Current Opportunities

Outreach Intern - Ely

Our hiring process for the 2026 season is now completed. Applications generally open in January of each year prior to the internship. Refer back to this page in January 2027 for more details on the Summer 2027 Outreach Internship based out of Ely, MN. 

Please email Gillian Fitzgerald, the Northern Regional Organizer, with any questions at gillian@savetheboundarywaters.org

Background: 

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), the largest Wilderness area east of the Rockies and north of the Everglades, is America’s most-visited Wilderness, uniquely accessible and beloved for recreation. It is the sixth most critical region in the lower 48 to protect for climate resiliency. A major threat looms: proposed copper mining in the headwaters, where pollution would flow downstream into and through the heart of the Wilderness, with cascading effects across the ecosystem. 

Save the Boundary Waters, founded and led by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness based in Ely, MN, is a national coalition of 400+ businesses, conservation, hunting and angling organizations, camps, and access programs united to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park from the threat of sulfide-ore copper mining proposed in the headwaters of these treasures.

Activities and Tasks: 

This position’s focus is helping with organizing events, presentations, organizing volunteers, and other outreach opportunities in the Ely area.

• Educate and activate the public and our supporters around our efforts to protect the BWCA from sulfide-ore copper mining.
• Assist in organizing logistics and staffing events like the Ely 4th of July Parade, Garden Party, camp and outfitter presentations, pontoon tours, tabling events, and more.
• Engage with a number of constituencies: local officials, students, businesses and the public at large. Brainstorm and develop new creative ideas to reach new supporters.
• Record and update data entries of grassroots actions, such as list sign-ons and donors.
• Attend meetings and present/update others on the efforts of our work.

We invite anyone interested to let us know you'd like to be considered for our board! Please fill out this brief form to indicate your interest in being considered for the NMW board. This form is open at any time, and we further consider new board applicants as board roles become available on a limited basis. You may also reach out to Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director, at Ingrid@savetheboundarywaters.org