in the non-profit world, it’d be hard to beat a job with Outward Bound.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you do Outward Bound?

The Nature Conservancy

Willy Franzen — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:50:09 +0000

Last night I started watching Planet Earth and ended up staying awake later than I intended. This morning the same channel was on, and I ended up watching documentaries on Yellowstone. There aren’t many things that I find more fascinating than nature, so it’s easy for me to get caught up in these kinds of shows. It’s also why I think the work of The Nature Conservancy is so important. They’re an international non-profit organization based in Arlington, VA that is “the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.” The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1951, and since then they have grown their membership to more than 1 million people. The organization’s huge size gives it a ton of power and has enabled it to do some really amazing work.

Nature Over Nurture

Everything that The Nature Conservancy does is rooted in science. They gather facts first, and then they take action on a local and a global scale. That’s why they’ve been able to protect “more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide.” What strikes me most about The Nature Conservancy is that they take a “non-confrontational, pragmatic” approach that sets them apart from some other conservation organizations. This may occasionally limit their short-term effectiveness, but it ensures that in the long run The Nature Conservancy will have the respect and legitimacy to continue protecting ecologically important lands and waters. If you want to dig deeper into this topic, you should really check out The Nature Conservancy’s Why We’re An Effective Nonprofit page. There’s a ton more to check out on The Nature Conservancy’s website (like How They Work and Where They Work), but I’ll leave the rest of the research to you. If you like what the organization is all about, check out their Careers page. They have some great opportunities for new or recent grads including (sorry I can’t link to the postings, but it’s a bad applicant tracking system):

Burn Crew Technician (Glyndon, MN or Karlstad, MN or Center, ND or Clear Lake, SD)
Philanthropy Coordinator (San Francisco, CA)
Preserve Management Assistant – Prairie Forest Border Ecoregion (Cushing, MN)
Seasonal Field Representative (Keene Valley, NY)
Human Resources Coordinator (Austin, TX)
Stewardship Field Assistant (Brunswick, ME)
Prairie Recovery Specialist (Watson, MN)
Conservation Coordinator (Anchorage, AK)
Preserve Management / Bison Research Technician (Leola, SD)
Grassland Bird Technician (Minor, ND)
Digital Marketing Programmer Analyst (Arlington, VA)
Stewardship Assistant (Choteau, MT)
Communications Coordinator (Oklahoma City, OK)
Assistant Land Steward (Letts, IA)

If you love nature and want to work at a non-profit, it would be hard to beat a gig with The Nature Conservancy. So take a look at these positions, and see if any are a good fit.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about The Nature Conservancy?

Best Made Company

Willy Franzen — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:53:56 +0000

Last night as I was falling asleep, I kept thinking about chopping wood. It’s something that I really enjoy doing because it’s mentally relaxing, yet physically exhausting. Then I started thinking about these awesome axes that I saw on Gilt Groupe and how I wish I had bought one, but I realized that the fact that I live in downtown Chicago means that I’d be more likely to use the ax for home defense than for chopping wood. This morning I decided to look those axes up, and I ended up on the Best Made Company site. They’re a New York, NY based company that “is dedicated to equipping customers with quality tools and dependable information that they can use and pass down for generations.”

Tools to Empower & Inspire

The best way that I’ve come up with to describe Best Made Company is as a curator. They don’t appear to actually do the manufacturing, but they find amazing vendors and either buy from them or partner with them for a custom run of products. Their current collection includes steel cups, hunting knives, first aid kits, books, maps, and all kinds of other stuff that I want in addition to their unbelievably awesome collection of axes. If you’re loving Best Made Company’s stuff as much as I am, then you should take a look at their Jobs page. Its name is a bit deceptive in that it only includes internships (unpaid and in Workshop, Projects, and Community), but I think it’s worth reaching out to Best Made Company and inquiring about full-time positions. You may also want to read up on their Outposts, as they have a team of “Guides” who report back on topics like Urban Expeditions, River Rafting, Fly Fishing, Field Photography, Cycle Touring, Wandering, Food & Foraging, Urban Homesteading, Cartography, and Aviation.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you bought anything from Best Made Company?

Niner Bikes

Willy Franzen — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:34:18 +0000

I get the dirtiest looks when I tell people that I don’t enjoy riding bikes. It’s as if I hate puppies and babies and unicorns. But if I did like biking, I’d probably enjoy mountain biking the most. And if I was to go mountain biking, I’d probably want a bike with control and stability. That’s exactly what Niner Bikes offers. They build bikes with 29-inch diameter wheels, which are bigger than the wheels on most other mountain bikes. Why? Rotational inertia. A bigger wheel is more likely to keep rolling when it hits an obstacle. Niner Bikes must give a pretty nice ride. Why else would the Torrance, CA and Fort Collins, CO based company have made the Inc. 5000 with 364% three-year growth to $5.8 million in revenue?

Did I Catch a Niner in There?

Since I’m clearly not a bike expert, you’re going to have to dig into Niner Bikes’ website to get a better feel for them. You’ll definitely want to browse through their bikes, their videos, and their wheel size explanation. If that’s not quite enough for you, you may want to Demo a Niner–they have dealers all across the country. Obviously Niner Bikes is a company full of bikers, so if you’re into bikes, you have to check out their Jobs page. Niner Bikes doesn’t post specific positions, but they are “always open to thoughtful letters, well-edited resumes and ideas about how you could be the next great addition to [their] team.” In other words, they want you to design your dream job.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever ridden on a Niner?

