The Naturalist Intern Program

Are you searching for a position that helps you learn how to teach? Our internship program is an ideal, supportive training ground for those who want to become outstanding outdoor educators!

• The Amazing Staff
• Training
• Guidance and Observation
• Career Support
• Compensation and Perks
• Duties and Hours
• Location
• References

Download the Job Description

STAFF

Foothill Horizons has a staff culture that is built upon support, kindness, and growth.  Our six permanent naturalists have over 70 years of accumulated experience teaching and working as professional environmental educators and share the responsibilities of formally and informally mentoring the interns.  To complete and enhance our teaching staff, we hire 5-6 interns for the fall. Interns must live on site in shared housing.

TRAINING

Interns have proper training and are prepared before taking on a group of their own students. The initial training includes in-depth observation of and participation in our program, thorough staff training with in-services on our curriculum, and team teaching with an experienced naturalist. This extensive training period helps interns to be more successful in their first few weeks of independent teaching. Our six permanent naturalists share the responsibilities of formally and informally mentoring the interns.

GUIDANCE & OBSERVATION

Interns are informally observed soon after they begin teaching independently. Formal observations occur throughout the internship. These observations include conducting a video self-critique. In-depth coaching sessions with our staff follow each observation. Our goal is to give you the tools to become a self-reflective naturalist who can accurately assess your lessons and continually improve.

CAREER SUPPORT

Training on aspects of job-hunting such as preparing for interviews, assistance with resume development, and a review of application documents is made available. Our staff maintains strong relationships with other outdoor schools and professional environmental education organizations, and fosters those relationships to help connect our interns to the greater environmental education community.

DUTIES

In addition to teaching out on the trails, interns will get the opportunity to lead evening activities including night hikes, campfire and dance. These roles serve as a change of pace and allow interns to gain a holistic understanding of a residential outdoor education program. Interns also spend one Saturday per year training high school students for the counselor role.

HOURS

Workdays are based on an eight-hour day and a 40-hour week. Compensation is given for overtime. As with any teaching job, interns will prepare lessons and complete some work assignments associated with their training during non-scheduled work hours.

LOCATION

Sonora is an ideal location to live for those who love the outdoors.  Great rock climbing, hiking and biking are all less than a half hour away.  Our staff takes advantage of the nearby wilderness areas, rivers, granite peaks, and mountain lakes in our backyard, the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  For those who like to ski or snowboard, we are within an hour's drive of Dodge Ridge and an hour and a half from Bear Valley Ski Resort.  In addition, Yosemite Valley is only a two-hour drive from Foothill Horizons.

COMPENSATION AND PERKS

A self-reflective teacher who can:
-Honestly reflect on your own teaching and improving your lessons
-Write and implement engaging lesson plans with clear goals
-Command the attention of large and small groups of students

More knowledgeable about:
-Working with children and understanding stages of development
-Coaching teenagers and providing written feedback
-Education philosophy and practices and the local natural history