Teacher Naturalist Intern

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE AT TREMONT

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

Our Values and Culture

    We create experiential education programs focused on the natural world, knowing such learning and research opportunities are uniquely suited to bring about life changing outcomes in individual passion for learning, sense of worth, and behavior.

    We believe a lost connection with the natural world can be repaired beginning with experiences that take place in the original classroom—the outdoors. We believe such experiences produce cascading results that enrich individual lives, strengthen communities, and empower citizens.

    We celebrate the distinctive setting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) provides as a living laboratory to explore the biodiversity that forms the building blocks of healthy ecosystems, examine past and present human impacts on the land, and navigate questions about how to best support the land that supports us.

    We carry out our mission with both urgency and joy, recognizing that the work of connecting people and nature could not be timelier. 

Our Ideal Applicant

We are seeking passionate people who want to learn how to use nature to make a difference in children’s lives. People who thrive in this role have experienced awe and wonder through time outside in nature, and want to facilitate these experiences for others. Teacher Naturalist Interns will gain skills for creating positive and healthy relationships with youth campers, and they see value inherent in every young person. They have a heartfelt desire to take care of children, knowing that time outdoors does just that. 

Teacher Naturalist Interns help create atmospheres of welcome, warmth, and belonging. They seek to understand that one’s prior connections to the natural world are dependent on aspects of identity and demographics; some communities and backgrounds are excluded or disenfranchised from connections with nature. They work to welcome youth into exploration of nature by creating accessible experiences outside that affirm the inner nature-love of all our campers. 

Teacher Naturalist Interns work effectively with varied audiences. Throughout the summer, the Teacher Naturalist Intern will meet and work with a wide variety of program participants. They will facilitate experiences for young children, school-aged campers, and adults. They will seek to connect to participants from many different backgrounds and life histories, working in a way that allows each individual to make their own connections to self, others, and the natural world. 

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY  

The following duties are normal for this position and are noted in priority order.  The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this position.  

Summer Camp Programs 

Work in all aspects of implementing summer residential camp programs for youth including developing and facilitating daily outdoor experiences; conducting evening programs like campfires or skit nights; supervising campers in the lodge; possibility of co-leading a backpacking trip; and other summer camp related activities. 

Take a keen interest in the social and emotional development of young people, and work to facilitate social and emotional learning in campers through direct experience and reflection.

Make good decisions regarding personal and participant safety, anticipate problems, and act within scope of first aid training. 

Tremont Community 

Strive to maintain an atmosphere of inclusion, value diversity, and actively promote equity.

Contribute to our caring community by taking care to set-up, clean, and maintain program spaces as needed for programs.

Communicate needs and concerns openly and clearly. 

Maintain a positive attitude and energy to accomplish individual and collaborative projects. 

Leadership and Growth

Prioritizes personal and professional growth throughout the summer season. 

Incorporates feedback from mentors and year-round staff to further their skills as outdoor educators. 

Collaborate with the cohort of interns on group projects and work on individual professional development assignments.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.

Assists with facility setup, cleanup and maintenance (buildings/equipment/trails).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Education: 

One year or more of college or commensurate experience in outdoor education or youth development.

Paid or volunteer experience working with children and/or young adults.

Physical Ability: Perform physical activity relating to programs/activities, which may include hiking in mountainous terrain, climbing steep trails, climbing rocks/boulders, participating in games/recreational activities, carrying backpacks, moving dining tables, and lifting/moving heavy materials. Must be able to hike while carrying a pack up to 10 miles in a day.

HOUSING REQUIREMENTS 

Position requires employee to reside on premises of Institute, with residence and utilities provided by Institute.   

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.

The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, GSMIT will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.