Friends of Coastal South Carolina has an immediate opening for a creative and self-motivated environmental education program intern.

Friends of Coastal South Carolina is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation of the natural resources along the South Carolina coast.  We support environmental education and wildlife conservation projects for the Francis Marion National Forest and Waccamaw, Cape Romain, and E.F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuges.  Our organization was established in 1996 and currently conducts 14,000 interactions with kids along the South Carolina coast each year through our environmental education programs. 

Our standards-based programs reach a diverse group of elementary and middle school students and focus on using the ecosystems of the forest and refuges to introduce students to real-world application of their classroom science and math lessons.   In addition, through teaching our students about the value of our coastal ecosystems, and their role as stewards of our environment, we hope to instill in them an appreciation for these ecosystems that will lead to a lifelong conservation ethic.  For more information about our programs and organization, please see our website at www.sccoastalfriends.org

This is your opportunity to pass your enthusiasm and excitement for the environment and conservation on to the next generation while getting hands-on experience in education, public relations, and general nonprofit organization operations. 

The Selected candidate will:

• Learn and lead innovative ecosystem-based environmental education programs for K-12 students. Programs are taught in the field (salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, longleaf pine and maritime forest) and in our laboratories and classrooms at the Sewee and Waccamaw Environmental Education Centers.  As part of our eight-week Earth Stewards program, we also teach a number of in-school programs which build on students’ field experiences.  Gain experience in managing program logistics. 
• Support organization communications strategy including newsletters, community events, and social media.
• Assist with visitor services and general operations at the Sewee and Waccamaw Visitor and Environmental Education Centers, which serve the Francis Marion National Forest and Cape Romain and Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.
• Although the primary focus of this position will be education and interpretation, interns will have the opportunity to learn about ongoing refuge and forest conservation programs, including loggerhead sea turtle nest protection efforts (spring/summer).

Candidates with interest in program development will also have the opportunity to develop and lead student service learning projects and develop standards-based STEM lessons. 

The ideal applicant should:

• Hold, or be working toward, a Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Science Education, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Have, or be willing to develop, a working knowledge of South Carolina coastal ecosystems.
• Be willing to learn about the national forest and wildlife refuges we partner with and their management programs and species.
• Be self-motivated, detail-oriented, have excellent communication skills, and enjoy interacting with the public.
• Be willing to work some Saturdays and an occasional evening.
• Be willing to work with live animals (including turtles, lizards, snakes, and a small alligator.

Time-frame, Compensation, and Additional Details:

• Interns work 30 to 40 hours a week. Preference will be given to candidates who can commit to working at least six months and have some environmental education experience. 
• Housing provided at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in Awendaw, SC.

A monthly stipend is provided.