Adirondack Land Trust
Adirondack Land Trust
Internship for the Future of the Adirondacks
2026 Project: Environmental Education
Project Description:
This year’s intern will help us align our conservation work with community interests and grow and diversify our audience. In addition to developing a wide range of educational materials and representing us at events throughout the summer, the intern will help identify opportunities to partner with organizations already working in the educational space, as well as reach more audiences through education. This internship is primarily focused on researching and developing a collection of educational materials for staff use, rather than teaching classes or workshops.
Responsibilities:
· Research the range and scope of nonprofit environmental education programs across the Adirondacks
· Survey local educators in schools, camps, and other organizations to understand needs and interest in partnerships
· Develop lesson plans and curricula for use in classrooms, libraries, and camps
· Develop interactive display materials for tabling events with hands-on activities
· Develop tabling kits for staffed and un-staffed sponsorship events
· Update materials for our birding backpack program with libraries
· Represent Adirondack Land Trust at events throughout the park by staffing a table, often with another staff member
· If desired (not required), the intern may offer one field workshop based on their area of expertise
Additional project:
Our intern will learn about each facet of our organization, including stewardship, land protection, communications, philanthropy, event planning, and finance. They will serve on the events team and have the opportunity to meet with staff across departments to gain a full understanding of land trust work and explore conservation career paths.
General Learning Outcomes:
Over the course of the summer, the intern will:
· Gain a deep awareness of on-the-ground conservation work to support future environmental career or graduate school goals
· Gain practical experience translating conservation work into educational materials for a wide variety of audiences
· Understand the variety of professional roles within the field of conservation
· Gain insight into working with a board of directors and other advisors
· Learn how a nonprofit organization functions
Dates, Compensation, and Benefits:
· Pay: $16.75/hour, plus mileage reimbursement for job-related travel (if using a personal vehicle)
· Dates: Flexible start and end dates to match college summer break, 35 hours/week. Some weekend work is expected.
· Housing: Free shared apartment (two bedrooms, one bathroom) in Au Sable Forks, NY. Optional to live there; no reimbursement for alternate housing.
· Driver’s license: A NYS driver’s license is necessary to travel throughout the Adirondack Park.
· Other benefits:
What Our Intern Will Bring:
· Minimum of two years of college completed, or relevant alternative experience
· Proficiency in writing lesson plans and curricula for environmental topics
· Strong research and writing skills
· Comfortable being outdoors in all kinds of weather
· Ability to travel throughout the Adirondack Park
· Comfortable working and traveling alone
· Interest in offering interactive, nature-based activities
· Desire to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences
Helpful Personal Traits:
· Enjoy interacting with the public
· Enthusiastic, positive, well-organized, and flexible
· Motivated self-starter, able to work independently with minimal direction
· Strong time management skills
To Apply:
Send a resume and cover letter to Kathy Woughter at Kathy.woughter@adirondacklandtrust.org by February 1, 2026.
Organizational Statement:
We know that some candidates hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all qualifications. Our job descriptions are general overviews, not strict checklists. We value a diverse set of skills and candidates who are eager to grow and learn with us. If you’re passionate about our mission and believe you have what it takes to succeed in this role, we want to hear from you.
We strive for a collegial, innovative, and hard-working team culture. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all areas of our work and aim to ensure the Adirondack Park welcomes and benefits everyone. We also recognize the importance of work/life balance.
Adirondack Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, military status, or any other protected classification.
Accessibility Note:
While our current office can be entered by wheelchair, bathrooms do not meet ADA standards and the second floor is not accessible. We are seeking a new, fully accessible office space, though the timeline is uncertain. We welcome conversations about how we can support applicants throughout the process and ensure essential functions can be performed.
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