Residential environmental learning and conference center

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Naturalist Internship Opportunities

"Coming here was the best thing I ever did for my life."
- Renee Therriault, former intern and assistant wildlife coordinator

You will have a chance to gain professional experience with the option of
earning an Environmental Education Certificate offered in conjunction
with Hamline University in St.Paul.

Naturalist & Adventure Internship position available

The Audubon Center of the North Woods currently has a position available in our internship program for a Naturalist & Adventure Intern.

Qualifications:

Experience or an interest in working with children in an educational outdoor setting
Interest in learning how to manage an adventure program
Self-motivation and ability to work without supervision
Knowledge of, or interest in, the natural and cultural history of Minnesota
Willingness and ability to work long hours
Some experience or interest in canoeing, rock climbing, high ropes, and camping

Responsibilities:
Approximately 70% of your time will be spent:

Teaching environmental and adventure education instruction classes (on average 5-6 a week)
Serving as a liaison residential K-12 groups
Providing guest services and programming for weekend conference and college groups
Administrative tasks
General maintenance of intern house and

A portion of your time (approximately 30%) will be spent assisting the Adventure Coordinator in performing the following duties:

Maintenance of adventure curriculum and equipment
Orienteering
High and low ropes courses (to include course inspections)
Rock climbing wall
Canoeing
Gear shed
First aid supplies
Ordering new equipment
Planning and helping lead summer camp programs to include canoe expeditions
Assisting with weekend college adventure programs including backpacking, wilderness navigation, winter skills, canoeing, and outdoor sampler

Benefits:
-Professional teaching experience
-$160 per month stipend
-Private room in intern house and most meals

How to Apply: (This position is open until filled)
Please send a cover letter, resume and list of three reference contacts to:
Shayna Sellars, Intern Coordinator
sellars@audubon-center.org
Audubon Center of the North Woods
PO Box 530
Sandstone, MN 55072
320-245-2648 ext. 107
FAX 320-245-5272

We are looking for people who:

Have experience or an interest in working with children
in an educational outdoor setting
Are able to work without supervision and are self-motivated
Have knowledge of, or interest in, the natural and cultural history of Minnesota
Have a good sense of humor
Are willing and able to work long hours

Your responsibilities as a Naturalist Intern include:

Environmental and adventure education instruction
Program and curriculum development
Serving as a liaison for school and weekend groups
General maintenance of living quarters and center grounds
Administrative tasks
Option to assist with care of captive educational animals, including raptors, and maintain the wildlife facility.

Athena in her window
Above is Athena, our resident Barred Owl. Interns have the option of learning how
to care for and maintain facilities for her and our other resident wildlife.

Typical months of internship: September to June

Outdoor classes you will be teaching

Natural History classes:
Animal Signs
Aquatics Study
Beaver Ecology
Birds of Prey
Reptiles and Amphibians
Tree ID
Voyageurs
Wolf Ecology
Maple Syruping
Nature Journaling
Ojibwe Hike
Predator/Prey
Wilderness Survival
And other exciting outdoor classes

Adventure classes:
Skywalk High Ropes Course
Canoeing
Climbing Wall
Low Ropes
Initiative Activities
Cross Country Skiing
Snowshoeing
Orienteering

Stipend

You will receive $320 per month, individual room and board. If you work for 6 months or longer, you are eligible to take graduate credits from Hamline University. The Audubon Center will pay for 1 credit for every month worked at the center. If you work less than 6 months , you may take the credits at your own expense.

The Intern House

You will get an individual room at the intern house, which is located on a separate part of the property from the Dormitory and Dining Hall. The recently remodeled intern house is a rustic farmhouse on the shores of Grindstone Lake that has a communal kitchen, living area, and 3 bathrooms. There is room for 7 interns in the house.

International Interns

We encourage international interns because we believe that environmental education and environmental issues are global in scope . The Audubon Center has an opportunity to assist educators from other countries in developing their environmental education skills. "After those months of hands-on work and studying, I perceive a greater achievement than through past university curriculum, a real feeling of having developed and mastered a certain amount of knowledge”. – Michelle Thouin, France, 1996-1997

To apply, please send cover letter, resume and three reference contacts to:

Shayna Sellars, Curriculum & Intern Coordinator
Audubon Center of the North Woods
PO Box 530
Sandstone, MN, 55072
(320) 245-2648

Our Mission:
To instill a connection and commitment
to the environment in people of all
communities through experiential learning.

Our Vision:
A healthy planet where all people
live in balance with the Earth.