Yeti Coolers

Willy Franzen — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:33:33 +0000

I spend a ton of time outdoors between fly fishing and playing beach volleyball. You’d think I’d have a cooler to take along with me, but I don’t. If I did, it’d have to be one of the models made by Yeti Coolers. They’re an Austin, TX based company that builds coolers that are more durable and keep things colder than any other coolers on the market. Yeti Coolers are built for tough conditions, which is why some of the biggest names in outdoors sports endorse them and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee has deemed them Grizzly Proof. You may think it’s cooler overkill, but the market for high quality coolers seems to be extremely strong. That’s why Yeti Coolers made the Inc. 5000 with 613% three-year growth to $13 million in revenue.

These Jobs Do Exist

Yeti Coolers’ business seems pretty simple. They build a superior product and market it to a demographic that appreciates the kind of quality that Yeti Coolers offers. It’s obviously been a bit more complicated than that considering how quickly Yeti has been able to grow. I’m sure their engineering and manufacturing is pretty high tech, and I’m sure that going up against entrenched cooler manufacturers is a big challenge for a relative upstart. Still, you have to love that there’s still a ton of room for Yeti to grow in the market. If you want to be a part of that growth, then you should check out Yeti Coolers’s Careers page. While they don’t have any openings posted there, they do have an Application Page where you can apply for positions in Account Management, Accounting/Finance, Administrative, Cusomter Service, Human Resources, IT, Marketing, Operations, Order Processing, R&D / Product Development, Sales, and Warehouse. Hopefully your search for these jobs will be more fruitful than the search for the Abominable Snowman.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own a Yeti Cooler?

Smith Optics

Willy Franzen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:00:36 +0000

If you’ve been reading for a while, you may have noticed that I go on a lot of fishing trips. The problem is that any time my Dad and I go somewhere, he tries to turn it into an annual trip (it’s not actually a problem at all). As long as there’s Wi-Fi so that I can get some work in while I’m not fishing, then I’m pretty much set. This week I’m writing from the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, where I’m salmon fishing. I spend most of the day on the river, and one of my most essential pieces of equipment is probably something that you wouldn’t suspect. Polarized sunglasses are invaluable for fishing. Not only do they help you see through the glare and under the water, but they also protect your eyes from both the sun and stray hooks. Smith Optics makes some of the absolute best sunglasses for fishing on the market. They’re based in Ketchum, ID, and they have about 300 employees.

See Yourself in a New Job

Smith Optics’ products go way beyond fishing. In fact, the company was started in 1965 when Dr. Bob Smith created ” the first ever fog-free snow goggle utilizing a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam.” Today Smith Optics’ product line “spans the range of snow and moto goggles, performance and style eyewear, ballistic Military eyewear, Ophthalmic eyewear, and snow helmets.” It’s a company filled with people who are passionate about the outdoors, and it shows in what they make. It also shows in Smith Optics’ HR policies. They offer great benefits and were named “as one of Outside Magazine’s top eight Best Places to Work.” The Idaho location is obviously a big part of it. I’ve had my eye on Smith Optics for years, and it never seems that they post many jobs. Right now they only have a Distribution Manager job posted, but I urge you to reach out to careers@smithoptics.com and see if anything else is available.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own any Smith Optics sunglasses?

Row New York

Willy Franzen — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:42:57 +0000

Which do you think is preppier, rowing or squash? I’ve never seriously participated in either sport, but I grew up in Connecticut, so I had plenty of friends who did. Both sports have reputations for being easier ways for privileged kids to get into college. It makes sense. Access to rowing shells and squash courts is expensive, so most people never get exposed to either sport. That means the few who do participate in squash and rowing have a lot less competition when getting recruited for spots on college teams. We’ve seen non-profit organizations like StreetSquash, Surf City Squash, and SquashBusters open up squash to a new crowd and use it to promote academic achievement. Today I learned about an organization that is doing something similar for rowing. They’re called Row New York, and they’re based in New York, NY. They aim “to empower young people from New York City’s under-resourced communities to pursue excellence in all facets of their lives, through a unique combination of competitive rowing and individualized academic support.” It’s an awesome idea, and it’s already making a serious impact.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row New York now serves 300 participants every year after starting in 2002 with 8 rowers and a borrowed boat. 100% of Row New York’s graduates have gone on to college, and many of their students have received college scholarships. I’m super impressed. If you want to keep learning about Row New York, there’s plenty of content on their website. Their FAQs probably go into the most depth about the program and all of its details (it’s targeted towards rowers). If you have a background in rowing and a passion for promoting academic achievement, you’ll want to check out Row New York’s job opportunities on Idealist. They’re a small organization, and they don’t appear to have any full-time opportunities, but they are looking for Reaching Coaches. They list the position as an internship, but it’s paid despite its being only part-time. I figure it could have the potential to turn into something more permanent.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever rowed?

