Flying Deer Nature Center’s mission is to mentor children, adults, and families in deep connection to nature, self, and others. This is a position for individuals who seek to deepen or expand their nature connection, skills, and knowledge base, with the goal of helping young people and adults to expand theirs.
You will receive coaching, training, and experience in outdoor leadership skills; techniques for living in the wilderness; naturalist and outdoor survival skills such as making friction fire and building shelter; and learning about local flora and fauna, including foraging for wild edibles.
Interns will work closely with experienced Flying Deer colleagues and nature experts, planning and debriefing each program. Responsibilities include supervising youth in organized nature experiences and working collaboratively with colleagues to plan programs and activities. One key responsibility for this position will be helping Flying Deer administrators recruit students and other interns towards the aim of diversifying our program.
This is a paid internship for up to 15 hours per week at $15 per hour, including paid training, with the goal for this position to become an ongoing instructor role with additional hours. It’s important to note that Flying Deer Nature Center has a pay scale and benefit package that increases with time and experience.
We encourage Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian American, women, and LGBTQIA candidates who feel passionately about the outdoors, equity, access, and inclusion to apply.
Intern Responsibilities
The Intern will provide instruction in programs in collaboration with the other staff. They are responsible for carrying out lessons, games, adventures, crafting projects, and stories, as well as ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. Students’ ages range from 4–17, and most teaching hours will be spent at our East Chatham home base, with some travel to our programs throughout Columbia and Berkshire Counties and beyond.
Intern responsibilities include:
- Arriving on time, well rested, and dressed for the weather
- Showing up well prepared each program day with all props, equipment, and personal gear needed
- Delivering dynamic, engaging learning lessons/experiences in nature
- Being a positive role model
- Collaborating with other staff on planning/curriculum/flow of the day
- Maintaining a physically and emotionally safe learning atmosphere by being aware of group dynamics and environmental hazards
- Maintaining clear and positive communication
- Ensuring that an effort is made to connect with all parents each week
- Participating in pre- and post-program planning meetings and feedback sessions.
The Intern helps set the tone of the program for fellow staff, students, and parents. Interns role-model positivity, groundedness, respect, and appreciation. We highly value the quality of mentoring that staff bring when they themselves are immersed in outdoor learning. We encourage Interns to seek time in nature, pursue relevant learning opportunities, and find their own areas of interest, passion, and talent that they can bring into programs.
Our Diversity Vision: We are committed to widening the circle of nature connection to include people of all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, and orientations, in the embrace of the natural world.
To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume, and two professional references to info@flyingdeernaturecenter.org.