Environmental Education Intern at Woodwell Climate Research Center Falmouth, MA

The Environmental Education Intern at Woodwell Climate Research Center in Falmouth, MA, will assist with the River Detective Education Program. Responsibilities include organizing field trips, developing lesson plans, and leading students in outdoor activities to investigate river health. The intern will collaborate with scientists, teachers, and volunteers to educate middle school students about river restoration and related environmental issues.
Environmental Education Intern job at Woodwell Climate Research Center. Falmouth, MA. Job Description

Job Description

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary:

The Woodwell Climate along with the Coonamessett River Trust (CRT) has collaborated with the Town of Falmouth (MA) to restore the Coonamessett River to revive alewife, blueback herring and brook trout populations as well as other wildlife. The goals were to provide information that guides river restoration; understand the restoration needs for river herring and sea run brook trout; and, educate the next generation about these important issues.

Join Woodwell Climate’s Water program as an Environmental Education Intern and participate in the River Detective Education Program. This position will involve organizing field trips, developing lesson plans and guides for teachers and volunteers, coordinating with the schools and trip volunteers while leading students in the activity. As an intern, you will work as part of a team consisting of scientists, teachers and volunteers in collaboration with the Coonamessett River Trust, and middle school students from Falmouth Public Schools.

Responsibilities include but not limited:
• Contact with the public, schools and other interested parties
• Lead groups of students on multiple educational field experiences to investigate the health of the river identifying physical, chemical and biological clues
• hiking involved.
• Coordinate and schedule outdoor classroom field trips with teachers, CRT volunteers and the Falmouth Public School Learning Partner Specialist
• Develop a list of volunteers (and their contact information) for student tours
• Visiting 5th grade students in the classroom prior to the field trips to renew the lessons learned about the why and how of the river restoration from the previous spring during the 4th grade trips while also introducing what they will be doing at the river for the 5th grade “hands-on” trip
• Organize and set up equipment and supplies for 5 stations around the river for each of the 6 field trips
• Working with CRT volunteers and the Falmouth School Specialist to streamline lessons and student worksheets
• Develop a data set and lesson plans using data from the CRT herring tagging program in coordination with Falmouth school teachers to develop graph and math exercises
• Conduct field work outdoors and some hiking involved
• Work under the direction of senior scientist at Woodwell Climate, CRT President and CRT Education Coordinator

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Interest and background in environmental education, river or fish ecology, and/or water quality protection
• Basic proficiency with word processing, data management and presentation software (e.g., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or equivalent programs)
• Ability to work independently as well as productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals
• Excellent organizational and communications skills
• Comfortable working outside and in environments where they may be exposed to ticks, mosquitoes, etc.
• Experience in designing and constructing web pages and video editing is preferred
• Must pass a MA Criminal Records (CORI) check

Qualifications
• Bachelors of Science degree or equivalent work experience in education, ecology, environmental science, biology or related field

Physical Requirements:

In the office:
• Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Ability to communicate
• Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
• Ability to use phone and computers
• Repetitive movements
• Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event

In the field, the physical requirements of this role include:
• Air, train, vehicle travel to access field locations
• Driving a vehicle or ATV to access field locations
• Walking, hiking, climbing to access field locations
• Paddling, canoeing to access field locations
• Standing and sitting for sustained periods
• Frequent bending, squatting, and kneeling
• Reaching overhead
• Climbing ladders
• Use of manual and power tools including shovels, saws, drills, and hammers
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day
• Ability to carry up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day
• Ability to push/pull up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

Application review will begin on

Desired Start Date: September 9, 2024

Fixed-term: approximately 4 months

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, temporary, non-exempt position, the hourly salary is $19/hour.

Location: Onsite, Falmouth, Massachusetts

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell Climate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell Climate does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell Climate acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.