Developing and Piloting Environmental Education Materials Internship

NPS Unit:

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Project Title:

Developing and Piloting Environmental Education Materials

Location:  

Peninsula, OH

Position Description:

Work closely with park staff in both Interpretation and Resource Management divisions to implement communication tools to engage school groups and the general public with climate change topics. This position will have a crucial role in taking the excellent research and groundwork done by the 2011 intern, building upon it, and taking it beyond planning to implementation. Education programming is another major role. The intern will work with education staff to create new curriculum and augment existing curriculum with climate change content.

Learning goals:

• Experience in standards-based curriculum development
• Experience in informal interpretation and interpretive media
• Participation in webinars associated with climate change topics
• Experience conducting a formal front-end evaluation process
• Field monitoring experiences with Resource Management
• Communication materials development

Products:

• Draft climate change curriculum that fits Ohio Common Core Standards at the appropriate grade level – for an education program that will travel to schools or take place in the park, and for added emphasis on climate change in existing lesson plans for All the Rivers Run residential program.
• List of teachers/schools that will pilot the program at their school.
• Written report of focus group findings.
• Draft of climate change evening program.
• Summary of Climate Change Interpreter/Educator Guide introductory meetings conducted with interpretive staff.
• Informal Interpretation Climate Change Kit to provide staff and volunteers with climate change training and materials such as props, photographs, and other materials to take into the field to engage the public. This kit will be based upon the Interpretor/Educator Guide.
• Improved climate change presence on CUVA Parknet site.

• Draft text and graphic suggestions for wayside exhibit.

Qualifications:

Minimum requirement of 2 year of college experience with coursework in science and environmental education or equivalent experiences in interpretation or environmental education. Valid state driver’s license required.

Position Dates:

May 1 – July 31. Start date is flexible based on student schedule. Needs to start while k-12 schools are still in session, early as possible in May is preferred.

Housing Available:

Shared housing (private bedroom, shared bathroom/kitchen/living room) is available and provided by the park, about a mile from the office site.

Vehicle Required:

 Intern will be required to have a vehicle

Work Environment:

The work environment will be a mixture of office and field work. Hikes of 1-5 miles, carrying backpack/field materials, in moderate heat and humidity will be necessary. Field work requires standing and walking for periods of time (2-4 hours) outside and interacting with the public. Office work will require telephone and personal communication, field work will require communication with scientists and the public.