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Conservation Begins Here.

Education Intern

Program Dates: 8/25/24 - 11/23/24

These are the dates that the Position will occur. In the case of Internships, it will be the “Actual Start Date” and “Actual End Date” of the Position object.

About us:

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, community green spaces, and much more across the country.

Program details:

Are you looking for a position that offers an introduction to a variety of public-facing roles in the National Park Service? This position involves working with Canyon Country Outdoor Education (CCOE), a partnership between the National Park Service and the Grand County, UT school district. In addition, interns will work in Arches National Park, assisting at the visitor center information desk, Junior Ranger tables, and participating in visitor services and interpretation duties throughout the park.

The CCOE program takes Kindergarten though 6th grade students from local public schools into the parks and public lands around their communities for hands-on, place-based field trips tied to the Utah science and social studies core standards. Our staff teach both in area schools and the outdoor classrooms of Arches National Park, the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park and other USFS and BLM sites. Our home base is an office in Arches National Park in Moab, UT.

The goals of the CCOE program are:

  • To help students safely experience and understand the natural and cultural resources of our national parks and surrounding areas.
  • To enhance existing state-approved curricula.
  • To expose students to a wide range of responsible activities in the outdoors.
  • To raise awareness of the natural sciences in the younger generation to prepare them for their roles as citizens.

This is a great position for applicants with career interests in place-based learning, outdoor science instruction, classroom teaching, environmental education, or rural community engagement. Applicants must have prior work experience with elementary-age children such as in a classroom, after-school program, or summer camp, etc. and a strong interest in teaching. Basic First Aid/CPR certification is preferred, but not required.

Applicants who are the best fit for this position will have:

  • A desire to explore careers with the National Park Service.
  • A collaborative approach to work and the ability to manage projects independently.
  • Attention to growing as an educator and receiving feedback on teaching and teaching materials.
  • Curiosity about making science learning meaningful for students through facilitating connections to their surrounding landscapes.
  • A student asset-based (vs. deficit-based) mindset towards education.
  • Cultural humility and openness to multiple ways of thinking about nature and the environment.
  • Willingness to live in a rural, isolated area with extremes in weather.
  • A state-issued Drivers License and be at least eighteen years of age.
  • Have a personal vehicle.

Education duties will include:

  • Teach standards-based lessons from the CCOE curriculum, manage students for safety in the outdoors, assist with pre- and post-field trip classroom visits (60%)
  • Prepare and plan for instruction, support education program logistics, safely drive a government vehicle, and complete projects to maintain program quality (20%)
  • Participate in activities to develop education skills including program debriefs, training sessions for best practices in environmental education, informal peer observation, video self-evaluations, and formal coaching sessions (10%)
  • Contribute feedback to program to ensure its continued success (5%)
  • Occasionally present and develop extracurricular programming for area youth which may include junior ranger programs, after school clubs, or community events (5%)

Interpretation and Visitor Services duties will include:

  • Answer questions at the visitor center, provide directions, recommend hiking trails, and interact with Junior Rangers,
  • Hike and rove on park trails for the purpose of chatting with visitors, answering questions, and assisting them to gain the most of their visit

Successful interns may be asked to return for the spring semester position (late January to mid-May).

Member benefits:

  • $1,100 - one-time round-trip travel allowance
  • $600 - weekly living allowance (paid bi-weekly)
  • AmeriCorps eligible ($1,956 education award)
  • Partner provided housing
    • Housing is a shared park apartment or house with private bedroom. Basic kitchen dishware/cookware and utensils will be provided. You should bring your own bedding, towels, toiletries, and other needed personal items.

  • All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes