Job Opportunities and Internships
Do you have a passion for wildlife, the environment, and the outdoors?
We provide a positive and supportive working environment to enable our team to grow, learn, and have a career doing what they love. Join our dedicated team of professionals who work closely together to achieve our important mission to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world, and our vision of being the premier environmental site in the region.
Job Opportunities
Animal Care Associate Training Coordinator
Internships
Interns gain practical learning experience and knowledge, work with professionals, and achieve personal growth toward educational and professional career goals. The Science Center offers one Animal Care Internship, two Education Program Internships, one Nature Day Camp Internship, one Development and Communications Internship, and one Volunteer Program Internship each summer.
Animal Care Intern - position filled for 2024
The Animal Care internship is an opportunity to learn and grow while gaining experience in native wild animal husbandry. The Animal Care Intern assists staff with all aspects of caring for the Science Center’s animal ambassadors. The Animal Care Intern also gains experience with interpretation by presenting Up Close to Animals programs about native New Hampshire wildlife.
Internship Experiences
- Animal observations and record keeping
- Animal handling, capture and restraint
- Proper diet preparation and distribution
- General husbandry of animal and keeper areas
- Proper Association of Zoos and Aquariums protocols, policies, and procedures
- Animal training and enrichment
- Basic avian wildlife rehabilitation
- Training in environmental education and interpretation techniques
- Opportunity to receive First Aid/CPR certification
- Present Up Close to Animals – short, live animal presentations in trailside amphitheater
- Assisting with special events, and additional duties as assigned
- Complete a final project in animal training or enrichment under the guidance of animal care staff
Requirements
- College junior/senior status or graduate student with a major in biology, zoology, natural sciences, or related field
- Enthusiasm, motivation, strong time management, and a desire to work with people and animals
- Ability to effectively communicate with staff and volunteers
- Appropriate footwear is required (e.g., work boots, hiking shoes) and outerwear is required for all weather conditions (e.g., cold, rain, wind)
- Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Must be able to stand for long periods of time
- Available from late May to mid to late August. First three weeks are training in education/interpretation and animal handling with a Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule. The remainder of the summer is a Friday-Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. schedule.
Benefits
- Stipend of $375/week
- Onsite, shared housing in rustic cottage
- Eight-person Science Center membership with full benefits
To Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Animal Care Director Lauren Moulis at . Cover letter should address your interest in applying for this position, your career goals, and how you anticipate this position will contribute to your professional development.
Education Program Intern - position filled for 2024
The Education Program internship is an opportunity to learn and grow while gaining experience in environmental education. Education Program Interns assist with presenting live animal programs to the public and teaching nature day camps.
Internship Experiences
- Receive training in interpretation and environmental education techniques
- Learn to handle live, native animal ambassadors
- Assist with Guided Discoveries, week-long nature day camps for children ages 4 to 12, by planning and leading hands-on experiences that help children discover and connect with New Hampshire’s natural world
- Present Up Close to Animals – short live animal programs at outdoor trailside amphitheater
- Assist with presenting live animal outreach programs offsite at a variety venues including campgrounds, libraries, summer camps, and environmental organizations
- Interact with visitors and provide an educational presence on the exhibit trail with a live animal or biofacts (e.g., pelts, feathers, skulls)
- Assist with special events and additional duties as assigned
- Complete one or more projects supporting Education Program goals
Qualifications
- College sophomore/junior/senior status or graduate student with a major in the natural sciences, environmental education or related field
- Experience working with children in educational and/or recreational settings preferred
- Enthusiasm, motivation, and a desire to work with children, adults and animals
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Appropriate footwear is required (e.g., hiking shoes) and outerwear for all weather conditions (e.g., heat, cold, rain, wind)
- Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Must be able to stand for long periods of time
Benefits:
- Weekly stipend $375/week
- Onsite, shared housing in a rustic intern cottage
- Eight-person Science Center membership with full benefits
To Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Naturalist Jeremy Phillips at . Cover letter should address your interest in applying for this position, your career goals, and how you anticipate this position will contribute to your professional development.
Nature Day Camp Intern - position filled for 2024
The Nature Day Camp Internship is an opportunity to learn and grow while gaining experience in environmental education. Guided Discoveries are weeklong nature day camps that provide children ages 4 to 12 with hands-on experiences that help them discover and connect with New Hampshire’s natural world. The Nature Day Camp Intern assists the Instructor with the planning, preparation, and instruction for these theme focused day camps. The Nature Day Camp Intern also gains experience handling and teaching about native New Hampshire wildlife.
