For those interested in environmental education, Audubon Vermont provides students and recent graduates with a paid internship and up to 115 hours for the semester. College credit is also available. Gain practical experience teaching students from preschool through high school while working directly with GMAC’s team of professional Teacher/Naturalists. Work on some or all of the following programs:
School Programs: Field trips and outreach comprise the core of our education programs;
- Preschool-age students visit for 1-2 hour programs including Critter Construction, Autumn Inquiry, and Let’s Talk Turkeys
- Elementary and middle school students visit for half or full-day programs including Secret Lives of Trees, All About Birds, Wilderness Skills, Orienteering, Insect Investigations, and Autumn Inquiry.
Forest Preschool: We invite preschoolers (ages 3-5) to spend Friday mornings in the woods, at our Forest Camp. Seasonal changes guide our weekly theme and activities, with plenty of sensory exploration and free play time. Visit http://vt.audubon.org/forest-preschool.
Public Programs: We offer programs on various seasonal topics throughout the year. Interns will have the opportunity to host their own program.
All seasonal interns will gain experience and/or knowledge in:
- Local natural history, teaching and public speaking expertise, program planning experience, and research skills;
- Leading and co-leading small groups of students through seasonal programs;
- Developing lesson plans and curricula for an outdoor setting;
- Connecting kids with nature through the arts of questioning, storytelling, and role-modeling interest and empathy towards all living things.
Each intern will work with the Education Coordinator to develop a customized teaching schedule and semester-long project, based on your individual learning goals.
- Working closely with staff to effectively develop and deliver programs in-line with GMAC operations.
- Creating and maintaining nature and environmental education materials for on- and off-site use.
- Assisting with the design and maintenance of age-appropriate indoor and outdoor classroom spaces.
- Fit into one or more of these categories:
- Currently enrolled in an environmental or education program (you can receive course credit for this internship)
- Have taken courses that focus on conservation, environmental education, biology, natural history, or a related major
- Have previous related experience in outdoor education
- Interest in connecting people to nature and developing your own natural history, conservation, and nature mentoring skills.
- Desire to teach nature-based programming in an outdoor setting, in all weather.
- Interest in pedagogy, curriculum development, and lesson planning.