Education and Outreach Internship

The Huron County Park District internship will allow the intern to immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations and inner workings of a county park district. The intern will work directly with the Program Coordinator or park board members to achieve the educational and outreach goals set forth by the park district. There will be many additional opportunities to experience indoor and outdoor activities relating to programming, community outreach, land management, volunteer coordination, administrative duties, and much more.

Primary, daily duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Program planning, including development of programming for group field trips and the public
• Creating educational displays for bulletin board
• Communicate with volunteers
• Assist planning and implementing volunteer workdays
• Development of park district newsletters, advertisements and other outreach literature
• Assist with organizing community events
• Assist with managing online social media platforms

Additional duties will include:

• Land and trail maintenance
• Invasive species control and removal

General Qualifications Required

The application process is open to high school students 18 years of age and up (currently enrolled or enrolling in some form of pre-college coursework), undergraduate, and graduate students. Preference will be given to applicants with a background in the natural sciences (biology, botany, environmental studies, conservation science, ecology, etc.) and education.

Internship Specific Qualifications Required

• Experience working with children and the public
• The ability to speak in small and large group settings
• Experience with communications and graphic design
• Experience working outdoors in natural settings (forests, fields, wetlands, etc.)
• Student must be 18+
• Must have your own transportation and be able to travel to parks and other locations ( e.g. shadowing other park districts).
• Must be able to work very independently (oversight and support from Program Coordinator will likely be virtual or limited through the workday)

* Preference given to applicants with a general knowledge of local plant and animals species

Organization Summary

Huron County Park District

The HCPD is dedicated to introducing and interpreting our region’s natural heritage to the citizens of Huron County. Our goal is pursued by preserving natural areas for people to experience, and by providing opportunities for people of all ages to learn about the rich diversity of life and habitats in our county. The Huron County Park District office is located in downtown Norwalk and manages two park locations in the Norwalk area.

Website: https://huroncountyparkdistrict.square.site/

Facebook: Huron County Park District

Hours: Work schedule to be determined between the program coordinator and the intern over the course of the summer. Will be responsible for work throughout the week and occasional weekends. Some work may be onsite at Park locations throughout the county, in the Norwalk office, a combination of locations and the option of telework is available.