Environmental Education Intern

The Environmental Education Intern at County Of York in York, PA, is a paid internship focused on engaging youth with nature. Responsibilities include assisting naturalists, teaching camps for children aged 5-13, creating exhibits, and supporting nature center operations. Candidates should possess strong teamwork and communication skills, and must pass background checks. This role offers a chance to develop leadership skills while making a positive impact in the community.
location on

400 Mundis Race Rd. York, PA 17406

work outline

Internship

paid

13.00 Per hour

schedule

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layers

Parks

domain

Environmental Education Intern

commute

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Job Summary

Practice your leadership skills while creatively inspiring young people to engage with the natural world around us. The environmental education internship position is responsible for working closely with full time naturalists to assist with seasonal environmental education team programming. Each internship is designed around each student’s individual goals; however, duties may include teaching summer day camps for children ages 5-13, teaching school field trip lessons, creating and installing a seasonal nature center exhibit, general nature center maintenance and support, and serving as front desk greeter at the nature center or other park museums. A positive and outgoing attitude, strong teamwork skills, professional communication skills, research and writing skills, and flexibility are required. This position falls under the Child Protection Services Law and requires applicant to pass background checks and screenings.

About Us

Located in south-central Pennsylvania, York County Government offers many exciting and challenging opportunities to learn and grow in a career while making a difference in the lives of York County residents. Each County department meets a unique need in the community and provides an opportunity for both professional growth and personal satisfaction. York County offers a competitive wage and benefit package.

Responsibilities

Be a positive role model for campers, students, and park volunteers by showing passion, enthusiasm, and curiosity for exploring and learning about the natural world.

Help with any nature center daily operations including but not limited to opening and closing the nature center, light cleaning of displays and classrooms, greeting and counting visitors that come in the front doors, working the cash register for the gift shop, answering phones and taking messages, answering visitor questions, managing lost and found items, stocking the gift shop, light office duties to support park programs such as phone calls to program registrants, and assisting other park staff with program preparations.

Communicate clearly and concisely while designing and implementing an internship project from initial brainstorm through final installation. Project will include researching and designing a museum exhibit, brochure, or other interpretive material that is needed to improve the visitor experience in the nature center or other park museum.

If working during the summer session, internship students will assist with Creature Corner programs on Thursdays at the nature center. This may include providing interpretation to park visitors at the temporary wildlife display, and/or training and supervising park volunteers, and/or helping set-up, prepare, design, and tear-down the temporary display.

Summer session interns will also be part of one or more summer camp weeks to learn all about Nature Discovery Camps and all parts of providing the experience for the campers, including teaching outdoors, group management, PA natural history, mentoring high school students taking part in the Leader-in-Training program, and more.

School year session interns will observe, team-teach, and teach hour long school field trip environmental education lessons primarily for K-5th grade students in the community. All programs take place at Nixon Park. Programs may include Pennsylvania Animals, Stream Investigation, Watershed Introduction, Seasonal Nature Walks, and more.

Assist with public programs and other duties around the nature center.

Time Period: Summer session - May 20, 2025 – August 13, 2025, School-year session – September 1, 2025 – May 9, 2026.

Pay: $13.00/hr.

Work Sites: Reports to assigned locations & perform duties at various parks throughout York County.

Information: Contact York County Parks at 717-428-1961 or visit our web site at www.yorkcountyparks.org.

Essential Requirements

1. Following Directions
X Full Understanding of Both Written and Verbal Instructions Required
Understanding of Verbal Instructions Only
Required Understanding of Written Instructions Only Required

2. Communication –English
X Excellent Verbal Communication Skills Necessary
Basic Verbal Communication Skills Necessary
Limited or No Verbal Communication Skills Necessary

3. Functional Reading –English
X Fluent Reading
Recognition of Signs/Symbols
Simple Reading
No Reading Skills Required

4. Hearing
X Ability to Hear Required
Limited Hearing
Hearing Not Required

5. Seeing
X 20/20 Vision with Corrective Eyewear
Limited Vision
Vision Not Required

6. Functional Math
Complex Computational Skills (Accounting and Financial Skills)
X Simple Computational Skills (Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, Percents)
Simple Counting Skills
No Mathematical Skills Needed

7. Time
X Must Tell Time to the Minute
Must Recognize Specific Times (Arrival, Departure, Breaks, Lunch)

8. Orientation (Familiarity with Surroundings)
X Several Blocks From Building
Building Only
Work Area
Room Only

9. Mobility Skills
Mobility Within the Building
X Mobility Within a Four-Block Radius
X Driving Required

10. Sitting
75% - 100%
50% - 75%
25% - 50%
X Less than 25%

11. Standing
X 75% - 100%
50% - 75%
25% - 50%
Less than 25%

12. Bending
X Knees and Waist
Waist Only
Knees Only
No Bending Required

13. Lifting
X Greater than 30 lbs.
10 - 30 lbs.
Less than 10 lbs.
No Lifting Required

14. Reaching
Greater than 6 Feet
2 - 6 Feet
Less than 2 Feet
X Reaching Required

These statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of the job incumbents.

Contact Details

If you have any questions, please contact the county's Department of Human Resources at ychr@yorkcountypa.gov.

York County embraces diversity in our community and workforce, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All hiring, promotions, demotions, training, and other opportunities are based on qualifications and without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.