Internship: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Youth Education Programs, Apply by 2/28

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COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS

Education Programs INTERNSHIP: Youth Education Programs

Position: Education Programs Intern :Youth Education at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

CMBG Mission: The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants and nature through horticulture, education and research.

Internship Mission: This internship prepares students to enter the field of environmental or museum education by providing hands-on experience with informal youth and family education, programming and interpretation. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is regarded as among the foremost public gardens in the country. This internship allows students to participate directly in a wide variety of educational programs for school groups, youth, and family groups, and to learn how the Education Department works in a public garden setting to deliver programming to a diverse range of audiences.

Academic/Experiential-Learning Nexus:  Youth, family, and school group programming in relation to horticulture, botany, and natural history

Position Summary: The Youth Education Programs Internship provides hands-on experience supporting and implementing a wide variety of school group, youth, and family programming at the Gardens. Under the supervision and mentorship of the Youth and Family Program Coordinator, the Youth Education Programs Intern will have the opportunity to:

  • Carry out daily informal educational activities in the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden such as storytime, garden puppet theater, and pop-up educational offerings.
  • Assist with the implementation of our summer camps and day programs for children.
  • Assist with the daily upkeep of the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden play areas and structures.
  • Assist with the daily care and maintenance of the Learning Garden and greenhouse.
  • Welcome and orient visiting student field trip groups, and participate in curriculum delivery
  • Plan and carry out Fairy Friday activities in the Children’s Garden every Friday during July and August.
  • Learn the art and science of live interpretation as you help to facilitate Discovery Carts and Nature Investigations in the Gardens’ new butterfly exhibit and in the Bibby and Harold Aflond Children’s Garden.
  • Learn best practices in customer service.

Qualifications: The successful candidate must be comfortable and enjoy interacting with the public and with students of all ages.  They should have solid organizational skills, an interest in plants, gardening and nature, and a desire to learn more about the role of education in a public garden setting. Some coursework/experience in the field of education or the natural sciences is required.

Summer Schedule: 40 hours/week, including weekend days from approximately mid-May to late August.  Flexible start and end date. There is an hourly wage for this internship.

All candidates must have their own reliable transportation.

 By February 28, 2018, e-mail cover letter, resume and references to: Erika Huber, Youth and Family Program Coordinator at [email protected]