Youth Education Programs Internship

Are you a student who is passionate about plants and our environment, loves working with children, and committed to supporting the Gardens’ IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) goals? We’re looking for a  Youth Education Programs Intern excited about inspiring meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature in one of the most beautiful settings in Maine. 

The Youth Education Programs Internship provides hands-on experience supporting and implementing a wide variety of youth and family programming at the Gardens. The internship also gives the intern the opportunity to learn the art and science of live interpretation, increase gardening knowledge, learn what it takes to maintain a children’s garden, and learn best practices in customer service. 

Essential Functions: (This job requires the performance of the following tasks, with or without accommodation. Incumbents may be regularly or occasionally required to assume additional responsibilities or perform additional tasks.)  

• Welcome and orient visiting school/youth groups.
• Assist Summer Camp Coordinator in implementing nature- and garden-based summer camp programs for ages 4-9.
• Help to plan and co-lead our summer camp aftercare program.
• Assist visiting art instructors as they implement youth art workshops.
• Carry out regular informal educational activities in the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden, such as story time and nature-based puppet shows and chicken feeding.
• Help to facilitate Discovery Carts and Nature/Garden Investigations in the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, the Native Butterfly House and the Alfond Children’s Garden.
• Help care for the Learning Garden and greenhouse.
• Assist with the daily upkeep of the Alfond Children’s Garden play areas.

Qualifications:

• Must be comfortable with and enjoy interacting with the public and with students of all ages, especially children. Experience working with children is preferred.
• Must have an interest in plants, gardening, and nature and a desire to learn more about the role of education in a public garden setting.
• Some coursework/experience in the field of education or the natural sciences is strongly preferred.
• Must be comfortable interacting with guests, staff, board members, and the community; strive to exceed guest and program participant expectations, and create an exceptional experience for those visiting the Gardens.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to working across the organization to support the integration of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) principles into CMBG’s internal operations and its relationships with visitors and guests.

Work schedule:

40 hours/week, including one weekend day from approximately mid-May to late August. Flexible start and end date. The successful candidate is responsible for his/her own transportation to and from the workplace.  Intern housing is available for a biweekly rate.