Summer Education Intern

Overview

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

For those interested in environmental education, Audubon Vermont provides college students and recent graduates with a 210-hour paid internship. The internship is designed to provide a range of administrative and programmatic experiences with a focus on environmental education. Work on some or all of the following programs:

• Field trips and outreach programs comprise the core of our education programs. We work with local schools, day camps, and community organizations to provide outdoor education to their members and students.
  • Preschool-age students visit for 1.5-2 hours. Programs including Down by the River, Insect Extravaganza, Summer Inquiry, and Whirligigs and Water Tigers
  • Elementary and middle school students visit for 2- or 4-hour trips. Programs include Secret Lives of Trees, All About Birds, Wilderness Skills, Insect Investigations, Aquatic Ecosystems and Watershed Wonders.
• Summer Camp: Audubon Vermont hosts 8 weeks of summer day camp to nearly 400 kids from our local communities. Campers explore, investigate, and discover in our forests, ponds, rivers, wetlands, and fields. Interns work at camps from time-to-time throughout the summer, assisting camp staff with everything from lesson planning to teaching. The Summer Education Intern also serves as a substitute teacher at camp and helps relieve camp staff for lunch breaks.
• Public Programs: We offer programs on various seasonal topics throughout the year for audiences of all ages. Interns will have the opportunity to host their own program or work with our AmeriCorps members on community science programs. Additionally, the summer intern helps run our Free Nature Playgroup for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

This internship is a temporary role and is paid at a rate of $16.00 per hour for up to 210 hours during the summer. Applicants must be available during Audubon Vermont’s business hours, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. This position is best suited to a self-driven individual who has experience in education (formal or informal) and working with elementary-aged children and can bring a creative edge to natural history interpretation.

This is an on-site role based at Audubon Vermont, Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington, VT.

Compensation:

$16.00 / hour

Essential Functions

Intern Responsibilities and Learning Objectives

During the internship, you will work with the education staff to:

• Develop and deliver programs in-line with Audubon Vermont operations.
• Creating and maintaining nature and environmental education materials.
• Assisting with the design of age-appropriate curriculum and interpretive guides.
• Working closely with people from diverse backgrounds and with lived experiences different from your own.
• Learning, shadowing, teaching, and planning: summer day camps, field trips, and public programs for children (and potentially adults)- a full array of summer education programs at Audubon Vermont.

Internship Benefits
Interns will gain experience and knowledge in the following:

• Interact with the professional scientists, educators, and advocates at Audubon, as well as other interns and the general public in Vermont.
• Gain practical experience teaching students from preschool through high school while working directly with GMAC’s team of professional Teacher/Naturalists.
• The goals of Audubon Vermont through supporting our education and youth leadership programs.

Intern Schedule
Most of our programs for children occur Monday through Friday, between 8:00am - 4:30pm. We have 210 hours available for this internship, between June 5 and mid-August. There is an opportunity for the occasional weekend program. Students may earn academic credit for their time, in addition to pay, upon discussion with the education manager.

Qualifications and Experience

• Course work that focuses on conservation, environmental education, biology, natural history, or a major in education with an interest in alternative forms of education.
• Experience working with preschool or elementary-aged children.
• Reliable transportation to Audubon Vermont. This work will require coming to Audubon Vermont’s office in Huntington, VT, which is a rural location. The nearest bus stop is 10 miles away. If you do not have reliable transportation but believe you are a strong candidate, please apply.
• Experience and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Desire to teach nature-based programming in an outdoor setting, in all weather (when appropriate and following State guidelines and our office protocols to stay safe during COVID)
• Interest in connecting people to nature and developing your own natural history, conservation, and nature mentoring skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous related experience in outdoor education.
• Self-motivated and organized person able to stay on task without direct supervision and to be able to work on multiple projects or education programs.
• Social media communication experience.
• Networking and community engagement.
• Interest in pedagogy, curriculum development, and lesson planning.
• Experience in place-based education.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

COVID Policy

All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.