Senior Education Intern

9-month position, with flexible start dates in February and March.

Are you an aspiring leader in informal education, conservation education, or science education? The Senior Education Internship is a fully immersive opportunity designed to equip passionate educators with the skills and experience needed to excel in the field.

As a Senior Education Intern, you’ll gain extensive training in environmental education, raptor conservation, public engagement, and raptor husbandry while working alongside leading professionals at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a world-class raptor conservation and education center. This 9-month residential internship provides a unique, all-season perspective on conservation education that sets participants apart. Senior Education Interns have a wide range of opportunities to participate in professional development and networking opportunities like college-level seminars, field courses, and fun outings and adventures. Education interns will get to self-identify projects they would like to pursue that both align with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s mission and goals and give them the opportunity to develop valuable job skills.

Hawk Mountain’s Senior Education Internship program is an invaluable opportunity for the select candidate to develop skill proficiency, competencies, and hands-on professional experience in:

• Raptor conservation education
• Appalachian ecology education
• Outdoor and experiential education
• Interpretation
• Organizing, teaching, and operating Summer Nature Camp
• Captive raptor husbandry, handling, enrichment, and training
• Teaching with live animal ambassadors
• Lesson plan and curricula development
• Pedagogy
• Group management strategies
• Professional mentorship of education trainees and counselors in training
• Evaluation of informal educational programs
• American Red Cross certification in Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED

QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will hold a degree in education, environmental science, biology, or related field; possess teaching skills; and have experience working with live ambassador animals, preferably raptors. The position requires an understanding of Hawk Mountain’s raptor conservation science and education activities, as well as enthusiasm for connecting diverse audiences of all ages with Hawk Mountain’s mission. Excellent communication skills and a passion for nature and environmental education is a must. All candidates must have the ability to hike at least two miles over steep, rocky terrain, to lift 50 pounds, and have a valid driver’s license. 

PRIMARY DUTIES

• Assist and ensure smooth operations of ongoing programming responsibilities both on and off site, including but not limited to group programs, weekend programs, virtual programs, Calendar of Events walks and talks, birthday parties, scout events, and guided hikes.
• Teach summer nature camp programs.
• Assist with preparing curricula and lesson plans as assigned.
• Teach and mentor trainees, volunteers, and counselors in training.
• Setup, break down, and clean classrooms and other teaching spaces and organize teaching materials physically and virtually.
• Work with our collection of non-releasable raptor ambassadors, including animal husbandry, feeding procedures, enrichment, training, handing, and more.
• Adhere to all standard operating procedures.
• Engage diverse audiences of all ages in Hawk Mountain’s mission.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills with Sanctuary visitors, supporters, program participants, and customers.
• Exhibit excellent communications with the professional education team, all Sanctuary departments, and guests.
• Assist with any other tasks and/or projects as assigned.