Nobody likes bugs or rodents. Ok, some people do, but I know some people who absolutely freeze up at the sight – or even thought – of a little critter. At the very least, pests are unpleasant. Nobody wants to live with ants, roaches, mice, rats, or whatever other uninvited guests might be trying to make a stay at your place. That’s why we use pest control. It gets rids of the unpleasantness that is readily apparent, but what are the after effects that we don’t see? It’s hard to know for sure, but much of what we do to get rid of pests includes toxic chemicals. It’s not good for our environment, and it’s not good for our children. That’s why the Safer Pest Control Project is trying to change the way that we deal with those nasty little critters.
So what does Safer Pest Control Project do to make pest control safer? They work across the state of Illinois to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. What is IPM? It is “a proven method that emphasizes simple, inexpensive prevention practices that cause the least harm to people and the planet.” Their programs focus on “children, families living in low-income housing, and others with disproportionate exposure to environmental toxins,” and they have “particular expertise with indoor pest control” while also working with park districts, landscapers and farmers. The key to IPM is “minimizing access to food, water, and hiding places.” If you make a place unpleasant for pests to live, they’re gonna move on. It’s as simple as that. If you are fascinated by the idea of spreading the word about IPM, then an internship with Safer Pest Control Project might be a great way to spend your summer. Their internships are paid and usually last 8-12 weeks. They only offer General Internships, which are geared towards students who are focused on public health, environmental health, public policy, environmental policy, natural sciences, or non-profit development and administration. They typically accept applications for Summer internships between February and May, and you can apply by sending a cover letter and resume to general@spcpweb.org .
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Tags: advocacy, Illinois, Internships, non-profit, outreach, paid
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