Call for contributors

❋

Two-Week Applied Environmental Field Project

Most environmental and conservation roles require experience that is difficult to access without gatekept internships or unpaid work. This project is designed to close that gap with a short, structured, hands-on field experience that produces professional documentation.

❋ What you'll do

Participate in a clearly scoped two-week project and co-author a public-facing environmental piece rooted in observation, documentation, or analysis.

❋ Project Structure

  • Clear scope

  • Defined deliverable

  • Two-week timeline

  • Assistance when needed

❋ What you get

  • Published byline

  • Portfolio-ready link or PDF

  • Documented experience for resumes and applications

  • Credit guaranteed

❋ Who this is for?

Early-career environmental professionals, environmental or sustainability students, and writers interested in science, policy, or field-based work. Students wishing to supplement their academic background and professionals seeking to expand their qualifications for future career growth

Project options (choose below)

Project 01
Environmental Observation: Local Site Conditions Report

Objective
Document and analyze environmental conditions at a specific, publicly accessible site to identify observable impacts, risks, or patterns.

  • Contributor Tasks
    Select one local site (park, shoreline, street corridor, vacant lot, floodplain, campus edge, etc.). Conduct at least one in-person observation. Record physical conditions, notable changes, human activity, and environmental stressors. Capture photos where appropriate.

    Required Documentation
    Date and time of observation
    Location (city/state; no private addresses)
    Observation method (walkthrough, stationary observation, repeat visit)
    Photographs or sketches (if feasible)

    Final Deliverable
    800–1,200 word public-facing piece or structured report outlining site conditions, observed issues, and why the site matters environmentally or socially.

Project 02
Policy in Practice: Environmental Rule Meets Reality

Objective
Examine how an environmental policy, regulation, or planning decision shows up—or fails to show up—on the ground.

  • Contributor Tasks
    Identify one environmental policy or planning framework (local ordinance, state rule, federal program, or management plan). Tie it to a real place. Analyze whether the policy’s intent is visible in implementation, outcomes, or gaps.

    Required Documentation
    Policy source (publicly available)
    Location affected
    Specific policy goal(s)
    Observed or documented outcomes

    Final Deliverable
    900–1,200 word analysis explaining the policy, its intended purpose, and how it manifests in real-world conditions, with clear examples.

Project 03
Environmental Media Check: Evidence vs. Narrative

Objective
Evaluate an environmental news story, report, or viral claim against available evidence and on-the-ground context.

  • Contributor Tasks
    Select one environmental media item (article, video, report, or widely shared claim). Identify the main assertion. Compare it against primary sources, data, or observable conditions tied to a specific place or case.

    Required Documentation
    Original media source
    Supporting or contradicting evidence
    Any geographic or contextual limitations

    Final Deliverable
    800–1,000 word piece assessing accuracy, omissions, framing, and public impact, written for a general audience.

🏁Ready to start? [Initial intake form]

Fill the form out before you begin to indicate to us your desired project. Then get to it! When you have reached your 2-weeks and all deliverables are prepared, submit final work below! If you need help email christin@terraonthebench.com

 

✅Finished your Project? [Submit deliverables]

Need Help?

If at any point you are stuck, want inspiration, or need help navigating the process. Reach out at

✉️: Christin@terraonthebench.com

Office 📞: (716)-942-5813