Simms Fishing Products

Willy Franzen — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:01:41 +0000

I’m up in Grayling, MI for the next week or so for my annual fly fishing trip with my Dad. Since I live in downtown Chicago where nature is a rare occurrence, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this trip by visiting all of my favorite fishing websites (sounds pathetic, doesn’t it). On one of the sites I came across a post about a photo contest being put on by Simms Fishing Products. There weren’t many entries, and the prize is “an incredible 6-day, 7-night guided fishing expedition” in Alaska, which is my dream trip, so I obviously entered. Now, I know it does nothing for your job search, but if you vote for my entry (and vote every day until June 20th), I’ll not only keep sending you awesome job opportunities while I’m on this trip, but I’ll even do it from Alaska. After entering the contest, I remembered that Simms is a company that I’ve wanted to feature for a long time. They’re located in Bozeman, MT, and they make truly excellent products for fishermen. They’re best know for their waders (breathable, waterproof pants that keep you dry when you walk in the river) and their boots, but they’ve been extending into more and more categories.

Wade in the Water

I’m pretty familiar with the whole fly fishing industry because I interned at Orvis, one of Simms’ biggest competitors, for two summer (check out jobs at Orvis). I still have a lot of Orvis gear because I stocked up while I had the 50% off employee discount, but I’m slowly starting to get some Simms stuff. My wading boots are now Simms with StreamTread soles from Vibram (check out jobs at Vibram), and I have been nothing but impressed by their quality. Simms also partners with W.L. Gore & Associates and uses their GORE-TEX breathable fabric to make waders, jackets, and more. If you love fishing and the outdoor lifestyle, then working for Simms in Bozeman, MT would probably be a dream come true. Right now they’re looking for a Product Developer – Technical Gear, but don’t be afraid to reach out to them for another position if you’re not a good candidate for that one–that’s how I landed my internship at Orvis. And don’t forget to vote for my photo!

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you own any Simms products?

Outdoors for All Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 28 May 2011 11:13:34 +0000

Last night my girlfriend and I went out to some trendy new bar to meet up with a bunch of her friends from high school who are back in town for Memorial Day Weekend. I’m pretty sure that I came within a foot (and often much closer) of a thousand people while I was there. Today I’m headed up to Northern Michigan to spend the weekend fishing on one of my favorite rivers, where, hopefully, there won’t be anyone (besides my girlfriend and the fishing guide) within a thousand feet of me. I think that there’s no better way to spend a holiday (or any) weekend than being outdoors, and I’m pretty sure that the people at the Outdoors for All Foundation completely agree. In fact, the folks at the Seattle, WA based non-profit love the outdoors so much that they want to share it with those who might not usually get a chance to enjoy it, which is why they provide “year round instruction in outdoor recreation for people with physical, developmental, and sensory disabilities.” Through the work of over 700 volunteers, the Outdoors for All Foundation is able to help more than 2,000 children and adults with disabilities enjoy the outdoors every year.

Outdoors for You

The programs offered by the Outdoors for All Foundation span across pretty much every sport that you can do outdoors including “snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country and downhill skiing, cycling, hiking, river rafting, canoeing and kayaking, day camps, water skiing, rock-climbing, camping and Custom Events.” I don’t see any fishing on there, but I can forgive them for that. Maybe they’ll add it, considering that they started in 1979 as the Ski For All Foundation and then expanded into other sports (but continued to have a strong focus on snow sports). You can learn a little bit more about the organization by watching the video below (e-mail readers may have to click through):

If you’re all about “transforming lives through outdoor education,” then you need to check out the jobs at the Outdoors for All Foundation. They offer a range of opportunities that are worth checking out. There are Camp Counselor and Camp Lead Counselor positions, work study options, and an a VISTA Volunteer Coordinator position opening up in August. For some reason all of the job description PDFs are blurred out, so I recommend that you just contact them through the info listed on the page to find out more about their opportunities. You can also try volunteering to get your foot in the door.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How are you spending Memorial Day Weekend?

GRID Alternatives

Willy Franzen — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:05:12 +0000

While most of us have become accustomed to higher energy prices, this latest spike has been pretty ugly. I haven’t seen any gas prices starting with a 5 yet, but I’ve seen a few come dangerously close. The situation for home energy doesn’t appear to be quite as dire right now, but it all adds up (and it’s May when most of us turn our heaters off and haven’t yet turned our air conditioners on). Energy costs keep increasing as a percentage of household budgets, and this has an especially negative effect on low-income families and individuals. GRID Alternatives is an Oakland, CA based non-profit organization that is trying to fix this problem. They “empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.” Not only are they helping people manage and lower energy costs, but they’re also creating jobs and training people to fill these jobs.

