Environmental Education Intern – Native American Programs (Irvine Nature Center)

Organization Description:
Irvine Nature Center is a non-profit educational organization that offers programs of environmental studies and natural science to children and adults of the greater Baltimore area. Our mission is to educate and inspire current and future generations to explore, respect and protect nature.

Internship Position Description:
This internship is UNPAID, but eligible for academic or course credit if approved by your educational institution. Irvine has a recreated Native American site on property which is used for school field trips and public educational programs. This position will help with the responsibilities of maintaining the site and assist with school field trips as available. This is a unique opportunity to learn traditional skills such as friction fire starting and preparing buckskin. The candidate will also help with the creation of educational materials for the site.

Position Responsibilities:
• Help with maintaining the Native American educational site at Irvine – smoking wigwams and keeping area clean
• Help with school field trips (mostly 4th grade)
• Help create materials and supplies for field trips and site

Qualifications:
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Able to walk up to 2 miles on trails
• Able to use tools, knives and work requiring fine motor skills
• Interest in Indigenous People’s history and heritage
• Willing to learn new traditional skills such as friction fire starting

Hours:
• Must have Monday – Friday availability
• Flexible but a minimum of 8 hours/week is required
• Able to work mornings 9:30-12:30 (when most field trips are run)
• MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR REQUIRED TRAINING DATES—August 30 and 31, 2022

Project Details:
• Learn some of the skills of Maryland’s first people
• Help maintain the Native American Educational site regularly build fires
• Help with school field trips to the site, demonstrating skills, playing Native American games, etc.

TO APPLY: Please fill out the Volunteer Application on our website at https://www.explorenature.org/get-involved/volunteer/ before sending your resume and three references to our Volunteer Coordinator, Maggie Winkler, at WinklerM@ExploreNature.org.