Environmental Education Intern

The Center for Climate Action and Sustainability (CCAS) at the The Evergreen State College is excited to announce a joint-internship opportunity with Nisqually River Education Project (NREP). CCAS offers external internships (externships) to give students additional opportunities/real-world experiences in their fields of interest. All CCAS intern/externs must be admitted/enrolled Evergreen students during the time they are working. This position is for Spring Quarter.

Do you love connecting students and nature? Sharing your passion for the environment? Nisqually River Education Project (NREP) is seeking two Environmental Education Interns for spring quarter 2024. From the snowy slopes of Mt. Rainier, along the banks of the Nisqually River, and all the way down to the salty shores of Puget Sound beaches, we engage 4th-12th grade students in environmental education, stewardship, and recreation activities. More information on NREP as an organization is provided at the bottom. 

Interns with Nisqually River Education Project will gain experience in leading youth on a variety of meaningful outdoor learning experiences. These include: 

• Eye On Nature: lead small groups of (5-8) 4th-8th grade students on an exploration of trails at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge as they engage in community science through wildlife surveys.  
• Salmon, Cedar, Canoe: Stewards of the Ecosystem: Lead groups of (12-16) 4th grade students through a variety of salmon themed activities conducted in partnership with the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Culture Department.  
• Nearshore: Lead groups of (10-15) Middle and High School students on explorations of Puget Sound Beaches as they learn about environmental science careers and explore the diversity of life where land and water meet. 

Additional opportunities will be offered based upon individual interests. These include: 

• Participation in the Nisqually River Council 
• Participation in curriculum development and planning
• Participation in planning and implementation of teacher professional development

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assist Nisqually River Education Project staff with delivery of environmental education programming. Programming is conducted M-F and within 8:00AM-4:30PM. 
• Assist with pre-trip classroom presentations to prepare students for their field trip.  
• Assist with management of field trip materials (preparing supplies, set-up and clean-up at field sites). 
• Participate in training to gain skills in leading youth in learning outdoors. 

Additional CCAS related duties: 

• Attend virtual or in-person meetings and trainings with host internship organization (CCAS) as available 
• Track and log worked hours 
• Submit reflections of the internship experience 
• Meet regularly with Internship supervisor for check-ins 

Qualifications: 

• Passionate about connecting youth and nature 
• Dependable 
• Basic experience using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive) 
• Detail-oriented and organized 
• Strong communication skills (written, oral, and interpersonal) 
• Able to prioritize multiple tasks and be adaptable 
• Able to work effectively with others as part of a small team 
• Effective time management 
• Critical thinking 
• Reliable personal transportation 
• Willing and able to perform heavy physical labor including, digging, wading, handling plants and lifting up to 40lbs. 
• Willing and able to perform internship duties in a variety of outdoor settings, on uneven terrain and in a variety of weather. 

Pay and Other Benefits 

• Pay is $17.00 hourly  
• Up to 19 hours per week/variable schedule 
• During holiday breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks) and summer sessions, one may work up to 40-hours per week with the permission of CCAS directors.  
• In addition to pay, opportunities for academic credit with the CCAS Director, Dr. Anthony Levenda, are available with an Internship Learning Contract (ILC). ILCs are academically due 1 week before the end of the prior quarter. Expression of interest is required in advance, usually at the time of application, or 2 weeks before the end of the quarter. 

*Additional External Organization Information:  

The Nisqually River Education Project’s (NREP) mission is to provide students service learning projects that link Washington State learning goals and standards with local environmental issues, inspiring stewardship of the Nisqually Watershed and the world. The Nisqually River Education Project has a proven history of successfully implementing watershed based education and environmental action projects which engages students and teachers in protecting and enhancing the water quality and salmon habitat of the Nisqually River watershed. By making the involvement of schools possible, the NREP directly supports the efforts of the Nisqually River Council and the Nisqually Indian Tribe in creating a healthier Nisqually River and the preservation of its fisheries and shellfish resources. 

Each year, the NREP actively involves thousands of student participants in an on-going water quality monitoring program. These students then engage in problem-solving and action education projects. For example, some students strive to enhance depressed salmon habitat by working on stream restoration projects at key sites in the Nisqually watershed. Other students create educational outreach presentations and materials about non-point pollution prevention. In short, the NREP seeks to create a new generation of students who have a sense of stewardship for the Nisqually River watershed and the southern Puget Sound. 

The Nisqually River Education Project is a vital component of the overarching efforts of the Nisqually River Council to achieve its programmatic goals of protecting the health and integrity of this extraordinary watershed. 

External site: https://nrep.nisquallyriver.org/