Naturalist Internship Program

                    Earn college credit while you teach students in the great outdoors!

Outdoor Education Center

Requirements

Training

Schedule and Expectations

Living in the Glen

Visiting the Glen

Application Process

The Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center is a private, non-profit residential environmental education center owned and operated by Antioch University. Our mission is to provide science-based experiential learning in the outdoors while fostering respect for the natural environment and empowering people to act in its interest. We are searching for individuals who share our philosophy, and are excited to promote learning in a positive and energetic way. We offer two internship terms per year. The Winter/Spring semester spans 19 weeks from January to June. Fall semester lasts 14 weeks from August through December. Over the course of a term, the team of naturalists grows to be a tight-knit group. Each semester three naturalists continue on for an additional term as administrative intern.

Naturalist interns teach environmental and natural history curriculum to elementary and middle school students participating in the Glen Helen residential program. Educational hikes focus on environmental problem solving, geology, stream study, wildlife ecology, living history, and other related topics. We strive to prepare our naturalists, as well as our school groups, to better make choices with the Earth and our environment in mind.

Interns earn 10 graduate or 12 undergraduate credits through Antioch. Interns are also provided with room and board (including vegetarian and vegan friendly meals), plus a stipend of $260 per month and a completion bonus of $300.

Click here for quotes from past Glen Helen Naturalists!

Why be a Naturalist Intern?

The Naturalist internship program at Glen Helen is unique. People who are interested in an introduction to outdoor environmental education or are interested in further developing skills in this area have a chance to gain first-hand experience as a Naturalist and receive college credit. Besides training Naturalists to lead 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.
• Inform Naturalists and students about environmental issues so they can make better conscious decisions about the earth and its inhabitants.
• Involve Naturalists in every aspect of residential life by living and working in a community setting.
• Train three Naturalists chosen to stay on an additional term for an expanded experience.
• Provide leadership in the field of outdoor and environmental education