Established in 1968, the Audubon Center of the North Woods (ACNW) is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 residential environmental learning center (RELC) and green retreat & conference center on Grindstone Lake near Sandstone, MN – 90 miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul. We offer a variety of outdoor and environmental education experiences for people of all ages – youth, families and adults – and are an ideal K12 school field trips and student travel destination. In addition to our on-site programs and camps, ACNW provides outreach programs throughout the region. Our 535 acre campus is a diverse mix of hardwoods, pine plantation, prairie, and wetland on the east shore of Grindstone Lake.

Accredited by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges, ACNW serves as a field campus for various community colleges and Hamline University.  We have over 40 years of environmental education experience and an incredible variety of programs and audiences.  Working at ACNW is a one-of-a-kind internship opportunity!  We hope you will consider becoming part of our dynamic education team.

Qualifications:

• BA or BS degree
• 21 years of age or older
• Enjoyment of and experience working with children in an educational outdoor setting
• Ability to be innovative, flexible, and self-directed
• Exceptional written and verbal communication
• Consistent professionalism
• Basic knowledge of and curiosity about the natural and cultural history of this region
• Open-minded and personable with a light-hearted sense of humor
• Ability to lift heavy equipment, such as a canoe, and spend long hours on your feet

Intern Duties include:

• Instruct environmental and adventure classes for diverse groups
• Serve as liaison for school and weekend groups
• Represent ACNW and interact with the public at key events
• Focus on one of the following areas:  Wildlife and Animal Care; Adventure & Outdoor Education; Environmental Education Program Work weekends and evenings as needed, including serving on-call overnight
• Maintain living quarters and center grounds (split wood, shovel snow, clear trails, etc.)
• Assist in event planning, facilitation, and evaluation
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits:

• Broad natural history background training
• Teaching experience covering groups of diverse ages and backgrounds
• Hands-on, behind the scenes knowledge of what it takes to run a residential environmental education center (fundraising, budgets, marketing, etc.)
• $80/week stipend, private room in onsite Staff House, and meals when groups are present
• Eight days off each month, plus two bonus weeks off (one in December and one as scheduling allows)
• Optional paid graduate credits from Hamline University to fulfill the 10-credit Master’s-level Certificate in Environmental Education