The Nature Connection’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities through the therapeutic use of nature. We travel throughout Middlesex County and the Greater Boston area to deliver nature-based programming to people with limited access to the outdoors: youth in therapeutic schools and/or group homes, people with disabilities, and elders in memory care units with dementia/Alzheimer’s. Through regular programs combining seasonal natural materials, live animals, and hands-on activities, we connect individuals with nature’s capacity to heal, teach, and create joy.
Position Summary:
The Nature Connection seeks an intern to assist with the care of animals (chinchillas, corn snake, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, snails, etc.) and plants. The right candidate will have an interest in animal care as well as an interest and/or experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, and/or an interest in nature education (formal or informal).
Additional to this role, The Nature Connection provides animal care volunteer opportunities to youth at-risk and adults with disabilities. This position supervises these animal care volunteers (in accompaniment with direct supervision from supervisor) ensuring animal care and interactions are safe, appropriate, and adequately meet the animals’ needs while working with the volunteers in a friendly and helpful manner.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide basic husbandry (cleaning & feeding) and socialization for animals at The Nature Connection
- Provide basic care to plants at The Nature Connection (watering, pruning, re-potting, care of hydroponic garden system)
- Keep animal & plant supplies cleaned, put away, and stocked
- Supervise volunteers when they come in to assist in animal & plant care activities
- Maintain proper paperwork and logs
- Occasionally assist with natural materials care and preservation used on programs (preserving specimens, identification of materials, creating ID/fact materials for animals/pants/natural materials to be used on programs)
Requirements:
Preferred candidates should be enrolled in, or have recently completed, an undergraduate program of studies in biology, animal science, zoology, environmental education, horticulture, or a related field; AND/OR have extensive experience in animal husbandry.
- Knowledge of animal handling and safety best practices.
- Excellent professionalism and dependability as you will be representing The Nature Connection to the public, and conduct yourself in a manner fitting a role model to participants during volunteering
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as you will be interacting with program volunteers with possible communication and/or social-emotional challenges and the Nature Connection team of staff.
- Possess and show empathy and compassion while executing Nature Connection policies of safety, choice, and respect.
- Creativity, passion, and humor while also being flexible and adaptable under pressure.
- Team player – The Nature Connection values diversity of opinion, background, and ability in our program participants as well as staff, volunteers, board, friends and supporters.
- CORI/SORI background check
Schedule/Availability:
Must be available for 8-12 hours per week split between 2-3 days (Monday – Friday) and must be available for internship hours during, but not limited to the hours of:
- Summer (June/July – Aug): 9:00/10:00 – 5:00
- School Year (Sep – June): 2:00/3:00 – 6:00
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
How to apply: Please send a resume and cover letter explaining your interest in The Nature Connection and how it relates to your overall career goals to: Taylor Eagan, at teagan@nature-connection.org.
