This Teacher/Naturalist Year-long Paid Internship will give invaluable, hands-on experience in environmental education, interpretation, conservation, and beyond to help launch yourself into all sorts of natural resource fields. Teach children and adults alike on the wonders of the natural world, gain animal husbandry experience, astronomy, a chance to do project management, social media and more! 

The City of Austin, MN is seeking a highly motivated, energetic individual for a full year intern/teacher/naturalist position at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, a division of our park and recreation department. The ideal candidate would be able to start on January 2nd, 2025.

The successful candidate will:

• Teach environmental, conservation, and outdoor education to all ages. The intern will work most often with children in grades preschool through 8th
• Teach in a variety of learning environments rain or shine, including our Nature Center and surrounding property, our Sola Fide Observatory, and on offsite trips.
• Write and deliver the curriculum for two summer classes. The intern will also assist with writing and updating school and summer programming.
• Help care for and maintain the center’s gardens and landscaped spaces.
• Handle, feed, and care for all critters, including the Nature Center’s bees and raptors.
• Assist with the rescue and triage injured birds of prey.
• Maintain the Center’s social media pages and website.
• Promote the nature center through different media outlets including podcasts, newspaper articles, and the nature center’s own newsletters.
• Participate in offsite classes like rock climbing and canoeing, as well as major events like the Dammen Family Fun Day, Halloween warm-up, and Merry & Bright Night.
• Work consistently with the public and welcome visitors to the center.

The successful candidate must:

• Have a minimum two years (preferred four years) college study in natural resources, biology, or environmental education.
• Have good written and oral communication skills.
• Present themselves in a way that reflects positively on the Nature Center both during work hours and after hours in the Austin community.
• Be able to adapt to changes in time, subject matter, and weather while teaching school and public programming.
• Be able to manage multiple projects while maintaining daily tasks.
• Be able to work independently and as a team.
• Have good interpersonal skills.
• Be able and willing to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends.
• Have valid driver’s license.

Workweek is typically 40 hours per week and will include Saturdays or Sundays. The hourly wage is $15.00/hr. Intern will earn public employment retirement contribution (PERA) and is eligible for city health insurance benefits. Intern is also eligible for Minnesota Sick & Safe Leave accrual of one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours for the year.  Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of a background investigation.