Environmental Education Internship

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Environmental Education Interns become an integral part of the staff and participate in many aspects of the nature center’s operation. A two-week orientation and training period is followed by a variety of teaching opportunities in both day and residential settings. Interns develop and teach ecology-based lessons for K to 4th grade on and off site with our school day programming. At Outdoor School, a 4-day residential camp for local 5th grade students, interns become Learning Group Leaders for 2 to 3 weeks over the fall.

In this role, interns facilitate hands‑on lessons and guided exploration of the natural world, with a curriculum that supports the Pennsylvania education standards. Interns work with all ages and with a variety of groups, including public and private schools, organizations, clubs, and the public. Program areas provide each intern with an opportunity to work in planning, delivering, and evaluating the center’s educational and recreational offerings.

Other opportunities include assisting with live animal training and care, working with volunteers, contributing to the center’s social media platforms, maintaining trails and restoring habitats, collecting and submitting data for citizen science projects and fostering sustainable initiatives at the center. Successful candidates have a strong desire to teach and share their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the natural world. A background in education or the natural sciences is helpful but not necessary.

Benefits include professional guidance and on‑site housing at our intern house nestled in the woods away from park visitors.

Average work week is 40 to 45 hours.

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks:

• PA State Police Criminal Background Check
• PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form
• Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters.

The ASR is available for review here.

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