Must be 16 or older to applyStart date is flexible, but we expect to start in mid-JuneDescription:Looking for a reliable high school student to help with environmental curriculum planning, design, implementation, and assessment this summer. Friends of North Creek Forest is a non-profit organization committed to maintaining and improving the ecological function of North Creek Forest through stewardship, education and conservation in perpetuity. This summer we need support running our summer camps and other community events. The majority of our events will be held in North Creek Forest, occasionally at Saint Edward's Park, and potentially other parks. This internship is offered to high schoolers to build youth leadership in outdoor environmental education, and help one environmentally conscious student gain experience in this field.
In this position you will work on our education committee alongside our education manager, board liaison, 1-2 college interns, and a handful of education volunteers. Our interns work with the education manager to design an outline of internship goals for each quarter; this will include items of intern interest and a field instruction timeline. In addition, interns will attend twice-weekly virtual meetings and assist in a variety of duties which may include curriculum design, event logistical planning, stewardship, stakeholder outreach, and grant writing.
The position is an average of 15 hours per week, with up to 25 hours during our summer camp weeks, and minimum of 4 hours during our preparation weeks. Summer camp weeks require in-person attendance, whereas preparation weeks will be hybrid. Summer camp dates are as follows:
Dates1. "Forest Quest" ages 11-14 (July 8th-11th)
2. "Sprouting Cedars" ages 6-8 (July 22nd-25th)
3. "Happy Hemlocks" ages 9-11 (August 5th-8th)
4. "Whispering Firs" ages 11-14 (August 19th-22nd)
Sprouting Cedars, Happy Hemlocks and Whispering Firs focuses on teaching students about our local ecosystems, the threats that face them, and engaging them in various scientific practices. Forest Quest has a similar premise, but will be implemented through a table-top role playing game (TTRPG) where campers develop characters, have individual skill sets, and engage with the forest to progress through the game.
Expectations:
- Available to attend each day of the summer camps
- Attend twice (or more) weekly education committee meetings virtually (occasionally in person)
- An average of 2-6 hours on off weeks and 25 hours per week on camp weeks. This will vary depending on intern's own availability and the varied weekly workload
- Complete required readings and assignments
- Assist in designing educational activities with themes around ecology, reciprocity, and environmental justice
- Produce deliverables such as lesson plans, curriculum research, grant applications and teaching tools
- Assist in field instruction with eventual plans to lead field activities
Qualifications:
-The ability to get a WA state food handers license (any cost would be reimbursed)
- Interest in community outreach, environmental justice, habitat restoration, and/or education.
- Comfortable working within a variety of tech platforms, especially Google Drive.
-16 years of age or older
- Bonus: interested in table top role playing games
Compensation:
- $17 per hour
- up to $100 outdoor wear stipend for hiking shoes
- Internship expectations are customizable to support school credit requirements
- At this time we do not offer healthcare or other benefits
Objectives/Learning Goals:
Students will be able to:
- Understand basic lowland forest ecological restoration practices
- Various environmental science practices
- Understand the role of community service/service learning in habitat restoration
- Think critically and act toward equity in environmental education
- Design for diverse ways of knowing and understanding science and the natural world
- Understand the intricacies of curriculum development and instruction
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Equal Employment Opportunity
Friends of North Creek Forest (FNCF) is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on account of race, skin color, national origin, age, sex, gender, sexuality, disability, neurotype, religion or otherwise as may be prohibited by federal and state law. Reasonable accommodation is available for those with a disability or religious need. Any employee, board member, volunteer or client who believes that they or any other affiliate of FNCF has been discriminated against is strongly encouraged to report this concern promptly to the Executive Director, Board President, and/or relevant supervisor.