Get on the GRID

GRID Alternatives was founded during the 2001 California energy crisis. I don’t know for sure, but that seems like it was about 6 or 7 energy crises ago. I find organizations like GRID Alternatives really exciting because they’re able to address a number of very different problems through a group of closely connected programs. GRID Alternatives’ core program is called the Solar Affordable Housing Program. It focuses on training and leading “teams of job trainees and other community members to install solar electric systems for low-income families throughout California.” They’re taking on pollution, poverty, and unemployment all at once. If you want to be a part of that mission, then you should check out jobs at GRID Alternatives. Right now they have a few positions that should interest new or recent grads including Outreach Coordinator (Chico, CA), Outreach Coordinator (Carson, CA), Americorps VISTA (IE): Outreach and Program Associate (Inland Empire, CA), Americorps VISTA (IE): Volunteer and Training Associate (Inland Empire, CA), Americorps VISTA (NV): Outreach and Program Associate (Chico, CA), Americorps VISTA (NV): Volunteer and Training Associate (Chico, CA), Americorps VISTA: Volunteer and Outreach Associate (San Luis Obispo, CA), LISC AmeriCorps Outreach and Program Associate at GRID Alternatives (Oakland, CA). Take a look and see what interests you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about GRID Alternatives?

Cabela’s

Willy Franzen — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:57:28 +0000

Being a fly fisherman, I sometimes get frustrated with living in Chicago. Not only are there few opportunities to go fishing without a decent drive, but the winters are way too long (it’s supposed to be spring now, and it’s not). To get through the winter I’ll often visit fishing stores, look at websites, and read through catalogs. It’s not much, but it’s all I have. And Cabela’s provides all three options. The company is based in Sidney, NE, and they’re the “largest mail-order, retail and Internet outdoor outfitter in the world.” It all started in 1961 with a tiny classified ad that Dick Cabela placed in a newspaper because he wanted to sell some fishing flies that he purchased while visiting Chicago for a furniture show (since Nebraska is even less of a fly fishing destination than Chicago is). Despite a lackluster response to the original ad, Dick Cabela kept trying. The company grew organically, and now Cabela’s is dominating three major retail channels. The truly amazing part of the story is that Cabela’s has been able to maintain their commitment to customer service throughout all of the growth. I’m not a big customer (I try to support local shops), but I have quite a few friends who are extremely loyal Cabela’s customers because of the quality of products and service.

Outfitting Your Job Search

If you love the outdoors, you probably already know all about Cabela’s. Their stores are massive shrines to everything that is great about being an outdoorsman. They have fish tanks, taxidermy, indoor mountains, archery ranges, and, obviously, lots and lots of products that you can buy. According to Wikipedia, their store in Kansas City had 4 million customer visits in a single year, while the store in Hamburg, PA covers a quarter million square feet. Obviously, the ultimate Cabela’s experience requires visiting one of their stores, but their catalogs and website are pretty good proxies if you’re stuck at home. And if you are stuck at home, you might as well take a look at Cabela’s Careers site too. You can check out their testimonials and culture quiz, or you can just head straight for their job listings. We’re going to pass over all of the retail positions (there are a ton of them), and only look at corporate jobs that might be suitable for new or recent grads. These include (all positions in Sidney, NE unless otherwise noted):

Cabela’s has one of the worst applicant tracking systems that I’ve ever seen. It’s “Powered by Kenexa,” and it’s completely unusable. I slogged through it so you don’t have to, so the positions above should give you a good idea of what kind of entry level opportunities exist at Cabela’s. There are more entry level postings than just these, but I can only bang my head against a wall for so long.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you shop at Cabela’s?

The Mountain Institute

Willy Franzen — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:47:35 +0000

I love the mountains. They are some of the most untamed and untouched pieces of land left on the face of the Earth, and I’ve come to appreciate them more and more as I’ve lived in Chicago where you can see flat, developed land to the horizon. People who live in mountain communities are extremely reliant on the ecosystems that exist above them, yet these ecosystems are some of the most sensitive known to man. The Mountain Institute is a non-profit organization that works to “develop policies, investments, and participatory approaches to enable mountain people, and the billions affected downstream, to understand, harness, and manage the interrelated and complex issues confronting the world’s mountains in the 21st century.” Their Executive Office is located in Washington, DC, while their Corporate Business Office is in Morgantown, WV. Additionally, they have program offices across Asia, North America, and South America.

Climb to New Heights

The Mountain Institute was founded in West Virginia in 1972, and it went international in 1987. TMI operates a variety of different programs, all of which are clearly focused on making the most of our mountains. It all started with a 400-acre nature preserve on West Virginia’s tallest peak, but TMI has evolved to offer programs that focus both on environmental conservation and cultural and community development. Education is also a very large part of what The Mountain Institute does. If you’re intrigued, you should check out jobs at The Mountain Institute. Right now they’re looking for both Seasonal and Resident Field Instructors along with HQ Office Volunteers. The Field Instructor positions don’t pay all that much, but they offer unbelievable opportunities to be one with the mountains. I’m sure it could lead you in some pretty cool directions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite mountain?

The Balsams

Willy Franzen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:27:21 +0000

One of my least favorite things about the “real world” is that summer doesn’t automatically mean vacation. Unless you’ve gone into teaching, you’re expected to keep showing up for work every day like it’s the middle of February—even if it’s totally beautiful out. The good thing is that “real world” summer usually lasts from May through early October (at least here in Chicago). Even though you have to keep going to work, your summer isn’t regimented by school’s start and end dates. Anyway, we all know that summer is really all about vacation, and for many that means hitting up a resort like The Balsams in Dixville Notch, NH. In the summer you can play golf or tennis, go kayaking or mountain biking, take a hike, or just relax. In the winter there’s skiing, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, snow mobile races, and I’m sure fireplaces to warm up near. It’s an old school New England inn with modern luxuries and fine dining. I’ve never been there, but I know the style—and I like it.

Take a Trip to The Balsams

Hopefully you’re not mad at me for getting you all excited about the prospect of a luxury vacation when you are freaking about graduating without a job and trying desperately to avoid a permanent vacation of prolonged unemployment. Obviously, the reason that I’m telling you all about The Balsams is that they have job opportunities; in fact, they have a job/internship opportunity that lets you enjoy all of the luxuries of a vacation at The Balsams while getting paid to do it. They’re looking for an “Inn-Bedded Resorter” to live The Balsams life for a summer and report on it. For 2 months you’ll get $2,500, a room in the hotel, 3 meals a day, and free reign of the resort. Your job will be to liveblog/tweet/facebook your life with a variety of technological and social media tools at your disposal. How can you not get excited about a job application that asks you about your proficiency in areas like Fly Fishing, Dancing, Alpine Skiing, Making Cocktails, and Bird Watching? It’s pretty much the ultimate opportunity for someone interested in PR and Social Media. However, if you’re more into the Hospitality Management side, there are plenty of other opportunities available at The Balsams. You just need to check their for all of the info and the application. There’s even a Culinary Apprenticeship Program. If you have vacation on your mind, check out The Balsams and see how you can find a way to stay with them.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever stayed at The Balsams?

Institute for Environmental Awareness

Willy Franzen — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:13:10 +0000

I don’t know about where you are, but here in Chicago it’s pretty clear that spring is on its way. We’re going to break 50 degrees this week, and the geese are already back and looking for places to nest. I may be in a huge city, but I’m not completely out of touch with nature. However, I’ve always wanted to spend more time closer to nature. The Institute for Environmental Awareness is a Massachusetts based organization that offers that kind of experience. Their mission is “to promote and support programs and services that encourage living and learning in harmony with the Earth and all Life,” and they do this through a number of earth-based, outdoor education programs. You may have noticed that I couldn’t find a suitable logo for them. That’s because their website looks like it’s from the mid 90s, and I wasn’t going to subject you to yellow text with a black drop shadow over a photo of a tree. An ugly website may be a bad indicator for a marketing firm or a web startup, but not for a nature based organization.

Be Environmentally Aware

The Institute for Environmental Awareness runs three programs: Earthlands (“operates an off-grid program and retreat center”), the Earthlands Land Trust, and University of the Wild (“earth-based education programs that empower people to become leaders in growing new and sustainable cultures”). There’s not much more information about the Institute on their website; however, their job descriptions tell you a lot about what they do. Right now they’re looking for two Program Center Coordinator/Caretakers for Earthlands. These people will work on Program Coordination, Facilities Maintenance, Educational Program Assistance, and Community Involvement. They’ll also live on-site and receive a $500/month stipend for the 6 months that the position lasts. You’ll be able to live in harmony with nature and get away from it all. It sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity, so if you’re interested, reach out to Michael Iacona, Earthlands Office Manager, at office@earthlands.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Can you tell that spring is coming?

Appalachian Mountain Club

Willy Franzen — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:17:54 +0000

I don’t know if you’ve ever spent anytime on the Appalachian Trail, but if you haven’t, you should. The trail stretches from Georgia to Maine, while the range of mountains touches as far south as Alabama and as far north as Newfoundland. It’s 1,500 miles of natural beauty that is prime territory for naturalists and adventurers. Back in 1876 there was a club called the Appalachian Mountain Club started in Boston for people who enjoyed the range. Now the club consists of more than 12 chapters and 100,000 members—it’s the “nation’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization.” They’re still based in Boston, and they’ve developed into a non-profit that promotes “the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region.”

Outdoor Enthusiasts Wanted

The work that the Appalachian Mountain Club varies greatly. They fight for conservation, educate people on safe outdoors practices, maintain trails, and put on more than 8,000 trips a year. It’s a great organization that spans many different interest groups—it’s not just the hikers or the birdwatchers or the fisherman. It’s for everybody who loves being outdoors in the Appalachians. The scope of their work is really impressive, and if you want to be a part of it, you should check out the AMC’s Jobs page. Full-time opportunities include Web Production Associate and Senior Online Marketing Associate (it’s pretty entry level if you have a background in online marketing), which are both based in Boston, along with Hospitality Coordinator in Bretton Woods, NH and Storehouse Supervisor in Gorham, NH. There are also seasonal opportunities in Trail Crew type positions in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. The application instructions vary by position, so look at the specific postings for details.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you spent any time in the Appalachians?

Sportsman Channel

Willy Franzen — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:54:49 +0000

Check out this week’s sponsor, New York City Teaching Fellows. They’re seeking new grads with no prior teaching experience or background in education to help make a difference in NYC’s public schools.

Much to my girlfriend’s chagrin, I love watching fishing shows. I’d rather be out on the water, but when I’m trapped on the 30th floor in the middle of downtown Chicago and it’s -15 outside, there aren’t many other options. Unfortunately, ESPN has cut back on their fishing programming, and that doesn’t leave me with any other options on my cable package. If only we got Sportsman Channel, then I’d be much happier. They are “the only television network providing 100 percent hunting, shooting and fishing programming.” Unlike some other outdoor focused networks, they’re staying true to what they are instead of watering down their programming in hopes of better ratings. I haven’t had a chance to watch any of their programming, but I’m sure I’d like it. Sportsman Channel is based in New Berlin, WI, and they also have locations in New York, Denver, and Atlanta.

