Events and Volunteer Management Intern (UNR Extension, Pack Intern, Spring 2026)
**This internship is hosted by UNR Extension (Washoe County) and sponsored by the Nevada Career Studio and ASUN.
Students are highly encouraged to visit the Nevada Career Studio in-person Fridays from 12:00 to 4:00 or use our Virtual Resume + Cover Letter Tune Up service BEFORE applying for these positions. Students are welcome to by any time during our drop-in hours, but we’ll have dedicated staff on Fridays! Resumes and cover letters that do not meet NCS expectations will not be included in applicant packages to employers.
About UNR Extension (Washoe County):
University of Nevada, Reno Extension is the community education branch of the University. We provide research-based, accessible programming to communities across Nevada. We deliver educational programs in the fields of youth development, health and nutrition, agriculture and horticulture, and community development. Our programs include Master Gardeners, with over 80 volunteers providing home gardening education; 4-H, the largest youth development organization in America; and Living With Fire, a program designed to help people adapt to the reality of wildfire in our communities. Our diverse and dedicated staff members work closely with communities across Nevada, providing the perfect springboard for students to connect with the community and leaders in their field.
Internship Description:
UNR Extension’s Master Gardener Program is seeking an enthusiastic and service-oriented Events and Volunteer Management Intern to join our team. This internship provides a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in volunteer recruitment and retention, personnel management, event planning, and customer service while serving their community through the Extension system. The intern will primarily assist with administrative tasks relating to volunteer management, hosting a volunteer appreciation event to promote retention and engagement, and supporting planning and marketing for Master Gardener educational events. The Master Gardeners hold a variety of research-based, volunteer-led educational events throughout the spring season to educate community members on planning and planting their home garden.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of Master Gardener events, such as the Seedling Sale, Bartley Ranch Garden Talks, and Rancho Demonstration Garden events. Duties may include scheduling venues and volunteer coverage, creating and distributing marketing materials in collaboration with Extension desktop publishers and CABNR Communications Team, and onsite support during events.
- Assist in creating newsletter and social media marketing initiatives to ensure community members receive timely information related to their home gardens.
- Assist with general volunteer management and administrative support including scheduling, meeting preparation, training coordination and tracking, and onsite event support.
- Plan and host a volunteer recognition event or initiative for the Master Gardener volunteers.
Goals and Expectations of the Intern:
- Complete 120 hours of work as an intern (8-15 hours per week, 15 weeks total)
- At the end of this internship, the student will have successfully helped plan and market Master Gardener educational events, including the Bartley Ranch Educational Series and Extension Talks at Lake Tahoe, to a broad variety of community members across Washoe County.
- Intern may increase the total number of donations and community connections from 2025.
- Intern will have gained valuable experience in the field of personnel management by completing administrative tasks and solving challenges related to volunteer management and retention, including planning and hosting a volunteer retention event or initiative.
- Intern will have gained experience in marketing, community education, and event planning by supporting marketing and the planning process for various Master Gardener education events.
Required Qualifications:
- Must be a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno during the Spring ‘26 semester
- Strong communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey information to a variety of audiences, especially older adults. Excellent proofreading and editing abilities.
- Organization skills: Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
- Team player: Eager to work collaboratively in a team environment to support a variety of projects.
- Professionalism: Demonstrates a high level of professionalism, punctuality, and reliability.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Coursework related to project management, human resource management, business administration, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
- Systems management: Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, website management, volunteer management systems, creating tracking and reporting systems.
- Experience in marketing or community engagement: The ability to utilize publication design software, social media platforms, and email newsletters to connect with a diverse audience.
- Passion for horticulture: An interest in plants, gardening, or natural resources is a bonus.
- Passion for community service: A desire to apply education and skills to support community members and service volunteers.
Desired Schedule for Intern:
Applicants must be available to complete their required hours within a Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm window. We are flexible in the exact schedule.
PIGP internships require interns to complete 120 hours during their internship. It is the intern’s responsibility to ensure this requirement is met.