spring interns for Environmental Education program at SERC (Edgewater, MD) - hybrid onsite/virtual

Due to restricted access to SERC campus and/or limitations by groups to access our site and resources, the SERC Education Department is in the process of transitioning back from virtual to a limited onsite-program. A hybrid onsite/virtual internship means working onsite some days of the week and also remotely, delivering content for interactive virtual field trips (iVFTs). Currently our campus is open to small groups, of up to 20 students at one time, though this may change to larger groups by Spring 2022. Interns will be asked to deliver programs onsite, though they may not be onsite every day of the week.

11 week tenure with weekly stipend of $625 with on-site dorm housing available.
Spring period of mid-March to end May/early June 2023
For more information, contact Karen McDonald at McDonaldK@si.edu.

Please apply by sending an email expressing interest, a resume, and three references to SERCOutreach@si.edu.

SERC Education Department’s Mission:
Bridging the science and education programs at SERC. To do this we will engage K-12 students and educators in activities that help them better understand the world around them, using the lens of SERC research.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR A SERC VIRTUAL/HYBRID INTERNSHIP:

A collaborative Education Intern will:

• Learn how to deliver hands-on in-person and interactive virtual field trips, with skills such as facilitating the field trip, delivering the content, and managing groups.
• Create content related to delivering either onsite or virtual field trips, activities, and sessions (written or visual)
• Learn and apply skills related to group management for virtual and in-person program
• Learn how to maintain and update the SERC Learning Lab platform for posting Education Department materials such as lesson plans, videos, and activities for teachers and students.
• Learn how to work effectively with volunteers (from a variety of backgrounds)
• Understand how to deliver at least one large scale virtual public engagement event virtually or hybrid.
• Learn how to track and manage group program information, bookings, and interactions with groups.
• Create a final project in agreement on the topic with the Education Director

WEEKLY DUTIES:

• Assigned readings of training materials, program content, and background for programs
• Meetings with Education staff and regularly communicating via Microsoft Teams
• Check-ins/working on final project
• Attending trainings by Education staff
• Updating group contact information, notes, and bookings
• Co-hosting and facilitating online programs
• Onsite, care of large aquaria and live turtles
• Manage and maintain program materials, set-up and take-down for programs
• Lead onsite programs for small group

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

647 Contees Wharf Road

Edgewater, MD. 21037

https://serc.si.edu/education