Intern with Educating Children Outdoors!

ev-3.owaECO, Educating Children Outdoors Internship

The North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier is looking for an energetic and motivated intern to be a part of Educating Children Outdoors for the 2013-2014 academic school year.  The intern will enjoy working with elementary aged children, be charismatic, take initiative, stand out as a leader, be willing to learn and share best practices and follow safety protocols put in place by the North Branch Nature Center.

ECO connects children with the natural world and helps foster stewardship in their communities.  Through collaboration with public schools ECO helps to open doors to the joy of learning outside in all kinds of weather. By using city parks, public lands, and other local green spaces ECO engages children in the natural inquiry based learning of their surrounding environment. ECO provides an opportunity for teachers and students to apply integrated academic curricula beyond the classroom to the outdoors for exploration, experimentation, creativity, and personal growth.

Each week the intern will volunteer their time and work in a public school with a lead ECO teacher.  There are currently 5 Central Vermont schools participating in ECO (Montpelier, East Montpelier, Moretown, Waitsfield and Plainfield).  Depending on the availability of the intern, the hours are flexible and can be 4 to 12 hours a week.

The intern’s responsibilities, shared with the ECO and classroom teachers, will be but are not limited to:

  • Planning with the ECO and school teachers
  • Writing lessons aligned with the Vermont State Standards and Common Core
  • Participating in a debrief after each ECO session
  • Leading students in games
  • Tending a fire and practice all safety protocol
  • Telling stories
  • Leading small groups in an exploration related to the lesson of the day
  • Bringing enthusiasm and love of learning

At this time this is an unpaid internship.  Volunteers will gain valuable insight and experience working in a public school setting engaging students in inquiry based learning outdoors.

ev-2.owaIf interested, please contact: Jenna Aube, Curriculum Coordinator