The mission of Schoolhouse of Wonder is to stimulate learning by providing opportunities for direct experience with nature for the people of the North Carolina Piedmont, so they can develop a lifelong appreciation of, and respect for, the region’s history and the environment.
We hope to help develop in students and ourselves:
- A greater understanding of and respect for the natural environment
- An appreciation and respect for each other through working and playing together
- A greater confidence in themselves and their ability (and ourselves and our abilities)
- The informational background needed to assist us all in making educated and informed choices on environmental and other issues
In all our doings we believe behaving with respect for ourselves, each other, and all of Nature to be essential.
What We Offer
We offer interns an opportunity to gain skills and experiences in a small, supportive working community.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Work within a team of teachers who are committed to making a difference in children’s lives and in each other’s lives every day.
- Develop unique knowledge in natural and cultural history.
- Gain remarkable experience in your area of interest. Areas include teaching, camp leadership, and program development.
- Hold influence in the decision-making that takes place in a small organization built on equality. Your thoughts and ideas will be valued.
- Work hard and have fun!
What We Expect
Through the Internship program you have the power to make a difference! Making a difference takes commitment and caring.
In all internships, we ask for:
- Willingness to enter into a close-knit staff community dedicated to clear and thoughtful communication, which includes maintaining a positive, helpful attitude.
- A time commitment appropriate to your type of internship (see below).
- Submission of an application letter describing the purpose and expectations of your internship.
The Internships
There are several kinds of internships to choose from:
Teaching Internships
As a teaching intern, you have the opportunity to explore the art of developing young people’s connections to nature. Teaching interns come to our week long training that occurs each year in February and August. After the training, these interns join us at least one day a week for three months to participate in the presentation of our Nature School classes. Each intern is matched with a mentor on our staff who will meet with them regularly to share thoughts and ideas about teaching and learning. In addition to training and teaching, we also ask teaching interns to complete a long-term project designed to improve our programs.
Mentoring Internships
We offer mentoring internships for people interested in exploring ways to create a culture of learning focused on nature awareness and community building. Areas of study will include: deepening long term relationships with students, developing and teaching earth skills, and learning individual and group mentoring tips and techniques. Creating a warm and well-developed teaching community takes commitment! Mentoring interns make a commitment to join us every Monday for a complete season to be a part of our Outdoor School program
Project Internships
As a part of our team working behind the scenes at Schoolhouse, you will gain experience in the varying tasks of making our organization a success. Your tasks will vary depending on your interests and our needs. Central to the Project Internship is the opportunity to design and complete a project for use in our programs. This project will allow you to explore a specific skill with guidance from our staff. Skills may include organic gardening, primitive technology, program development, and more. Past projects include: developing a new nature school class, creating activities packets for elementary school teachers, and designing a nature trail. We ask Project Interns to work with us at least 50 hours over the course of a season. To apply, please send an internship application letter to us at any time.
Camp Internships
Camp internships offer an opportunity to be a leader in a community of children and adults that come together to celebrate the natural world. The internships can be one full week long or longer. Interns join us as assistant counselors in our summer camps. They have the opportunity to be a part of the creation of Schoolhouse’s unique camp culture. They help design and facilitate the activities that we do each day in our week long children’s camps or our young adult adventures. To apply, please send in an internship application letter by the first week of March.
If these internship options don’t suit your schedule, please join us as a volunteer!