About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary:

Opened 2011, the Audubon Center at Riverlands is one of 33 Audubon Centers in the U.S. Audubon Centers are hubs of influence and leadership for conservation throughout their regions and communities. We are a project of the National Audubon Society, a key component of Audubon’s Upper Mississippi River Program and a unique partnership with the Rivers Project Office of the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

We use education, science and public engagement to protect birds and their habitats in the Great Rivers Confluence Important Bird Area and the greater St. Louis Region. We build new generations of conservationists and leaders through experiential STEM-based learning in nature focused on resource-limited schools and communities; use science to understand and protect birds and habitat; and offer programs and events that promote an understanding and appreciation of nature, and inspire action to protect our Great Rivers, birds and habitat.

Flight Crew Members are part of a conservation-focused job corps for young adults and will receive 7-weeks of paid, hands-on work experience in wildlife conservation, recreation, and environmental education.

The Flight Crew Team Lead will assist in the implementation of Flight Crew, a paid summer job for teens, which combines exposure to environmental careers as well as experience facilitating environmental education in a summer camp setting. For the first several weeks of Flight Crew 2024, Crew interns will receive training in water conservation, wildlife conservation, and land restoration and will participate in local conservation projects. Interns will network with environmental organization professionals and explore career opportunities. In addition, interns will utilize the conservation knowledge gained to learn how to facilitate environmental education programs. This will allow Crew Members to become stewards of tomorrow by educating others about conservation issues in our region.

During the second part of the summer, Flight Crew will transition into a role serving as camp counselors for Little Creek Summer Camp (LCSC). Interns will utilize their experiences and training to facilitate outdoor education programs to youth ranging from 3rd to 5th grade in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. Crew Members will enthusiastically help campers develop their outdoor skills through activities like turtle tracking, archery, campfire cooking, canoeing, nature hikes, and more. Working in small group settings, the interns will serve as a positive role model, have a genuine interest in the campers, foster the campers’ curiosity of nature and the outdoors, and create fond and lasting memories of a real summer camp experience.

Length of Internship: June 19th - August 8th

Location: Onsite, Audubon Center at Riverlands, and Little Creek Nature Area

Hours: 18-38 hours per week

Compensation:

$19.00 / hour

Essential Functions

• Supporting Crew members and attending scheduled trainings

• Lead team check-ins with groups

• Assist in program schedule and development of weekly activities

• Develop training materials: general work skills & conservation focus

• Facilitate leadership and team building initiatives with Crew Members

• Collect & evaluate completed work assignments & share feedback with FC team

• Perform other duties as assigned

• Support the daily operations of Little Creek Summer Camp

• Work independently and as a team

• Show a genuine interest in learning conservation issues in our region

• Participate in new and ongoing conservation projects

• Work as a team with other Crew Members to practice facilitating environmental education lessons

• Show an interest in exploring possible environmental careers

• Assist in managing small groups of campers during programs and activities

• Organize and lead a variety of small and large group activities

• Assist in managing the Little Creek Summer Camp field trip

• Serve as a positive role model for all crew members and campers

• Show a genuine interest in campers and help encourage each camper’s success while at camp

• Ensure that campers are safe and feel included

• Encourage respect for the camp, supplies, and equipment

• Collaborate with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Must be a recent graduate from high school or college student

• Enjoy working with kids

• Like being in the outdoors,

• Ability to work as a member of a team as a leader

• Ability to stay positive and encouraging to crew members who may be apprehensive or nervous about a particular activity

• Must have physical ability to lead and participate in camp activities, which include, but are not limited to, hiking, canoeing, team building initiatives, building campfires, physical games, and activities, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Must be able to put campers first above their own needs/wants

• Must be reliable, punctual, and organized

• Maintain a positive, focused, and enthusiastic attitude

• Must be able to provide own transportation to Little Creek Nature Area and The Audubon Center at Riverlands

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement

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.