Internship Experiences
- Receive training in interpretation and environmental education techniques
- Learn to handle live, native animal ambassadors
- Receive First Aid/CPR training and certification
- Co-teach eight weeks of Guided Discoveries, week-long nature day camps for children ages 4 to 12, by planning and leading hands-on experiences that help children discover and connect with New Hampshire’s natural world
- Assist with special events and additional duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- College junior/senior status or graduate student with a major in the natural sciences, early childhood education, elementary education, environmental education, or related field
- Experience working with children in educational and/or recreational settings preferred
- Enthusiasm, motivation and a desire to work with children and animals
- Ability to effectively communicate with staff and volunteers
- Appropriate footwear is required (e.g., closed toed shoes) and outerwear is required for all weather conditions (e.g., cold, rain, wind)
- Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Must be able to stand for long periods of time
- Available from late May to mid to late August, on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. First three weeks are training in education/interpretation and animal handling. Remainder of internship is planning and teaching Guided Discoveries nature day camps.
Benefits:
- Stipend of $375/week
- Onsite, shared housing in rustic cottage
- Eight-person Science Center membership with full benefits
To Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Naturalist Jeremy Phillips at . Cover letter should address your interest in applying for this position, your career goals, and how you anticipate this position will contribute to your professional development.
Marketing Intern - position filled for 2024
The Marketing Intern work with the Development and Communications team to help strategically manage the Science Center’s promotional and marketing efforts and to help steward the donor and membership base.
Internship Experiences
- Video creation and editing for social media channels
- Press release, blog, and other publicity related writing
- Photography of all aspects of the Science Center
- Surveying trail and lake cruise visitors including weekly scheduled time on the live animal exhibit trail
- Opportunity to receive First Aid/CPR certification
- Editing and proofreading materials
- Designing event flyers
- Updating calendar of event listings
- Managing press lists
- Assisting with donor and membership stewardship and special events
Qualifications:
- College junior or senior status
- Strong time management skills and ability to work independently
- Strong written and oral communications
- Ability to manage multiple projects on deadlines
- Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite products is a plus
- Available from late May to mid to late-August, approximately 40 hours per week. Schedule may include occasional evening and weekend event assignments.
Benefits:
- Weekly stipend $375/week
- Onsite, shared housing in a rustic intern cottage
- Eight-person Science Center membership with full benefits
To Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Communications Director Amanda Gillen at . Cover letter should address your interest in applying for this position, your career goals, and how you anticipate this position will contribute to your professional development.
Volunteer Program Intern - position filled for 2024
The Volunteer Program Internship is an opportunity to learn and grow while gaining experience in volunteer administration, public speaking, and live animal handling. Over 200 volunteers contribute more than 5,000 hours each year supporting all aspects of Science Center operations from education to animal care to facilities to events. The Volunteer Program Intern assists the Volunteer Manager with overall support and administration of the volunteer program.
Internship Experiences
- Plan and lead volunteer training sessions
- Serve as mentor for new volunteers
- Help manage volunteer schedule and communicate with volunteers on schedule updates
- Lead group volunteer events
- Assist docents with handling live animals
- Receive training in interpretation and environmental education
- Present Up Close to Animals – short, live animal programs at outdoor trailside amphitheater
- Receive first aid/CPR training and certification
- Opportunities to assist with special volunteer projects, such as evening bat counts
- Complete independent projects
- Assist with some raptor care tasks
- Assist with education outreach programs
- Perform administrative duties
Qualifications:
- College junior/senior status with an interest in the natural sciences, human resources, nonprofit management, or volunteer administration
- Experience as a volunteer, in volunteer administration, or human resources preferred
- Enthusiasm, motivation, and a desire to work with animals and people of all ages
- Available from late May to mid- to late-August. First three weeks are training in education/interpretation and animal handling with a Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule. The schedule the remainder of the summer will be Sunday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with some evenings for trainings and special events.
Benefits:
- Weekly stipend $375/week
- Onsite, shared housing in a rustic intern cottage
To Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Volunteer Manager Carol Raymond at . Cover letter should address your interest in applying for this position, your career goals, and how you anticipate this position will contribute to your professional development.
Volunteer
Volunteering at the Science Center presents opportunities to learn something new and meet interesting people while sharing your talents and skills.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a welcoming inclusive organization that is committed to ensuring that individuals of all backgrounds and abilities are welcome and respected. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender expression, marital status, age, sexual orientation, Vietnam Era/Disabled Veteran status, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Please contact our Human Resources and Finance Manager, Bonnie Baker, , with any employment related questions.