Program Internship

Friends of Coastal South Carolina is seeking a full-time Environmental Education Intern. Position description and application instructions are provided below. 

 About us:

Friends of Coastal South Carolina is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation of the natural resources along the South Carolina coast.  We support environmental education and wildlife conservation projects for the Francis Marion National Forest and Waccamaw, Cape Romain, and E.F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuges.

Our standards based programs reach a diverse group of elementary and middle school students and focus on using the ecosystems of the forest and refuges to introduce students to real world application of their classroom science and math lessons.   In addition, through teaching our students about the value of our coastal ecosystems, and their role as stewards of our environment, we hope to instill in them an appreciation for these ecosystems that will lead to a lifelong conservation ethic.  For more information about our programs and organization please see our website at www.sccoastalfriends.org

We set exceptionally high standards for the content of our programs as well as the quality of our program delivery. Instructors must have excellent teaching skills and the ability to engage and direct K-12 kids in a variety of settings and group sizes.  Instructors must be able to project passion and enthusiasm for the natural world and explain science lessons and conservation topics clearly and in a way that sparks students’ interest and curiosity.

Environmental Education Internship 

Internship Description:

We are seeking full time environmental education program interns.  This is your opportunity to pass your enthusiasm and excitement for the environment and conservation on to the next generation while getting great experience in education, public relations, and general national wildlife refuge and national forest operations.

Selected candidates will have the opportunity to:

• Learn and lead a variety of innovative ecosystem based environmental education programs for K-12 students. Programs are taught in the field (salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, longleaf pine and maritime forest) and in our laboratories and classrooms at the Sewee and Waccamaw Environmental Education Centers. During the school year we also teach a number of in-school programs which are a continuation of students’ field experiences as part of our eight-lesson Earth Stewards program.
• Develop and lead student service learning projects.
• Develop standards based STEM lessons and assist the education programs coordinator with program administration and marketing.
• Participate in ongoing refuge and forest conservation programs, including loggerhead sea turtle nest protection efforts (spring/summer).
• Help organize public education and fundraising events.

The ideal applicant should:

• Hold, or be working toward, a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Science Education, Environmental Science or a related field
• Have a working knowledge of South Carolina coastal ecosystems.
• Be willing to learn about the national forest and wildlife refuges we partner with and their management programs.
• Have a desire to work with children of all ages and backgrounds in both indoor and outdoor settings throughout the year.
• Be willing to travel to our different Education Centers as well as schools along the coast for programs
• Be creative, flexible, and self-motivated
• Be willing to work occasional weekend and/or evening.
• Be willing to work with live animals (including turtles, lizards, snakes, alligators, fish, etc.)

Benefits:

• Potential to develop a thesis or project for college or graduate school credit.
• Potential to develop education programs (based on on-going research on the refuge/forest or a special interest/topic you’d like to teach to students).

Time-frame, Compensation, and Additional Details:

• Internships are six months to one year in duration.  Preference will be given to those who can commit to a longer time period.  Summer internships (May to August) are also available.
• Programs are taught primarily in Charleston and Georgetown Counties. Interns will have work space at the Sewee and Waccamaw Visitor and Environmental Education Centers.
• Housing provided at Cape Romain National Wildlife refuge in Awendaw, SC.
• A small stipend is also available.