Tune In and Get Hooked

Sportsman Channel was launched in 2003, and they appear to be growing (they were purchased by a private equity firm that focuses on outdoor media in 2006). They have a huge market considering there are 82 million sportsmen in the United States, so you have to like their ability to grow a business based on targeted advertising. If you love the outdoors and want to work in tv or media, then it’d be hard to find a better place to work than Sportsman Channel. Their location in Wisconsin is prime for the outdoors lifestyle, and I’m sure that they promote such a lifestyle for their employees too. If you’re interested, you can check out Sportsman Channel’s Jobs page, although it doesn’t include any postings—just a Résumé Submission form. The company seems pretty small, so using LinkedIn to reach out to some people might be a worthwhile strategy.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you like to watch fishing shows?

California Conservation Corps

Willy Franzen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:41:49 +0000

After my Freshman year of college, I decided that I wanted a summer job that would allow me to work outside. I ended up doing maintenance at a fish and game club. It was like a great experience—even if I only worked 20 hours per week. If you want to work outside and are looking for something a little more intense than 20 hours per week, then you need to check out the California Conservation Corps. It’s a government run program that “matches up California’s young people and its natural resources.” Every year the CCC hires 3,300 corpsmembers and pays them minimum wage to take on projects like working on backcountry trails, aiding salmon restoration, promoting watershed stewardship, and providing emergency response services. The CCC has been around since 1976, and since then they’ve employed more than 100,000 young men and women with 98% saying that they “would recommend the CCC to a family member or friend.”

Get Paid to Enjoy the Outdoors

The California Conservation Corps provides a wide range of work opportunities for people between the ages of 18 and 25. These aren’t permanent entry level jobs, but they’re a great internship alternative or a great way to get some real work experience after you graduate. The CCC has a great website that is filled with all kinds of information about their programs. You can see what a day in the life is like or read over their FAQ. There are work locations with the Corps all across California, and there is also a wide variety of project types. The CCC site gets a bit confusing when you start looking for employment opportunities, but you can find Staff Openings here and Corpmembers opportunities here. Additionally, it looks like some of the CCC programs do their own hiring, so, for instance, you can find information on applying to the Backcountry program here.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Had you heard of the California Convervation Corps before?

Deckers Outdoor Corporation

Willy Franzen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:55:06 +0000

At some point during my Junior year in college (by the way I’m back at Cornell for the weekend), I got the bright idea that I could wear slippers as shoes. These weren’t flimsy slippers, these were sturdy leather ones with shearling lining. They were made by Orvis (where I interned and had an awesome 50% employee discount), and they were great. I loved sitting in class knowing that my feet were more comfortable than everybody else’s. Then I came back from Thanksgiving break. I was admiring the Christmas lights that my roommates had adorned our otherwise aesthetically unpleasing house with, and I slipped. See, my slippers had flat rubber soles. My feet came out from under me as I fell down a muddy slope. My right hand came down hard on the sidewalk, and I had a broken wrist. I gave up wearing slippers for a while, but when my Mom bought me a pair of UGG slippers with proper soles, I reverted. Now UGG slippers are my go to shoes during the winter, and I’m a huge fan of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. They’re the company behind UGG, Simple, Teva (is it Tee-va or Tevv-a?), Tsubo, and Deckers, and they’re headquartered in Goleta, CA with a location in Flagstaff, AZ as well.

Hit the Deckers

I had no idea until today that Outside Magazine has a Best Places to Work list. Now I know about it, and I know that Deckers Outdoor Corporation is on the list (ranked 7th). While Deckers’ Careers page doesn’t say much more than generic stuff like “We are looking for energetic, hard working, success oriented individuals to join our dynamic team” and “All candidates must be team players, have high energy, good organization and excellent communication skills,” it’s pretty obvious that Deckers has a unique employment brand that is well aligned with their product brands. If Deckers sounds like the kind of place that you’d want to work, you should check out their current job openings. Their job descriptions don’t have a ton of detail, so it’s hard to tell which jobs are best suited for new and recent college grads. My guess is that your best bet is to take a look at the following positions: Administrative Assistant – UGG, Collections Analyst, Product Coordinator – UGG, and Programmer at their Goleta, CA headquarters and Search Engine (SEO/SEM) Marketing Coordinator and Web Developer at their Flagstaff, AZ location. You can apply for any of these jobs by sending a cover letter and résumé to hr@deckers.com.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you wear UGGs?

National Parks Conservation Association

Willy Franzen — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:05:41 +0000

Having grown up in Connecticut and now living in Illinois, I’ve lived in areas that don’t have too many National Parks. Luckily, I’ve had the chance to see Yellowstone and Grand Teton. They are unbelievable. Our National Parks here in the US are one of the best things that the government has done – they’re a big part of what makes this country so special. Unfortunately, the same government that gave us those parks doesn’t always seem to have their best interest in mind. That’s why National Parks Conservation Association exists. They are a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC that is focused on “working on key initiatives to restore America’s national parks by the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.” If you’ve never visited a National Park, you should. You can use this locator provided by the National Park Service to find the park closest to you.

