This role is on-site based out of the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington, VT.

The Early Education Intern (EEI) will spend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings working with Audubon’s youngest participants. At Audubon Vermont we believe Nature can be one of the best teachers and find the balance between being a “teacher out front” and a “guide on the side”. We are looking for an intern who is interested in learning and practicing their skills as an educator in a supportive environment. We encourage folks to apply who have limited experience but are passionate about educating young children.

Our Free Nature Playgroup and Forest Playschool have become staple programs in our curriculum.  Children spend their entire time with us outdoors, exploring trails, forests, rivers, and ponds. We are outside in all weather conditions, from snow to rain to abundant sunshine. In our Forest Playschool the EEI will learn from our Senior Educator and Environmental Education AmeriCorps Member while working directly with children ages 3-5. This intern will also work with another Educator on our Free Nature Playgroup for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. We would be excited for an intern who is motivated to help us improve these programs through research on best practices that can be shared with our education team.

Our preferred candidates will be available for our entire spring semester, from January 6th to May 23rd to provide consistency on our preschool team. Requesting time off in that time frame is fine.

Compensation:

$16.00 / hour

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions:

Intern Responsibilities and Learning Objectives

• Help facilitate each program from set up before kids arrive through clean-up and debrief.
• Contribute to planning and curriculum development of each program.
• Be a pleasant, reliable, caring adult in the life of children in our care, as well as to their caregivers.  We expect interns to actively engage with students by sitting in the dirt and playing in the snow. We also expect out intern to speak comfortably, but professionally, with adults about the program.
• Contribute at least 1 article to our website.

Internship Benefits

Interns will gain experience and knowledge in the following:

• Approximately 180 hours of direct, hands-on experience with students 5 and under.
• Learn from experienced educators with years of experience, who will serve as your mentors.
• Practice creating lesson plans.
• Gain familiarity with practices of nature-based preschools.
• Experience working at a non-profit.
• Potential for professional development with our education team.

Intern Schedule:

Interns will work 18 hours per week, Monday-Friday. The Intern must be available to come to our Center in Huntington for our usual schedule of programing on Mondays from 8:30am-11:30am, and Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am-1:30pm.

Projected Start Date:

January 6, 2025 and projected end date is May 23, 2025.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven interest in working with children, demonstrated through coursework, volunteering, babysitting, or formal work experience. 0-3 months.
• Passion for nature and the outdoors.
• Current student or recent graduate.
• Up-to-date child and infant CPR certification preferred.