Inspire Behavioral Learning's free Nature Camp Counselor internship empowers teens and college/university undergraduates to become outstanding nature educators. Interns learn job skills, teaching techniques, and how to inspire K-5th graders to connect with the great outdoors as our living classroom. We welcome outgoing, creative, responsible, dependable, constant learners to intern with us in forest and nature camps. Enjoy a great opportunity to gain experience!
Inspire's Call of the Wild Camps are outdoor day camps with openings for Nature Camp Counselor Interns in four seasons: spring camps, summer camps, fall camps, and winter camps.
High School Students: Seasonal unpaid internships in Vacaville, Oakland, Berkeley, Los Gatos, and Cupertino/Los Altos Hills are available for 9th-12th graders, including summer internships for 8th graders entering 9th grade in the fall.
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD): Paid summer internships are also available to students participating in OUSD's Exploring College, Career and Community Options (ECCCO) program.
College and University Students:
Unpaid internships in Vacaville, Oakland, Berkeley, Los Gatos, and Cupertino/Los Altos Hills are available for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled in relevant college and university coursework. Contact us for details about coordinating our free internship program with your college or university's course credit.
Our ideal nature camp counselors are outgoing, friendly, dynamic, creative, fun, energetic, and dependable outdoor lovers who are eager to inspire and gain experience with elementary school aged kids. The #1 preferred quality is eagerness and openness to learn and develop your skill set. Students interested in future careers in education and environmental science are encouraged to apply!
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Actively participate in and complete intern training before the first camp date of your selected season and ongoing training during camps
Develop internship goals, and actively participate in weekly 1:1 training with the camp trainer
Punctually and reliably attend scheduled hours, rain or shine
Assist with safely leading hikes for K-5th graders in small groups up to approximately 6 mi. per day
Create and facilitate outdoor language arts activities for day campers with nature and wilderness themes, including circle time with story time and singing, literary show-and-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, and authoring and illustrating books
Create and facilitate hands-on science activities in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, environmental stewardship, conservation, preservation, etc.
For Berkeley and Oakland camps, implement activities for the theme weeks Enchanted Forest Art, Enchanted Forest Reading, Enchanted Forest Writing, Enchanted Vegan Nature, and Trailblazers
Facilitate fun and positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, and the environment
Engage day campers in outdoor activities that blend recreation and education, such as nature-themed field games, hide and seek and chase games, crafting and playing forest "I Spy" games and scavenger hunts
Create and facilitate nature-themed arts and crafts
Engage children with a fun teaching style and high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
Supervise children's snack and lunch breaks
Provide prompting and positive reinforcement to help children learn
Facilitate emergent curriculum and child-centered, student-centered, experiential, incidental, and play-based teaching and learning opportunities
Work closely and cooperatively with camp staff, assisting in daily scheduled activities
Keep work materials neat, organized, and in good working condition
Follow all health and safety requirements
Assist day campers in following safety rules and leave no trace principles
Proactively communicate camp questions and concerns with the camp supervisor
Follow directions and implement feedback from camp supervisor
Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive manner with campers, parents/guardians, staff, and park visitors
Perform other intern duties as assigned
WHAT YOU GET:
- Have fun assisting with teaching kids in the outdoors!
Supportive and friendly environment with coaching and mentorship
Free intern program to expand your knowledge and job skills with hands-on training
Intern experience to enhance college/university applications and build a resume
Volunteer hours for unpaid internships
Some colleges and universities offer internship course credit
Successful interns may be invited to return to intern for future seasonal camps (summer, fall, winter, or spring!)
Successful interns may be invited to apply for employment upon receiving a high school diploma and turning 18 (Inspire's camp counselor employee position is $20-22/hr DOE)
Become part of a company that truly cares about the happiness and success of all interns, employees, and students!
APPLY:
An internship application must be completed, available on Inspire Behavioral Learning's website. Applying for this internship does not guarantee admission into the internship program. Qualified applicants are invited to an interview, followed by a reference check and (for minors) a parent permission form.
See Prerequisites for required qualifications.