These Jobs Are a Walk in the Park

If you love the outdoors as much as I do (or dig historic sites, which many National Parks are), and you want a job that is going to put you to work protecting what you love, then the NPCA may be the place for you. They have a great website that is filled with information about what they’re doing to protect our National Parks. The best way to get a quick introduction to the organization is probably to check out their video, which does a nice job of presenting their story. Put simply, the NPCA is all about making our National Parks’ 100th birthday a real reason to celebrate. 2016 is still far enough away that a lot of meaningful work can be done before then, which is why you should check out jobs with the NPCA. Right now there’s only one job that appears to be suitable or new college grads at the NPCA – Program Coordinator. The job is located in Bozeman, MT, and it looks fantastic. You can apply online, so get at it before 2016 comes around!

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite National Park?

NOAA

Willy Franzen — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Happy Groundhog Day! Unfortunately, it looks like we’re headed for 6 more weeks of winter according to Punxsutawney Phil. That really aggravates me, so I think that I’m done trusting the rodent for my weather prediction. Last year we recommended that you consider working for the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, but this year we want you to actually be able to predict the weather. That’s why we want you to take a look at entry level jobs with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a government agency “that enriches life through science,” which makes them almost the exact opposite of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. NOAA’s responsibilities range from “daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce.” In fact, “NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product.”

From the Bottom of the Sea to the Surface of the Sun

NOAA has a great video that does a nice job of telling their story, so we thought we’d spare you some reading and embed it below. (If you’re reading via e-mail or RSS, you might need to click through to view the video).

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So what about entry level jobs with NOAA? You can find all kinds of information about working at NOAA on their Careers page. Unfortunately their Recruitment Events Calendar hasn’t been updated lately, but you can still check out their Career Fields and What NOAA Has to Offer pages. What you’re really looking for though – NOAA’s Jobs, you can find on USAJobs.gov. Right now they have 63 jobs posted in fields ranging from Computer Science to Fisheries Biology and from Program Specialist to Service Hydrologist. They list jobs by salary grade, which makes identifying entry level opportunities pretty easy. The jobs are located all across the country, so location depends on what’s available. You can apply online directly from the job listings on the USAJobs.gov site, so if you love earth sciences, there are probably some jobs for you. Beyond the USAJobs.gov site, there’s also a Student Opportunities page that links to Fellowships that may interest new grads.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you think Punxsutawney Phil was right?

Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking

Willy Franzen — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:07:39 +0000

Sometimes I can be a dunderhead. When I am behind the wheel of a car, I can get irrationally angry at having to share the road with pedestrians and bikers. And when I’m walking or riding a bike, I can get irrationally angry at having to share the road with cars. I can’t be right on both accounts, so the problem is obviously with me (or maybe with the government for not setting up a better transportation system). When it comes down to it, though, it’s pretty obvious that bikers and pedestrians are second-class citizens to drivers. Cars dominate the roads, and the burden of responsibility falls on those who are biking or walking to stay alert and avoid getting hit by a couple thousand bounds of fast-moving metal. The Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking is a Washington, DC based non-profit advocacy organization that stands up for the rights of bikers and walkers by “strengthening and supporting bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations” across the country. They’re a meta-non-profit. organization – an organization for organizations.

No Dunderheads at Thunderhead Alliance

We try to find unusual non-profits to feature here on the weekends at One Day, One Job, and I think that we’ve succeeded today. Thunderhead Alliance for Biking and Walking is unlike any organization that we’ve ever heard about. They are building a coalition of local organizations to “break down the barriers to safe bicycling and walking,” which I find very cool. If you love biking and/or walking but often feel unsafe while participating, then a job at Thunderhead Alliance might be something worth thinking about. They only have one job opening available right now. It’s for a Grassroots and Trainings Coordinator, and it’s posted on Idealist. They are looking for someone who has experience organizing, but maybe you started your own pedestrian or biker advocacy group in college. You can apply by submitting your resume with a letter of interest to Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President / CEO via email to applications@thunderheadalliance.org by February 9th, 2009.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you enjoy biking and walking?

Patagonia

Willy Franzen — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:46:45 +0000

You have to love it when a small company grows into something big. It’s hard to believe that some of today’s major corporations were started with a couple of people in a garage. What’s even more extraordinary is when a small company that gets big never loses sight of who they are. That’s the story of Patagonia, a company that started out making tools for climbers. They are now a “worldwide business that makes clothes for climbing – as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running.” You’ve probably heard of Patagonia, and there’s a good chance that you own something made by them, whether it’s a polar fleece, a windbreaker, or long underwear. With a winter like this one, Patagonia gear is especially necessary for avoiding frostbite. Despite advances in technology and amazing business growth, Patagonia continues to take the same approach to their business – their “product design demonstrates a bias for simplicity and utility” and their “values reflect those of a business started by a band of climbers and surfers, and the minimalist style they promoted.” Patagonia makes exceedingly cool products, and they are the definition of a cool place to work.

