Acadia National Park - Schoodic Education Adventure

The Schoodic Education Adventure program offers 10-16 week internships where interns teach environmental education to middle school students in the fall.

Description:
Acadia National Park – Schoodic Education Research Center

Interpretive Programming

Education/Interpretation Interns at SERC work with two broad-based programs: the Schoodic Education Adventure program (SEA), and the Artist-in-Residence program (A-I-R). Additional duties as assigned include assisting with group meetings and general interpretive roving.

The bulk of the internship is working with the SEA program, which offers a curriculum-based residential program for 5th through 8th grade students and their teachers. The three- and four-day sessions combine hands-on field experience with classroom activities. Focusing on the theme of communicating data through maps and graphs, students explore the relationship between preserving public lands and monitoring their resources. Situated on the rugged coast of Maine, the campus is accessible to wetland and forest ecosystems and provides a rich educational environment for students.

The Artist-in-Residence (A-I-R) program is a competitive program that invites artists from a variety of media to study within the park for two-, three- and four-week residencies. During their stay, artists assist the SEA program with classes designed for children and often present a public program as well. Interpretation staff assists visiting artists with general orientation to the area as well as helping set up for art projects and classroom management.

Intern Duties

The 2009 Schoodic Teaching Assistant/ Intern Program will run 10-16 weeks with positions starting in August and September and running through late October/early November.

Interns spend approximately 70% of their time leading field programs and conducting classroom activities. The core curriculum includes exploring forest and marine ecology, developing geology and archeology maps, investigating nocturnal adaptations on a night hike, and instructing map, compass, and GPS techniques while learning about landscape change over time. Students use a wide array of tools for investigation including journals, scientific equipment, computers, graphs, maps, data synthesis, and the arts.

Approximately 10% of the time is spent in training and program preparation. Another 10% is involved with facility set-up, light maintenance like vacuuming, and group management duties such as meeting the bus, lunch duty, dorm check-out, etc. The remaining 10% of the job includes new activity development, creating props, data entry, program research, and assisting with auxiliary programs.

Responsibilities

Interns:

• Work 32-40 hours per 4/5-day work week. Schedules occasionally include working weekends, and shifts vary. Frequently we share a 4½-day workweek, ending at noon on a Friday and returning to work mid-day on a Monday.
• Participate in pre-program training, work as a member of an education team, and attend weekly staff development/logistical meetings
• Lead morning, afternoon, and evening programs. Interns are not responsible for students after the conclusion of evening programs, but may be on call to assist in the event of an emergency. Supervisory duties are shared at all times with the students’ teachers.
• Contribute to all aspects of the operation of SERC through other duties as assigned.
• Positively represent the National Park Service as a member of the interpretive staff.

Benefits

• A weekly stipend of $100.
• $65.00 uniform allowance for tan pants (Receipts must be provided.)
• Uniform shirts and jackets provided.
• Fully furnished shared apartment and utilities are provided on campus in a separate location from the student dormitory.
• Limited meals are available when school programs are in session.
• Laundry facilities are available on campus.
• College credit can be arranged through most universities prior to internship season. Intern must arrange internship credit before the start of the season.

This is an intensive and rewarding experience.
Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate an interest in and knowledge of the environment, history, education, and/or the arts and possess a sincere desire to work with middle level students in an intensive and rewarding program. The ability to work as a member of a team and establish good rapport with students and teachers is important. A bachelor’s degree is preferred but students with two years of academic credit completed are encouraged to apply and participate in an internship for academic credit. Additional program development can be provided for graduate students pursuing internship credit through their university. Current first aid and CPR certification are preferred but training can be arranged if needed.

History:
The Schoodic Education and Research Center (SERC), a National Park Service Research Learning Center, is operated by a cooperative partnership between Acadia National Park and the non-profit Acadia Partners for Science and Learning (APSL). The campus is located in Acadia National Park on the Schoodic Peninsula near Winter Harbor, Maine.

Situated on Big Moose Island at the tip of Schoodic Peninsula, the SERC campus has direct access to a variety of habitats. A short walk along the shore provides a substantial view of inter-tidal zone marine life, coastal geological processes, exposed cliff, cobble, mudflat, and marsh habitats. The impressive shoreline encompasses spruce/fir woodlands, stands of pitch pine and mountain habitats which are home to numerous migratory species. This Gulf of Maine setting offers a unique place to study natural sciences as well as human history from 4,000 years ago to the present.

Contact person: Kate Petrie, (phone), (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 177 Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Web Site: http://www.nps.gov/acad/forteachers/seaprogram.htm

Last updated on December 23, 2008