Wild Indigo Nature Explorer

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Do you want to work on meaningful and impactful environmental education programs? Are you looking for an internship that makes a difference in conservation? If this sounds exciting, the National Audubon Society’s internship may be great for you.

The Wild Indigo Explorer will work with the Milwaukee Wild Indigo Coordinator to implement nature exploration efforts in several of Milwaukee’s parks and youth centers. The goal of the explorers is to teach them the work of the coordinator and allow them to engage with nature in new ways, this time focused on several ideas around environmental advocacy. The Explorers will then take what they have learned and will continue to engage with their local natural areas and their surrounding communities by completing several stewardship projects and developing a video documentation platform!

This is an onsite role based in the Audubon Great Lakes – State Office – COA Goldin Center, Havenwoods State Forest, Lincoln Creek.

Compensation:

$15.00 / hour

Intern Responsibilities and Learning Objectives

During the internship, you will work with the staff to:

• Learn and assist with weekly lesson plans for programming with JR. Explorers
• Become familiar with leading programming in local parks.
• Explore different careers within the conservation field.
• Learn about and implement stewardship efforts in local parks.
• Lead exploration of local parks
• Learn and program around local birds
• Learn and program around local wetlands
• Learn and program around local plants
• Learn about and use digital exploration apps
• Learn and understand the connection between bird and people
• Explore the therapeutic components of nature.
• Collaborate on storytelling and documenting experience.

Internship Benefits
Interns will gain experience and knowledge in the following:

• Growing skills in research and teaching skills about local natural history (specifically bird identification, plant identification, and waterway identification)
• Leading and co-leading small groups of youth and adults through seasonal programs
• Planning and coordinating public activities and events in an outdoor setting
• Connecting kids with nature through inquiry learning, role-modeling interest, and empathy toward all living things
• Planning and coordinating public activities and events in an outdoor setting
• Developing effective community and team building skills (including improved public speaking, general communication, and conflict resolution skills)
• Building awareness about different career paths within conservation, environmental advocacy, and the many ways they can get involved

Intern Schedule
The program occurs for 10 hours per week on Thursdays from 5 to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm, and Sunday 1 to 5pm every week for 10 weeks. Interns must be able to commit to at least Thursday and Saturday hours, with some flexibility in scheduling Sunday hours.

Projected Start Date
October 16, 2023, and projected end date is January 14, 2024

• Must be 13 to 18 years of age
• Must be willing to explore nature
• Must be willing to work with other young people

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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