Take a Trip to Patagonia

Unlike most athletic apparel companies, Patagonia focuses on “the silent sports.” That tells you a lot about who they are. There is a company-wide “love of wild and beautiful places” that “demands participation in the fight to save them.” That’s why Patagonia donates time, services and at least 1% of sales to grassroots environmental organizations all across the world. Patagonia apparel is as much an identity as it is a functional piece of equipment. If you want to learn more about Patgonia’s values, you should check out their page on Corporate Social Responsibility and their Employee Internship Program, which allows employees to “leave their jobs for up to two months to work full-time for the environmental group of their choice” while still getting paid and retaining benefits.

So what about jobs? We wish that Patagonia had some cool entry level field testing or product design jobs, but there’s nothing like that available right now. What they do have are jobs like Graphic Production Artist, Java Developer / Solutions Architect, and X++ Programmer/Analyst at their headquarters in Ventura, CA. You can keep an eye on Patagonia’s Jobs RSS Feed to see if they post your dream job, and you can apply for their corporate jobs by sending a cover letter and resume to venturajobs@patagonia.com. Additionally, Patagonia has Sales Associate positions in San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Westport, CT; SoHo, NY; Denver, CO; Upper West Side, NY; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Palo Alto, CA; and Chicago, IL.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Patagonia.com
Jobs at Patagonia
About Patagonia
Patagonia’s History
Field Reports from Patagonia
Patagonia on Corporate Social Responsibility
TheCleanestLine.com (Patagonia’s Blog)

Do you wear Patagonia?

Hammerhead Sleds

Willy Franzen — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:42:39 +0000

Not only is it Friday, but it’s also a Snow Day here in Chicago! Judging from the map on The Weather Channel, there’s a good chance that you’re enjoying a Snow Day too. My favorite thing to do when school was cancelled was to go sledding, and I haven’t outgrown it yet. If downtown Chicago had a single decent hill, I’d be there as soon as I finish writing this. Of course, I’d have to stop and buy a sled first. In college it’s easy – you just “borrow” a tray from the dining hall, and that’s your sled for the winter, but when you’re an adult you need to take things a little more seriously. That’s why Hammerhead Sleds exists. They make sleds for big kids. Actually, that’s an understatement. They make the most bad ass sleds that I have ever seen. These sleds aren’t cheap, though. They run $349, but they sure look worth it.

Send Your Job Search Downhill

Hammerhead Sleds is formerly known as CherryMax sleds, so you might see that name some places on their website, but don’t worry it’s the same company. They’re a very small Vermont based company that started in 2002 and is revitalizing the sport of sledding. There’s a great article about their business in Business People – Vermont, and judging from the kind of media and press attention that Hammerhead Sleds has been getting recently, this company could be getting a lot bigger in the near future. According to both the article we read about them and the Team page on their website, Hammerhead Sleds has fewer than 10 employees. They do, however, have a Careers page that lists job openings (that happen to be about a year old). All of those job opening are in Sales, but there may be the potential for jobs in Marketing, Engineering, or Product Development. It’s up to you find out what’s available (or to sell them on why they need you to join their team). I can’t seem to find details of exactly where Hammerhead Sleds is located, but it’s somewhere in Northern Vermont. If you’re interested in working for them, you can give them a call at 802-425-6300 or you can use their Team page to get e-mail addresses for individuals at the company.

Good luck, enjoy the Snow Day, and if you’re going sledding, use Hammer Head Sleds’ hill database to find a suitable location.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you going sledding today?

The Wilderness Society

Willy Franzen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:51:04 +0000

For me the wilderness is central to life itself – I can’t be happy without time spent outdoors. That doesn’t mean that I’m not enjoying life in downtown Chicago, but I plan on spending lots of time in the woods and rivers of Wisconsin and Michigan once Spring starts to show its face. My philosophy is shared by the people at The Wilderness Society. Their About page says that “It is our calling and our passion to protect America’s wilderness, not as a relic of our nation’s past, but as a thriving ecological community that is central to life itself.” I couldn’t agree more. They’re a non-profit organization that provides “scientific, economic, legal and policy guidance to land managers, communities, local conservation groups and state and federal decision-makers” to “ensure the best management of our lands – national forests, parks and refuges, as well as public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.” I’ve seen one of my favorite places in the world (a Northern Michigan tract of wilderness and quality fishing areas) put at risk by poor land management policies that would have allowed natural gas drilling in an extremely sensitive area, so I know how firsthand how vital The Wilderness Society’s work is.

Work for the Wilderness

If you feel the same way about the wilderness as I do, then an entry level job with The Wilderness Society might be something worth considering. Their website does a great job of telling their story, so you should be able to get a much clearer picture o who they are and what they about by spending a little time browsing it. They even have a cool section where you can tell them what you’ve been doing to help. I’m not sure what they do with those stories, but it’s nice to see that they’re putting user-generated content to work for them. Their Jobs page lists a couple of opportunities that look like they have potential for new college grads. The most likely jobs are Office Administrator (San Francisco, CA) and Development Operations Coordinator (Washington, DC). To apply for these jobs, visit the specific job descriptions and use the e-mail at the bottom of the posting to send your cover letter and resume.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you enjoy the wilderness as much as I do?