Title:                                    Naturalist Intern

FLSA Status:                    Non-Exempt

Minimum Length:          16 Weeks

Reports to:        Lily Grbavach, Director of Education

Category:            Full time, Seasonal, Paid

Start Date:          March - May 2022

End Date:            September – November 2022

Location:           Portage, Alaska

A Naturalist Intern’s primary responsibility is assisting and supporting the year-round education team in all interpretation, educational programming, and tours both on and off site. This position is designed for the college student or recent graduate interested in working in this field whether or not their current degree path is directly related. In this position interns will have the opportunity to learn and gain skills relative to position duties. This position will also be trained on animal care duties and procedures. This position is eligible as a credit earning opportunity in the UA system along with several other universities. If you are interested in earning credit for this opportunity, please inquire in your application packet.

o  Perform daily talks about AWCC and Alaska wildlife to a

diverse audience of guests

o  Conduct daily walking tours

o  Be a step on guide for coaches driving through AWCC

o  Provide opportunistic informal interpretation to guests

o  Give animal presentations to school groups and private groups

o  Provide interpretation and facilitate positive guest experience at information stations

o  Write interpretive program outlines to be presented to the public and AWCC staff

o  Facilitate animal interactions with porcupine, Sitka black-tailed deer, reindeer, moose, and other animals

Facilitate positive guest experience by maintaining a positive attitude, smiling, and enforcing guest viewing and animal safety expectations 

o  Planting, weeding and harvesting in garden beds

o  Ensure trash does not find its way into animal habitats

o  Pull invasive plant species & alders

o  Facilitate service-learning groups

o  Clean interpretive signs and buildings

o  Cleaning enclosures

o  Collect browse, prepare diets, and wash dishes

o  Husbandry and feeding duties as assigned

·        Research: Opportunities for early arrival in March or extension into November to participate in Alaska Beluga Monitoring Partnership as an observer.

·        Workdays and hours assigned by Director of Education will vary by week; full 40 hours and 5 days per week, maximum 8 hours per day

·        Other duties as assigned

·        Public speaking to large and small audiences while professionally representing AWCC

·        Work in a team environment to help achieve AWCC’s goals and objectives

·        Exemplify a positive and respectful attitude and strong work ethic

·        Open to participating in fun sometimes silly group and team building activities

·        Ability to walk for long hours over uneven terrain providing interpretive talks and information

·        Ability to work outside in drastically changing weather environments; it will snow, pour rain, and be hot

·        Ability to work front line directly with the public providing information and assistance as needed

·        Willingness to learn areas of interest to visitors including local history, geography, geology, and more

·        Must be able to work a flexible schedule as needed, including all weekends, early mornings and nights

·        Strong time and task management skills

·        Current driver’s license

·        Must have received or be willing to receive tetanus and covid-19 vaccinations by date of hire to be considered. Proof of both vaccinations required.

·        Some college or graduate coursework in a related field. Some examples may include: Education, Interpretation, Wildlife Biology, Environmental studies, Natural Resources, Zoological Sciences, Ecology, Animal Science, or other related topics of interest

·        Rabies vaccine: depending on the animals in our care at the time of the internship having this vaccination may lead to more animal care opportunities

·        Housing is not included for this program but is available onsite. Each shared room offers a bed, linens, towels, and shared bathroom and kitchen areas with other seasonal staff 

·        Onsite staff have access to AWCC vehicle for grocery trips to staff with valid driver’s license and good driving record. Food is not provided throughout the summer

·        Portage, Alaska is located 45 miles southeast of Anchorage, and 10 miles past Girdwood, a small ski-town. There is one small grocery store in Girdwood, Anchorage has typical city amenities.

·     This position does have uniform requirements, and there is specific clothing/gear you will need to have to be comfortable working outside in highly variable weather, such as rain gear.

AWCC is surrounded by beautiful scenic mountains, as well as the ocean, rivers, and glaciers

Send a single page resume, a cover letter detailing why this position is an appropriate fit for your career path as well as how you meet the position requirements, and phone and email contact for three professional or academic references. Email application packets using the subject “2022 Naturalist Intern_[Name]” to lily@alaskawildlife.org. If you have any questions or would like to talk further about the position please do not hesitate to call (907) 783-0058 + 8, ask to speak with Lily in the Education Department.

The application period is open now and will close on February 15th. We will begin reviewing applications and offering interviews after the application period has closed.