TRAVERSE CITY -- She hasn't decided on a career, but Haley Kossek thinks she might like to work with nonprofits.
The Brown University freshman tried it last summer as an intern for the Women's Resource Center, where she helped write grant applications and used social media networks to promote the agency.
She was one of about 25 high school students or recent graduates in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim and Kalkaska counties who interned for regional nonprofits.
The program will offer opportunities to more students this summer as it enters its second year.
"To be honest, I'm one of a pretty small number of students I know who was able to get a paid internship right out of high school," said Kossek, 18, a 2009 Elk Rapids High School graduate who worked about 20 hours a week.
"There's a sense that if you want to do a job like that during the summer, you should expect that it would be unpaid."
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, which organized the program last year, hopes to award $25,000 for internships this year, up from about $23,000 last year, spokeswoman Alison Metiva said.
Extra grant dollars are available and some private family funds will sponsor interns, she said.
Internships typically run about six weeks long and students receive an average stipend of $1,500.
They "expose students to the nonprofit sector and how we work," said Tad Peacock, administrator of the Benzie Conservation District in Beulah. "It definitely gives them a good basis."
For 15-20 hours each week, Peacock's summer intern handled administrative duties and assisted with Betsie Valley Trail maintenance.
An intern at the Leelanau Community Cultural Center in Leland took on office tasks during its busy summer children's program, including maintaining rosters and collecting checks, for about 12 hours a week.
She also worked as an art class aide as needed, Program Director Judy Livingston said.
Both Peacock and Livingston plan to seek interns again.
Maureen McManus, 22, first interned for The Watershed Center in 2007. She returned each summer since, and worked nearly full time last year.
McManus majors in environmental studies and geography as a senior at Central Michigan University. Interning confirmed her career choice, she said, and could set high school students on that same path.
"It's so hard when you're sitting in classrooms not really getting a lot of experience in the real world," McManus said. "It gives them an opportunity to see what things are actually like."
For more information
Nonprofits in Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim and Kalkaska counties that are interested in having high school summer interns have until Thursday to apply. About $25,000 likely will be available for student stipends and other costs.
High school students or graduating seniors in the five counties can view available positions and apply beginning March 8.
Visit www.gtrcf.org to learn more.
