The Audubon Center in Greenwich opened in 1942 as the National Audubon Society’s first environmental education center in the United States. The 285-acre sanctuary has approximately seven miles of trails that lead to a hardwood forest, old fields, a lake, streams and vernal ponds. Each year, over tens of thousands of adults and children visit Audubon to hike and participate in school, family and adult programs, including citizen science surveys and counts, land stewardship projects, summer camps, lectures and presentations, and natural history and ecology education programs. Ultimately, our programs give people the information they need to make informed decisions about how they interact with nature. Through education, public policy, and science, we hope to build a culture of conservation and environmental stewards for now and in the future.
The Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT provides the opportunity to work in a day camp setting with teens ages thirteen to seventeen. The Teen Internship Program is a new teen program offered in two 2-week sessions during which campers spend time advancing their knowledge of Audubon Greenwich conservation work through four program pillars: individualized scientific research studies, land stewardship projects, education lesson planning, and meeting professionals in the fields of conservation science and environmental stewardship. While on-site, the teens will explore the meadows, ponds, and forests at the Audubon Center, as they work toward the completion of their studies and projects. The Teen Internship Educator will work with the Camp Director and Audubon Education Specialists to develop lesson plans for the Teen Internship Program. You will conduct daily hikes and other activities with a group of up to 15 children, while maintaining a safe, fun, and educational environment.
This five-week position begins on July 2, 2018, and includes a week of staff training from July 2 to July 6. The Teen Internship Program begins on July 9 and ends on August 3. The daily work hours are 9:00am-4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
The Teen Internship Program Educator will work with the Camp Director and Audubon Staff to:
- Serve as program coordinator and educator for the Teen Internship Program. This requires candidate to be at least 23 years of age or older and possess First Aid and CPR certification. In this role, the Educator will work with the Camp Director and Audubon Naturalists to develop the curriculum for this new program. The Educator will lead hikes throughout the Main Sanctuary, manage research studies, support land stewardship projects, and facilitate lesson plan creation while ensuring the safety of program participants at all times.
- Lead and support the Teen Internship Program participants in the development, execution, and analysis, of an individually selected research project culminating in a written report. Research projects will investigate a topic related to local ecology that can be studied from within the Audubon Greenwich Main Sanctuary and reasonably completed during the two weeks of the program. Topic examples include; invasive species surveys, biodiversity, habitat status, wildlife surveys, etc.
- Under the supervision and direction of the Land Steward, the Teen Internship Program Educator will support the selection and completion of selected Land Stewardship projects on the Main Sanctuary. These projects may include; lifting up to 50 lbs, using basic construction tools, digging, planting, removing plants, and other physical tasks associated with grounds work, trail maintenance, or habitat restoration.
- Support and guide program participants to craft age-appropriate lesson plans for a selected camp group from the k-5 Summer Nature Day Camp at Audubon Greenwich. These lesson plans will align with pre-selected weekly themes of ecology and natural history topics. The Teen Internship Program participants will implement their lesson plans during a designated activity period for the selected camp group. Lessons should convey interesting information on the selected topic through engaging and fun activities.
- Facilitate learning sessions featuring experienced professionals in the fields of environmental science, conservation, and field biology. Sessions should include a short presentation by the professional, an opportunity for program participants to ask questions, and -when possible- an activity or field project to illustrate the work of the professional.
- Two years or more of experience teaching high school students is required.
- Experience in design, execution, and analysis of scientific research studies. Experience supporting others in the research study process is greatly preferred.
- Experience in lesson plan formation and implementation.
- Willingness to engage in land stewardship work including light physical labor and getting dirty.
- Confidence in leading a group and initiating activities, working independently, and team teaching.
- Strong work ethic, natural history background (specifically in the New England area), self-motivation, on-going enthusiasm, commitment, flexibility, a desire to learn, and the ability to work well with others and with children.
- A current driver’s license and personal vehicle are required.
- CPR and First Aid Certification are required; training may be available if necessary.
- Candidates must be at least 23 years of age.