BVSD 4th Grade Field Trip Intern

~ Thorne Nature Experience, formerly Thorne Ecological Institute, was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1954 by Dr. Oakleigh Thorne, II and is currently celebrating 60 years of connecting youth to nature through joyful, hands-on, place-based environmental education experiences. ~

During the past six decades, Thorne has connected more than 200,000 children, teens, and adults to nature and become a nationally recognized leader in the field of environmental education. Today, Thorne's Summer Camp, In-School Program, and Field Trips reach more than 12,000 Boulder County and Front Range youth each year. 

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) 4th Grade Field Trip Program Description:

The Sombrero Marsh Partnership is a unique partnership between Thorne Nature Experience, BVSD, and City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks. Through this partnership, Thorne provides field trips to fourth grade classrooms within BVSD. These field trips are correlated to District and State Science Standards and are free for participating schools. The field trips include four stations, which students rotate through. Two are outdoors (Birds and Wetland Ecology) and two are indoors (Water Pollution and Plants/Seed Dispersal). Interns are needed to teach each of these four stations over field trip season. 

Position Overview  

Sombrero Marsh Field Trip Interns will work collaboratively to provide joyful, hands-on, place-based field trip programs at Sombrero Marsh for fourth grade Boulder Valley School District students.  

Dates of Sombrero Marsh Field Trips: 

• September 17 - October 31, 2014  

Expectation for All Interns: 

• Support the Thorne mission and exhibit a commitment to:
• Working collaboratively, with integrity and respect for fellow interns, Thorne Employees, associates, and our communities; and
• Embracing personal responsibility and accountability for your role at Thorne. 

Responsibilities 

• Attend Mandatory BVSD 4th Grade Field Trip Training on Saturday, September 13, 2014 explaining all four stations of the field trip program.
• Shadow the four rotations of your station during the first week of field trips. 
• Teach at least one 5.5-hour field trip day per week during the 7-week fall season of BVSD 4th Grade Field Trips, which run September 17 - October 31, 2014.
• Learn the BVSD 4th Grade Field Trip curriculum and skillfully and enthusiastically instruct one of the four stations each day you are scheduled to work.
• Participate in introduction and conclusion of program.
• Assist in set-up and cleanup of classroom and lab for program.
• Assist with site improvements and maintenance of indoor and outdoor environments.
• Encourage earth stewardship in students through enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion for nature.
• Act as a role model for all students, illustrating appropriate behavior and environmental ethics.
• Encourage a joyful, safe, meaningful outdoor experience for students. 

Optional Additional Responsibilities - Interns looking for more hours and broader experience with Thorne may also: 

• Apply for After-School Program Internship.
• Apply to Bird Banding Data Entry Volunteer position.
• Volunteer in the office helping to construct student-written books in support of our In-School Program. 

Desired Outcomes: 

• Contribute towards successful delivery of BVSD 4th Grade Field Trip Programs and the achievement of Thorne's mission.
• Contribute towards achieving 85% or better positive rating of 4th Grade Field Trip Program's ability to connect students to nature.
• Contribute towards achieving 95% or better positive rating that the field trip was well managed and well organized.
• Contribute towards achieving 95% or better positive rating that teachers will bring their classes back to a field trip in the future.

Job Interrelationships: 

• Thorne Staff and Instructors
• Thorne Students 
• Thorne Parents and Families
• Volunteers and Interns
• General Public
• Guest Speakers and Community Partners 

Desired Skills and Abilities: 

• Strong communication skills with adults and children.
• Good organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks and roles, patiently and professionally. 

Desired Behavioral Traits and Attitudes: 

• Team player, fun, outgoing, passionate, organized, creative, resourceful, critical thinker, results-oriented, and self motivated. 
• Strong interest in and/or with some experience teaching environmental education in informal settings.
• Passionate about Thorne's mission and environmentally concerned and aware. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must be 18 or older.
• Preference for those with or working on a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Education, Environmental Studies, Biology, Geology, Education, or related field.
• Background check submitted and cleared by the Colorado Department of Human Services (Thorne helps with this).
• Preference for those with Spanish language skills.
• People of Color encouraged to apply. 

Special Requirements: 

• Must commit to working at least 1 day/week for all seven weeks of field trip season (Wed, Thurs, or Fri).
• Must be available from 8:30 to 2:15 for field trips, set-up, and cleanup on the day(s) you are scheduled to work.
• Must be available for training Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Compensation: This is an unpaid Internship, however you will complete approximately 50 hours of professional environmental education instruction and training through this internship. Thorne Staff is willing to fill out required forms for school credit, act as a reference for Intern, and/or write a letter of recommendation if needed.

Note: Successful Interns may have the opportunity to teach for our Summer Programs as a paid instructor. 

To Apply 

• First, click here to gain additional information and download an application.
• Then, use the email address below to submit this application, together with your resume, to Katie Renga.
• Questions regarding the position can be also be directed to Katie at the phone number provided below and will be responded to within 3 business days.