Download FAQ as Word document here.

What is the schedule of an intern?
Overall we ask for a minimum of 3 month commitment. Most interns stay an average of 3.5 to 4 months. While you're here the work week is basically Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5pm. Occasionally there are times when we work later or have to come in on a weekend to set up for a class, but that's usually not required. It's just that there's so much to do overall we often end up working more than 40 hrs a week. You also have the option of taking any of the weekend workshops we offer, as long as there's space available (which there usually is).

What are the typical duties and responsibilities?
Interns share the general duties of maintenance and cleaning with the 4 full-time staff. We meet every day 8:30 to 9am, divide up daily tasks among us (ex: sweeping the lobby, tidying the bathroom, taking out recycling), and then delve into the larger projects for the day or week, which range from building projects here on our campus to preparing for classes coming up, to finishing class projects that classes didn't quite finish. It's a whole mix, mostly of building stuff, some design, and there's also opportunity for some more non-profit administrative type projects like designing posters, researching marketing opportunities, creating displays and hand-out materials about the school, etc. The daily schedule is a mix of "must do" time-sensitive things that just have to get done, and projects which are more self-motivated according to your interests and goals.

How much do interns get to participate in the courses and workshops?
You can take one week of classes for each month of the internship, plus any of the weekend classes. When you're in a class you're considered a student like everyone else. Interns are not expected to be a teaching assistant, although occasionally an instructor may ask for help locating a certain tool, or driving the van. During other classes that you're not actively taking, you sometimes can sit in on evening lectures or join on a house tour, but we don't want to disrupt the flow of the class.

What is the overall community atmosphere like- people, services and resources, housing, etc?
The people here tend to be wonderful. We seem to attract interesting folks both as students, staff, interns and instructors. The housing for interns is definitely simple, it's reminiscent of a shared house for college students (depending on who's living there, it can get a little messy). Upstairs there are 2 bedrooms, each with 2 twin beds (usually we have 2 guys and 2 women), a shared bathroom, kitchen and living area upstairs, and downstairs has sleeping space for 2 more people, a bathroom, living room, and basic kitchen. The intern house (we call it the "Chalet") is located just on the other side of our parking lot, so it's a quick 2 minute walk to work. Some students and most instructors stay on campus while they're in class- we have dorms, cabins, etc. so there's often another community of folks around as well. The 4 full time staff also live nearby. We're right on the border between Waitsfield and Warren, two small Vermont towns of about 2,000 people each, but there are convenient grocery stores, hardware stores, banks, post office, etc within 3 miles of Yestermorrow.

What kinds of things are available to do when you are not working, and can the internship hourly commitment be overwhelming?
This is a beautiful area to be in; if you're a skier, then winter brings plenty to do with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc. In the summer there is a swimming hole across the street, great cycling, hiking, live music a few nights a week at different local venues, and Montpelier (movies, bowling, etc) is only 30 minutes away. If you're taking a lot of weekend workshops it can feel a little overwhelming with the time commitment, there's definitely not a ton of free time, but in the evenings interns have access to the woodshop and often come over to the school to check their email (we have a couple of computers with DSL set up for people to use), build small stuff in the shop, watch a movie, or just hang out.

How expensive is it to live at Yestermorrow?
Well, on $50 a week most people would be hard pressed to save money. It definitely helps if you have some savings before you start the internship. Some folks who are low on cash are able to get side jobs on nights or weekends; we often get calls from local folks looking for help painting their house, or who need an extra hand doing some renovation work. Some interns have also worked nights waitressing or bussing tables at local restaurants. It's not easy, but it is possible.

How are interns supposed to afford health insurance?
It's difficult. Due to the nature of the work here and a variety of reasons, we require interns to have health insurance while they're here. Vermont residents can usually qualify for free health insurance through VHAP, and temporary basic medical insurance is available for about $50/month. Some interns are able to get coverage through their parents if we provide them a letter stating that they are a full time student intern. Others choose to pay COBRA or some continuation of their previous insurance, which is typically a few hundred dollars per month.

What if I am unable to visit before I apply?
We understand that it is not feasible for folks spread all over the country (and the world!) to visit before they apply. We recommend it simply because we feel it's the best way to get an idea of what Yestermorrow is like. Alternatively, you can view photos of our campus, call with questions, or email Program Manager Kate Stephenson ( kate@yestermorrow.org ). We will conduct phone interviews with applicants who cannot come in person due to distance.