By Sarah Fiorello November 26, 2019

You will be part of a team that is working to create an immersive learning experience for 5th grade classes to visit us fall 2020. The focus is on activities that will empower students to create their own “action plan” toward environmental sustainability and mitigating climate change as a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in 2020.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work with a volunteer committee and the youth education coordinator to plan and develop a family event and a school program. The event theme is climate action and aims to provide youth with solutions to reduce our collective and individual carbon footprints. We will design activities for kids to learn about plant-related climate change solutions that empower actions. Event programming will be scheduled weekdays during Sept 21, 2020 through Oct 16, 2020. The family event will be held Sunday, October 18th, 2020.

Activities include:

• Researching and designing climate action educational booths and displays with hands-on activities that engage kids,
• Recruiting and assisting other exhibitors in their climate action booths,
• Recruiting and organizing student volunteers for the event,
• Helping with event promotion.
• Testing and evaluating climate solution activities with youth
• Working directly with children, leading workshops in the garden,
• Maintaining a portfolio of work that will be shared with all staff on August 7 when most of the internships end.

Requirements

• Ability to commit to the entire internship period including extension into fall,
• Currently enrolled, just graduated, or accepted Cornell University student,
• Skills in organizing and event planning,
• Climate change, plant science and/or education background,
• Good communication, writing, design, and computer skills,
• Interest in teaching children,
• Work part time through the months of September and October during the Fall semester and work various weekend events throughout the summer and Fall,
• Participate in weekly group intern activities as scheduled
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• This is a full-time internship (39 hrs./week)

After the summer internship paid work will continue part-time through October in the Fall 2020 semester. Various weekend work will be necessary throughout the summer.

Work Environment

The intern will work closely with the Youth Education Coordinator in an indoor office environment that is highly collaborative for at least 50 percent of each work week. Youth programs may be outdoors or at off-site locations.

Each Monday from June to August interns will learn as a group spending most of the time outdoors. These days may include field trips or educational activities about the diverse work of a public garden. Some time is set aside each Monday for capturing your experience.