2021 Delaware River Watershed Fellowship at Camden Children’s Garden
Start date: June 7-16, 2021 End date: August 20-27, 2021
The Delaware River Watershed Fellowship is a 12 week, paid summer job opportunity designed to introduce young people from local communities to careers in environmental education. Fellows are hired at one of 23 environmental education centers across the Delaware River Watershed. Fellows participate in training sessions to help prepare them for a summer of helping people connect with nature and informing their local communities about issues affecting the Delaware River, the source of drinking water for 13 million people living in the region.
Camden Children’s Garden, a member of the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE), is seeking to hire a Fellow from the City of Camden to help connect with local community members around protecting the Delaware River and its waterways.
Position Location: Camden Children’s Garden, 3 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103. Our Fellow will spend much of their time at the Camden Children’s Garden and with community groups within the City of Camden.
Compensation: Fellows are paid $15/hr, 35-40 hours a week over the summer.
Duties:
- Fellows will participate in a 3 day watershed education training, at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (overnight, June 16-18.) http://www.peec.org/ (Depending on COVID limitations some or all of this training may take place virtually.)
- Fellows will help their host Center lead programs and activities, whether in-person or virtually, for community members and visitors to their site.
- Fellows will attend virtual webinars as well as in-person meetings with Fellows from other AWE Centers.
- Fellows will be paired with mentors from AWE Centers as well as past Fellowship alumni. Fellows will check in with their mentors twice a month.
- With guidance from their supervisor and mentors, Fellows will focus their efforts on a specific Capstone Project and present their work at the end-of-program Summit event (August 20).
- Fellows will document their progress by completing a short log report every week.
The Camden Children’s Garden Fellow will specifically:
- Engage local communities in Camden Children’s Garden and Delaware watershed through stewardship, education, recreation and civic engagement and encouraging them to participate in programs at the Camden Children’s Garden.
- Engage visitors attending the Camden Children’s Garden in lessons and activities related to increasing their knowledge of Watershed related issues.
- It will be expected that the fellow promote watershed related activities through social media posts such as Facebook, and through our Website.
- With guidance from their supervisor, complete a Capstone Project and present their work at the end of program Summit in August. This individual project should align with program goals, deepen the connection and engagement of trail and water users and expand watershed protection and restoration.
- Their scheduled days will reflect the days when they can make the largest impact on the visitor experience. The successful applicant should also feel comfortable communicating with a wide age group from young children through adults.
- Occasional evening and frequent weekend hours will be expected
- Other assignments may be designated by their Supervisors.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Age 18+ by June 7, 2021 start date.
- A background in environmental education is not required.
- Interest in environment issues and a willingness to communicate with the Garden’s visitors.
- Fellows will be working in Spanish speaking communities, our Center is seeking to hire a candidate fluent in Spanish.
Essential dates:
– June 7-16, 2021: Fellow start date at Camden Children’s Garden (Fellows may arrange with their Supervisor to begin any time within the first week of the program.)
– June 16-18: Required Watershed Stewardship Training (overnight) at Pocono Environmental Education Center. (Meals, transportation and accommodations provided.)
– August 20: Watershed Fellowship Summit (location to be announced).
– August 27: Last day of Fellowship (Fellows may finish their term of service any time after the August 20 Summit as needed.)
How to apply:
Email a resume and your stated interest in applying by emailing jclarke@camdenchildrensgarden.org
Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
More about The Camden Children’s Garden
The Camden Children’s Garden is operated by the Camden City Garden Club. Our Mission inspires and educates people of all ages by providing opportunities to improve their quality of life, health and community through horticulture.
The Camden Children’s Garden is designed for children and families. It is a special place to explore and discover the natural world. The four-acre garden provides experiences for creative and imaginative play.
More about the Alliance for Watershed Education
Organized in 2016, the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River is a regional initiative of twenty-three partnering environmental education centers, funded and supported by the William Penn Foundation. Each of these centers is located along the Circuit Trail or a major connecting trail, and on waterways throughout the Delaware River Watershed in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
This position is made possible through the support of the William Penn Foundation.