Education Department Internship
Hands-on marine science outreach education at a public nature center located in Stuart, Florida
Position Description:
The Education Department at Florida Oceanographic Society (FOS) is currently accepting applications for a college-level internship program during the summer of 2022. The Education Intern will work as part of FOS’s Education team to carry out daily educational programming for visitors to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. This position involves considerable public speaking. The Education Intern will conduct informal educational lessons at our invertebrate touch tank, ray touch tank, and Ocean EcoCenter galleries on a daily basis. Qualified applicants may also be asked to conduct formal educational presentations in front of large audiences. The Education Intern may occasionally assist with field trips, summer camps, sea turtle walks, and other educational activities at the Coastal Center. This unpaid internship requires a minimum commitment of at least two months and 18 hours per week, including weekend shifts. A small stipend may be available to assist exceptionally qualified candidates with living expenses. We are happy to work with the successful applicant to structure an internship program that will satisfy specific academic requirements, if necessary.
Florida Oceanographic Society is an environmentally focused nonprofit organization founded in 1964. Our mission is to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education, research, and advocacy. We operate the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, a 57-acre educational nature center located on South Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida – home to the brand new 26,000-square-foot Ocean EcoCenter. The Coastal Center provides an interactive educational experience for guests of all ages, and includes a 10,000-gallon stingray touch tank, an invertebrate touch tank, a mile-long nature trail, and a 750,000-gallon outdoor gamefish aquarium that is home to hundreds of native fishes and four permanently disabled non-releasable sea turtles. Our Education Department offers hands-on environmental learning experiences for children and adults at the Coastal Center. We also run a wide variety of outreach programs, including nighttime sea turtle nesting walks, morning beach walks, youth fishing clinics, summer camps, in-school programming, and a community lecture series. Visit www.floridaocean.org for more information.
For Williams College students:
Through the generous support of a Williams College alumnus, Florida Oceanographic Society has the opportunity to provide housing assistance and/or a small stipend to highly qualified applicants who attend, or who have recently graduated from, Williams College. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Position Responsibilities:
1. Lead informal educational programs around the Coastal Center
2. Supervise guest-animal interactions at the ray and invertebrate touch tanks
3. Lead daily on-microphone public educational programs in front of audiences of up to 50+ guests
4. Assist staff with the delivery of field trip and virtual field trip lessons
5. Occasionally assist with seining activities in the Indian River Lagoon and other local bodies of water
6. Occasionally assist with educational outreach programs throughout the community
7. Occasionally assist with marine science summer camp sessions under supervision of Camp Director
8. Occasionally assist with educational nighttime sea turtle nesting walks
9. Assist with Education Department special events and activities
10. Maintain a professional relationship with guests, staff, and volunteers
Qualifications:
1. College degree in progress (or completed within the last 12 months) in biology, marine biology, ecology, conservation, environmental science, or science education
2. Minimum of 2 months of previous science teaching experience in a formal (classroom) or informal (zoo, aquarium, nature center) setting preferred
3. Exceptionally strong and dynamic public speaker
4. Comfortable teaching adults and children of all ages
5. Comfortable interacting with the public on a daily basis
6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
7. Previous experience working with children
8. Able to work outdoors in Florida’s unpredictable weather, stand for up to 3 hours, and lift 50 pounds
9. Strong customer service skills and a professional attitude
10. Ability to work weekends and occasional evenings
11. Self-motivated, able to work independently or as part of a team
12. Charismatic, enthusiastic, energetic, upbeat, and pleasant personality
13. Hard working, dedicated, prompt and timely
14. Interest in building a career in the natural sciences or science education
15. Ability to carefully follow instructions, make decisions, and react effectively under pressure
16. Strong desire for personal growth and increased knowledge
17. Strong computer skills, including an advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office
18. Artistic or graphic design background and a working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Publisher desirable
Department Supervisor:
Director of Education and Exhibits
To Apply:
Please send a detailed letter of interest (explaining how your interests and career goals mesh with the mission of Florida Oceanographic Society, and how an internship here would benefit you from an academic or career development perspective), a resume/CV, and contact information for three professional or academic references to Dr. Zack Jud, Director of Education and Exhibits, at [email protected]
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