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Environmental Education Internships
Career training for undergraduates
and recent graduates

Introduction. This program allows the intern to escape from the classroom and participate in a wide variety of hands-on environmental education activities. There are also opportunities to develop new educational activities that take advantage of the biological research and specialized knowledge at Archbold Biological Station. For example, an intern might develop a project about the adaptations of Florida scrub plants, or the behavior of sand-burrowing animals.

Appointments can be made at any time of the year, usually for the summer (8-10 weeks) or for the fall academic semester (14-16 weeks).

Graduate Intern

• Develops an extensive environmental education unit or other education project, with basic materials provided.
• Works closely with children during Summer Camp or Fall Elementary Education Program at Archbold.
• Spends 10-40 hours per week on assigned duties (depending on Education Coordinator's needs) while being trained by the Education Coordinator at Archbold.
• Training and assigned duties may include taking responsibility for a group of children, implementing an education unit, and assisting in the supervision of volunteers.
• Field-tests education unit during Summer Camp or Fall Elementary Education Program.
• Submits a hard copy of the thesis/dissertation to the Librarian upon graduating.
• CPR and First Aid Certification preferred, but not required.
  
   Intern Melissa Hursey at Archbold's weather station quizzing students about the importance of weather in scientific research .

Undergraduate Intern

• Develops environmental education unit or other education project, with basic materials provided.
• Works closely with children during Summer Camp or Fall Elementary Education Program at Archbold.
• Spends 10-40 hours per week on assigned duties (depending on Education Coordinator's needs) while being trained by the Education Coordinator at Archbold.
• Training and assigned duties may include taking responsibility for a group of children, implementing an education unit, and assisting in the supervision of volunteers.
• Field-tests education unit during Summer Camp or Fall Elementary Education Program.
• Submits a final report to the Education Coordinator and the Librarian in both electronic and hard-copy at the end of the Internship.
• CPR and First Aid Certification preferred, but not required.

Volunteer Intern

• Works closely with children during Summer Camp or Fall Elementary Education Program at Archbold.
• Spends 10-40 hours per week on assigned duties (depending on Education Coordinator's needs) while being trained by the Education Coordinator at Archbold.
• Training and assigned duties may include taking responsibility for a group of children, implementing an education unit, and assisting in the supervision of volunteers.
• CPR and First Aid Certification preferred, but not required.

Support. A Graduate Intern must be enrolled in graduate school during the Internship. A Graduate Intern working on a thesis or dissertation receives gratis room and board during the Internship, and receives a stipend of $150.00 per week paid bi-monthly. A Graduate Intern designing a thesis or dissertation receives gratis room and board during the Internship, and receives a stipend of $125.00 per week paid bi-monthly.*

An Undergraduate Intern must be enrolled as an undergraduate or recently has obtained a BA/BS degree. An Undergraduate Intern receives gratis room and board during the Internship, and receives a stipend of $100.00 per week paid bi-monthly.*

A Volunteer Intern may be a graduate student or current/recent undergraduate. A Volunteer Intern receives room and board during the Volunteer Internship.*

*Under extreme financial circumstances and with supporting documentation submitted the Station will consider paying travel costs associated with interns getting to/from Archbold/MAERC. Cases will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Application. No official application form exists. Those interested should submit the following information to the Education Coordinator: 1) a letter indicating your  general educational and/or biological background; 2) your field of interest; 3) your internship availability period; 4) two letters of recommendation; and 5) a resume. Applications for the summer period should be received by 1 April and for the fall by 1 July. Students are encouraged to make arrangements with their home institutions for academic credit. Students must arrange their own travel to and from Archbold.*

* Under extreme financial circumstances and with supporting documentation submitted the Station will consider paying travel costs associated with interns getting to/from Archbold/MAERC. Cases will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Send for information or inquiries at any time to:

Education Coordinator, Archbold Biological Station, P.O. Box 2057, Lake Placid, FL 33862 USA.

Phone: 863- 465-2571  --  FAX: 863-699-1927  --   send e-mail

•Fleischer, Tina L., 28 June 2000; revised 29 December 2005.

Jenny Schafer, Education Intern, and Grade 5 student (Fred Wild Elementary School, Sebring) talk over behavior of burrowing animals in the "Scientist's Lab,"  7 December 2001. Digital  photo by Nancy Deyrup.

Anja Seiffert, Education Intern, collecting water chemistry data from Lake Annie, 18 December 2002. Photo by Nancy Deyrup.

Jenny Schafer, Education Intern, testing lake water for pH and conductivity, 12 December 2001. Digital photo by Nancy Deyrup.