Summer Environmental Education Internship at Project Native
Project Native is seeking an environmental education intern to help manage the Native Butterfly
House garden and insects, guide visitors through the house, and plan and facilitate children's
programs. We prefer a college student in an environmental education or life sciences degree
program.
Butterfly House Interns will work closely with Project Native staff to maintain the butterfly habitat in
the house and the gardens around it, give tours and talks, and help present the butterfly safari
program. We are looking for someone who loves to learn and teach, and is especially good at
working with children and seniors.
Responsibilities include:
- Stocking the house with caterpillars and butterflies so visitors can experience the lifecycle of a
butterfly and its dependence upon native plants for breeding and feeding.
- Learning and teaching the lifecycle of butterflies and moths.
- Learning and teaching people to identify the native plants that are host plants and nectar plants for
native butterflies.
- Accompanying children and adults on butterfly safaris to find butterflies and caterpillars, collect
them, and relocate them to the Butterfly House. The safari will follow the trails through Project
Native’s seed bank, meadows and woods. In the process of learning to identify caterpillars and
butterflies, participants will also learn the habitat, plants and conditions they need to survive.
- Caring for the plants, butterflies and caterpillars in the Butterfly House.
- Developing and implementing new educational outreach programs based around the Butterfly
House.
Skills required for the position include:
- Public speaking and story telling, ability to talk to visitors about native plants and wildlife.
- Effective verbal communication skills: in person, in writing and by email.
- People management: giving directions, guiding groups, answering questions
- Time management: following a schedule and completing tasks on time. Ability to prioritize as
issues or opportunities arise. Self-directed worker.
- Ability to explain concepts like sustainability, ecosystem, biodiversity, conservation, habitat loss,
definition of “native” and “invasive.”
- Familiarity with plant biology and plant care
- Working knowledge of the role of insects and pollinators in an ecosystem.
- Desire to handle and care for insects and plants.
- Comfortable spending long hours outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Physically fit, able to lift 30 lbs. safely, able to hike through woods, stamina for long walks.
Project Native is located in Housatonic, Massachusetts, which is in the Berkshires and part of the
town of Great Barrington. We are in the southwest corner of Massachusetts, fifteen miles from
Connecticut and ten miles from New York. The internship requires being present on-site five days a
week, including weekends.
The Project Native team is composed of dedicated, knowledgeable people passionate about
achieving the Project Native mission. We have five fulltime employees and an additional four
seasonal staff members who work in the nursery and the nature shop. We maintain a positive,
supportive atmosphere where people are encouraged to develop and pursue their ideas. As a
growing organization there is always room for individuals to help direct future growth based on
their own interests.
Project Native’s educational programs are based on hands-on, experiential learning. The dynamic,
interactive nature of our programs provides an opportunity for interns to develop and build on a
broad range of skills, from writing, oral presentation, and social media to education and event
planning.
The property is open year round from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, to the public who want to
walk the trails.
Office hours are 9:00 to 5:00 M-F. The nursery and nature shop are open on Saturday 9:30 to 5:00
and Sunday 10:30 to 5:00. The Butterfly House is open 7 days a week, from 10:30 to 4:00. Our office
is a farmhouse that also contains the office of a landscape architect and two apartments.
David Ellis, General Manager will be the intern’s ultimate supervisor. On a day-to-day basis the
intern may be working with and taking direction from David Ellis or Karen Lyness LeBlanc, Education
& Outreach Coordinator.
This position is five days a week for 3 months from the beginning of June through the end of August
OR beginning of July through the end of September. Intern will be required to work weekends.
For more information or to apply send a resume and cover letter to Karen Lyness LeBlanc, Education
and Outreach Coordinator, email kleblanc@projectnative.org.