Ecology Education Intern

This is a temporary, hourly (35 hours/week), non-exempt, non-benefited position. $18-21 per hour,

depending on the applicant’s education and experience. This position starts January 15, 2026 - June

30, 2026.

Position Summary

Join the Cary Institute education team to work to foster ecological literacy in our community. The Ecology

Education Intern will be mentored by and work collaboratively with education staff to implement programming

for K-12 students. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting field trips, schoolyard ecology programming at

area schools, a virtual data literacy program for K-12 students, professional learning for educators and other

education programs. The Education Intern will develop skills and confidence in working with children in outdoor

settings, learn effective pedagogy for teaching ecology with a wide range of audiences, develop skills in program

management, gain familiarity with professional learning programs for educators, and learn about different

options for future work and study in ecology education. The Education Intern will join our rich community and

network of research scientists, scientific support staff, communication and grant experts, and educators.

Essential Responsibilities

• Support and lead K-12 field trips on site at Cary and schoolyard programs at area schools.
• Maintain a safe, friendly, and supportive space for all program participants.
• Collaboratively develop ecology lessons and activities with Cary education staff.
• Work outreach events like Dover Earth Day and other community programs.
• Contribute to assessment of program outcomes.
• Prepare, maintain, and organize materials for programs.
• Assist in implementation of annual Hudson Data Jam competition.
• Contribute to the maintenance of existing data sets for Hudson Data Jam.
• Help support professional learning programs for educators.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning related to ecology and outdoor education.
• The Ecology Education Intern will create an Individual Development Plan at the beginning of their
  
  

internship, specifying their learning goals and mapping out the activities and supports that will help them achieve

these goals.

• Prepare and deliver a presentation to the Cary community highlighting learning from the internship
  
  

experience.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Ecology, Environmental Science, or related field
• College coursework in ecology, environmental science, or related courses
• Experience in data management using Google Sheets and Excel
• Experience working with children
• Strong interest in working with students in grades K-12, with an emphasis on elementary and middle
  
  

school students

• A passion for sharing science and the environment with children
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Organizational skills including experience in using the Google suite of applications
• Willing to work outdoors in all environmental conditions (includes, but is not limited to, occasional cold
  
  

and hot temperatures, light to moderate rain and snow, mosquitoes and ticks)

• This position requires moderate physical activity, including walking across uneven and sometimes steep
  
  

terrain as part of outdoor programs. The office space where interns typically work is on a second floor

accessible by stairs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background and interest in Hudson Valley ecosystems
• College coursework in education and/or informal teaching experience
• Teaching experience in formal and/or informal settings
• Experience working with diverse audiences
• Ecological/environmental field or lab research experience from college, internships, or jobs
• Excellent data management, analysis, and visualization skills
• Spanish language skills
  
  

Required Skills

Included in qualifications

Working Conditions

In person at Cary’s campus in Millbrook, NY. Occasional remote work will be possible. Work includes

office and field work and teaching.

• Hours and Schedule:
• This is a temporary, full time position for up to 6 months’ duration, any time starting in
  
  

January 2025, ending June 30. Work schedule, start and end dates to be determined on

a case-by-case basis. Some evening and weekend work required.

• Occasional travel to local schools and events required.
• This position includes teaching outdoors, which requires the ability to lift up to 50lbs and
  
  

transport gear and equipment to field locations

Closing Date: December 5, 2025

To Apply

Visit our website at https://www.caryinstitute.org/... and complete our online

job application. Please submit one document that includes a cover letter, resume and the

names and full contact information (including e-mail address) for three professional

references. The Cary Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the

policy of the Institute to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants

without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,

age, familial status, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Description

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is a leading independent environmental

research organization dedicated to understanding ecosystems and addressing key

environmental challenges. With a focus on freshwater, forests, disease, and cities,

our scientists are global experts in ecology and tackle issues such as climate

change, invasive species, and human impacts on land and water. At Cary

Institute, we prioritize sharing our science to enhance ecological literacy and foster

informed decision-making. Through a variety of educational programs, we aim to

engage students, decision makers, and the public while training the next

generation of ecologists and resource managers.