Intern - Outdoor Youth Corps

This is a part-time internship opportunity, averaging up to 28 hours a week from late May through early-August.  Please attach a cover letter with your application.

Summary:  Assists sustainability education staff with the Outdoor Youth Corps (OYC) Summer Crew, a paid workforce and education program for participants ages 16-20. Internship will explore four focus areas including: sustainability, conservation, horticulture, and community engagement. This intern will gain experience in participating in and leading stewardship projects such as invasive species removal, urban farming, and tree planting. Interns will observe and learn about outdoor, experiential, and environmental/sustainability practices through hands-on field work and assisting program staff with material preparation and educational activities. Work will mostly occur outdoors in heat, humid, and possibly rainy conditions in a variety of locations across the St. Louis region. This internship opportunity will work up to 28 hours per week from late May through early-August.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists sustainability education staff with the implementation of the Outdoor Youth Corps Summer Crew projects.
• Actively participates in OYC program activities to gain experience in group facilitation, green job education, environmental education, and facilitating stewardship projects such as invasive species removal, urban farming, and tree planting
• Develops, plans, and implements a final project reflective of internship goals and experinece with the Outdoor Youth Corps program.
• Assists in the preparation of all program materials, tools, and food.
• Works with Garden staff to ensure all health and saftey protocols for program participants are followed.
• Works cohesively as a team with other staff, interns, and Outdoor Youth Corps program participants.
• Demonstrates highest level of professional and ethical conduct while working with Garden staff, Outdoor Youth Corp program participants, and program partners.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  None

Core Competencies

• Communication: Combines listening skills, verbal and written communication skills and visitor relation skills.
• Collaboration: Incorporates teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation and visitor focus.
• Accountability: Initiative to take ownership of responsibilities, the ability to prioritize and the working knowledge and skills to take action.
• Problem Solving: Blends problem solving skills, judgement and decision making skills along with creativity and resourcefulness.
• Stewardship:  Merges the practical application of the Garden values and support for a positive organizational climate.        

Qualifications/Experience: 

• Interest in working in the fields of education, conservation, horticulture, sustainably, and/or community engagement. Previous experience with Outdoor Youth Corps is  preferred.
• Basic understanding of sustainability practices and principles preferred.
• Group leadership and problem-solving experience.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to work with diverse participants ages 16-20.
• Flexible Hours
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education: 

• H.S. diploma or equivalent by start of internship. Some college coursework with an emphasis in Education, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Life Sciences or related field preferred.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.

Other Skills and Abilities: N/A

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written).

Mathematical Skills:  

• H.S. basic math aptitude; requires proficient ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals; etc.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Computer Skills:

• Proficient Microsoft Office Suite (i.e., Powerpoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook).
• Comfortable with virtual meeting platforms including TEAMS and Zoom.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• None.

Physical Demands:

• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, etc.).
• Able to lift up to (30) pounds (i.e., load, unload and move supplies and equipment).
• Must be able to work in high heat/humidity and other summer weather conditions.
• Ability to stand and move about entire facility, and/or project sites, for extended periods of time - 80% or more of the workday is standing on feet (e.g., extensive standing, walking, reaching and stooping).

Work Environment:

• Climate controlled buildings.
• Shared office space.
• Work outdoors in temperatures of (100°F or more), humid conditions, as well as temperatures below 0°F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. wet, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc.) as needed.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden: 

• Garden Employees, Volunteers, Guests
• Community Partners
• Regional educators
• Outdoor Youth Corps Participants

Supervisor (title not person):   

 Community Programs Supervisor