River Bend Nature Center offers two different naturalist internships: nine-month school year Naturalist Educator Interns and three-month Summer Program Naturalists. See the box below for the current status of our internship application processes.

Contact Elaine Loranz or Barb Hurley or Heather Rickerl with any questions
regarding the positions.

Summer 2010 Positions open Application deadline 2/19/10 see position description below

Naturalist Educator 2009-2010 Positions filled

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"River Bend has an intern program like no other I've found. The focus on training; improving skills and experience; developing new curricula, programs, and displays; and allowing interns to coordinate large events and county-wide waste education programs has honestly changed me as a person."
- Leah G., school year and summer intern

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Summer Program Naturalists
2010 Summer
River Bend Nature Center

Position: Summer Program Naturalists
Status: Temporary, Full-time
Benefits: $200 stipend per week plus housing in nearby offsite 4 bedroom house
Duration: June 1, 2010 through August 20, 2010
Deadline: February 19, 2010 or when filled
Hours: 40 hrs. per week

Position Description
Work as part of a friendly, dynamic staff dedicated to connecting people to the natural world. Interns gain extensive experience creating and implementing programs. Summer Program Naturalists teach programs for youth environmental day camps serving children from pre-school through age 17. Programs use the outdoors for experiential activities, taking advantage of wetland, woodland, and restored tall-grass prairie habitats. Some programs are off-site, overnight sessions. Summer naturalists welcome and interact with visitors, assist with facility and habitat management, and contribute to the newsletter.

Benefits
$200 stipend per week plus housing in nearby offsite 4 bedroom house;two weeks paid training; and paid time off at the Fourth of July

Qualifications
We seek enthusiastic and hard working individuals with a passion for teaching and working with people. College graduates, or students with a minimum of three years college study, are encouraged to apply.
Required:

• Minimum of three years college study
• Demonstrated genuine interest in children and enthusiasm for learning and teaching about nature in an outdoor setting
• General familiarity with the natural environment
• Experience working with children, preferably in an outdoor setting
• Ability to relate with people of all ages and abilities in a positive manner
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills
• Willingness to work cooperatively and flexibly as part of a small staff team and to work flexible hours as needed
  

Additional favorable skills:

• Experience working with pre-school age children
• First Aid and CPR training

Application Procedure

An information packet is available. Please email or send a résumé, contact information for three references, and a thoughtful letter of application stating why you are interested in the position to:

Elaine Loranz, Program Coordinator
River Bend Nature Center
P.O. Box 186
Faribault, Minnesota 55021
507.332.7151 or fax 507.332.0656
loranz@rbnc.org

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"If it were not for all these wonderful and varied experiences at RBNC I would not have been as well prepared for my first full time job the following year nor for the many years of programming and program management that I have had in my career. The internship gave me the basic tools that jump-started my career." - Allison D., school year intern

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