INTERN PROGRAM
WORK
Interns work on Earthship construction sites where it is necessary to assist the crew. The exact content of the work varies from session to session. Work hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. This work is labor intensive, but we are happy to work around any physical issues you may have. No prior building experience is necessary, but interns must be able to lift 50lbs. We encourage people of all backgrounds to participate.
Please note this Internship is not a course on how to build an Earthship: If that is your interest, then you should attend the Earthship Academy.
COST: The fee for internship in 2026 is $ 300 USD + taxes.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Students have the option to purchase housing on campus. Please note that there are no laundry facilities on these sites.
We have set the prices of these accommodations to be lower than equivalent transient around the Taos, New Mexico area.
We recommend the Earthship accommodations as your stay in these “primitive Earthship” units is considered to be part of your education in understanding the Earthship concept. They are not meant to impress you in terms of comforts, rather they are meant to educate you on what must be learned in order to build and live in Earthships.
A $100 cleaning deposit is required for check-in to any Intern housing. This money must be in the form of cash or check and will be collected at Orientation. This money will be returned to you upon your departure pending the cleanliness of your space. If you need to leave before the scheduled check-out, your deposit will be returned to you via US mail or PayPal.
We are unable to accommodate early check-ins or late check-outs.
ABOUT THE AREA
Taos, New Mexico is a high desert with an extreme climate. Temperatures can vary from 100 plus degrees in the summer to 30 degrees below zero in the winter. The elevation is 6,950 feet above sea level which can cause temperature variations of 40 degrees in a matter of minutes.
Taos is seated at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is famous for its fine art, great food and majestic beauty. Taos Ski Valley is known as one of the best in the country and the Taos Pueblo contains the oldest stand alone dwelling in the United States. During the summer, Taos offers a multitude of outdoor activities including river rafting, mountain climbing and hiking. Natural hot springs dot the Rio Grande river and are not far from the Earthship community.
TRANSPORTATION & LOCAL LODGING
There is no public transportation, Uber or Taxi service in Taos. Please take this into consideration when making your travel arrangements. The Earthship compounds, job sites and the town of Taos (food shopping, laundry facilities, gas, etc.) are spread out and driving is a must. If you choose to participate without a vehicle, you will be dependent upon your fellow Interns for rides.
The closest airport is in Santa Fe, NM (1.5 hour drive). The closest International Airport is in Albuquerque, NM (3 hour drive to Taos). There are two airport shuttle services that can bring you to Taos, the Taos Ski Valley Shuttle: http://www.skitaos.com/discover-taos/airport-shuttle/ or https://taosrides.com/ or Mario: 575-779-4424. Reservations must be made in advance.
One month prior to each session, Interns receive a list of fellow participants and their email addresses so that they may coordinate ride sharing, etc.
Orientation and check-in to the housing begins at 10:00 am on the first morning of each Intern session. This means you will most likely need to be in Taos the night before. We are unable to accept early check-ins and therefore recommend you to book an hotel the night before.
Check-out is at 2:00 pm on the last day of each Intern session. If you need to leave early, your cleaning deposit will be mailed to you upon the cleanliness of your space.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO BRING
Bedding and pillow
Towel(s)
water bottle
rain gear (for the job site)
closed toe shoes
clothes you do not mind ruining
a good flashlight or headlamp
a good sun hat
25‘ tape measure
utility knife with blades
carpenter’s pencils
sharpie marker
heavy duty rubber gloves
leather gloves
2026 SESSION DATES:
- Session 1: JANUARY 12th to 30th
- Session 2 FEBRUARY 9th to 27th
- Session 3 MARCH 9th to 27th
- Session 4 NOVEMBER 2nd to 20th
HOW TO REGISTER
Make sure you have read and understand the above information.
If you still have questions, you can email us at outreach@earthship.com.
If you are ready, you can apply here:
Registering for the Field Study (hands-on)
We will send you a PayPal invoice or you can send us a check or money order for your payment. Your spot will not be reserved until we have received your payment. Once registered, you will receive PDF packet with more detailed information about the session and Taos.
PLEASE NOTE THIS PAYMENT IS NON-REFUNDABLE. Your credit will be honored for two years..
