Naturalist Internship

Agency Responsibilities - MacArthur Beach State Park Will Provide

•  Exposure to a variety of administrative and hands on experiences such as: environmental education, hiring processes, training, programming, marketing, special events, facility management/operations, the opportunity to attend staff, board, and advisory committee meetings, etc.
•  Development of skills in various program settings and areas; to increase interns’ knowledge of the organization and administration of designing, implementing, and evaluating programs and services.
• Opportunity to acquire skills and in-depth knowledge to pursue specific environmental education, outdoor recreation, resource management, or other related careers.
• Experience in leadership, supervisory, and administrative functions within MacArthur Beach State Park.
• Supervision by a professional staff person(s) during all aspects of internship training and performance.
• An orientation to MacBeach and the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park; basic philosophy, procedures, and mission.
• Free housing on Park property (when applicable).
• Facilitation/instruction opportunities of the Environmental Education Programs
• Observation of on-the-job performance to provide support, constructive suggestions, and interpretation of experience.
• Completion and submission of an evaluation concerning performance.
• Opportunity to integrate theory and practice in an intern’s professional education; to compare, evaluate, adapt, and adopt what is seen in practice to what has been previously experienced in theory.
• Opportunity to gain an understanding and appreciation of the role, duties, and responsibilities of full-time professional staff for their future profession.

Naturalist Internship Requirements:

• Experience or interest in working with students of different age groups
• Comfortable working in water and have the ability to swim
• Must be able to safely navigate natural unimproved terrain and ensure the safety of program participants
• Must be able to lift and carry objects and materials up to 50 lbs occasionally.
• Must know, respect, and follow safety policies and procedures give by the Director of Education
• Must be able to consistently work in an outdoor setting with extreme weather conditions including, but not limited to hot, sunny, humid, rainy, and/or cold days.

Undergraduate:

• An academic standing at a College/University with a GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Must be able to work at least 20 hours/week (40 hours/week in summer)

Recent Graduate:

• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental education, biology, environmental science, ecology, or a related field
• Must be able to work full time (40 hours/week)

Naturalist Internship Desired Qualifications: 

• Desire to teach children and adults in an outdoor setting
• Oral and written communication skills
• Professional, well-organized, and safety-conscious
• Team player who is able to take on leadership roles and responsibilities
• Flexible in working hours and available for weekend and/or evening hours and special events

Internship Timeframes: (exact dates determined during interview)

• Spring Semester January - May
  During this semester interns will assist with school field trip programs, professional development workshops for teachers, and receive training for other park services. Full time interns will develop and complete a park project.
• Summer Semester May - August
  During this semester interns will lead and supervise summer camp activities which includes kayaking, snorkeling, and environmental education activities.
• Fall Semester September - December
  During this semester interns will assist with school field trip programs, professional development workshops for teachers, and receive training for other park services. Full time interns will develop and complete a park project.

Compensation Information:

• Naturalist Interns are not employees of the Florida Park Service nor the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park, Inc. Naturalist interns are considered volunteers for the Florida Park Service.
• Undergraduates: Internship Credits can be earned during this internship position based on attendance. Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park will work with an intern’s college/university for them to earn required credits.
• Recent Graduates: A bi-weekly stipend of $450.00 is provided for recent graduate interns. On-site housing may also be provided.