Naturalist Academic Overview

Objectives of the Training Program:

The naturalist internship program at Glen Helen is unique. People interested in an introduction to outdoor environmental education or are interested in further developing skills in this area have 14 weeks in the fall or 19 weeks in the winter / spring to gain first-hand experience as a naturalist and receive graduate or undergraduate credit. Besides training each naturalist to lead our weekly trail groups at the Outdoor Education Center, we strive to:

	Prepare naturalists for positions as naturalists, interpreters, and educators.
	Provide naturalists with the opportunity to simultaneously be students and teachers.
	Instruct naturalists and students about environmental issues so they can make better conscious decisions about the earth and itsinhabitants.
	Immerse naturalists in every aspect of residential life by living and working in a community setting.
	Select two or three naturalists chosen to stay on an additional term for administrative experience.
	Train naturalists to be leaders in the field of outdoor and environmental education.

Requirements:

All naturalists must have a strong interest or background in natural science, be a responsible and supportive colleague, and enjoy working with elementary and middle school students. Each naturalist is required to comply with Outdoor Education Center policies, guidelines, and requirements regarding the use of facilities, equipment, room and board, performance and personal conduct.

University affiliation:

	Prospective naturalist must have completed at least two years of undergraduate work in any academic field at an accredited university.
	Naturalists have Antioch College student status, which confers access to the library, pool, gym, tennis courts, and events on campus. Naturalists may also use the Yellow Springs Public Library and reference books at the Glen Helen building.
	Naturalists will receive academic credit through Antioch University and are responsible for transferring any acacedmic credits received at the Outdoor Education Center.

Teaching Requirements:

	In the initial two week training. naturalists receive the fundamental instruction to prepare them for work on the trail with school groups. Training sessions focus on hands-on environmental education and child development study. Training will be conducted by staff and guest speakers; on-site and through field trips.
	Subsequent Mondays are set aside throughout the semester as a staff training day to provide additional training in natural history, outdoor teaching methodologies, exposure to career options, professional growth as naturalists, and individual project days.

Daily teaching:

Lead approximately seven, 2 1/2 hour hikes, plus three one-hour activities each week. Educational sessions (hikes) for training and with the students consist of main themes, such as ornithology, geology, cooperative education, etc. Hikes occur mostly outdoors with some indoor activities. Each trail group will have a maximum of 13 students, primarily fifth or sixth graders, and will be led by the same naturalist throughout the week. During the term, there may be opportunities to work with other age groups and children with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Evening Programs:

Will be on-duty two evenings per week. One night will be an evening program presented to large groups of 50-100 students in cooperation with other naturalists. Programs will be educational and recreational, consisting of such things as dramatics, astronomy, singing and games. The second evening is a night hike with your trail group.

Living History:

Naturalist will develop and portray a character, real-life or fictional, from the Miami Valley of the 1700s.

Raptor Center:

Naturalists learn to care for injured birds of prey at our Raptor Center facility. With training, each naturalist earns approval to handle and give interpretive talks with one or more birds of prey.

Evaluation:

Will be periodically evaluated by administrative staff, naturalist colleagues, and teachers. The evaluation will be given via oral and written feedback. Twice during the term the intern will be formally evaluated on overall performance.

Course Requirements:

Each naturalist is required to complete the course requirements for both Outdoor Education Methods and Natural History, which include:

	A daily journal.
	Required readings and turning in "book cards".
	The provided midterm and final evaluation forms.
	A natural history project.
	3 hike observations of peer naturalists
	A sample lesson plan.

Residential Living:

	Naturalist will be provided with a private room in one of three staff houses. Each naturalist will be responsible for the cleanliness of the house in which he/she resides.
	Will be provided with meals Monday breakfast through Friday lunch. Some weekend food will be provided. Vegetarians and those with special diets will be accommodated.
	Will receive a stipend of $260.00 per month.
	Naturalists may use the libraries at Antioch College, the Glen Helen Building, and the Yellow Springs Public Library.
	Naturalist will be required to spend several weeks in the kitchen as dishwasher or cook assistant. This provides training in other aspects of residential work, offers a change of pace, and allows time to observe peers.
	Naturalist is responsible for maintaining areas of the Outdoor Education Center on a rotating basis such as the mouse-house, critter room, bird blind, recycling center, greenhouse, and craft hut.
	Smoking is not permitted in any building at the OEC including staff houses, or at any function involving children or peers. Pets of any kind are prohibited. Use of recreational drugs is cause for immediate dismissal.