INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Irvine offers internships for both high school and college-age students looking to gain experience, earn credit hours, and contribute to a mission-based organization focused on education and the environment. Gain hands-on experience in the day to day operations of the largest independent environmental nonprofit in the region. All internships are unpaid, and eligible for academic credit if approved by your educational institution.
Now accepting interns for Fall 2026. Applications are due July 31st, 2026. Click here to apply.
September – December 2026
Description:
- Get first- hand experience caring for and improving the lives of Irvine Nature Center’s ambassador animals. This position involves working with reptiles, amphibians, fish, mammals, raptors, and invertebrates. Schedule: Flexible hours between 10am – 4pm on Monday, Thursday, and/or Sunday
Responsibilities:
- Feed animals, clean enclosures, and assess animal’s wellbeing daily
- Check exhibits and maintain lighting, heat lamps, and aquarium filters
- Assist staff with live animal handling and occasional medical care
- Keep exhibit hall clean and presentable to visitors
- Occasionally interact with visitors to answer questions and /or show an animal up close
Qualifications:
- At least 18 years old
- Strong desire to care for and improve the lives of Irvine’s ambassador animals
- Willing to get dirty and not afraid to handle many species of animals
- Work well with others as well as independently
- Take initiative once trained
- Maintain a friendly, professional manner
- Sustain a reliable schedule and be punctual
September – December 2026
Description:
- Assist with hands-on, outdoor environmental education programs for school-aged children at local elementary schools. All programs take place within 25 miles of Irvine Nature Center. Schedule: At least two days a week, Monday through Thursday, 2:00-6:00PM.
Responsibilities:
- Help plan and implement enrichment activities and recreational activities
- Assist with classroom management and lesson implementation
- Help prepare materials for each lesson
Desired Qualifications:
- Strong interest in natural sciences, environmental and scientific education, outdoor recreation, or related fields
- Work experience with children
- Enthusiasm for and curiosity about the natural world
- Experience or strong interest in working with school-aged children
- Excellent communication skills
- Positive attitude and professional demeanor
- Reliable transportation
- Ability to pass a background check (if over 18)
September -December 2026
Description:
- Assist with hands-on, outdoor environmental education programs for school-aged children. Under the direction of program instructors, the intern will fulfill a variety of duties. Schedule: At least two days a week, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-2:00pm.
Responsibilities:
- Set up materials for programs
- Assist with the care and coordination of school groups
- Clean up after programs
- Organize educational materials
Desired Qualifications:
- At least 16 years old
- Strong interest in the environment and Natural History, Environmental/ Science Education, Outdoor Recreation, or related fields
- Strong organizational skills and punctuality
- Work experience with children preferred
- Excellent communication skills
- Familiarity with or enthusiasm to learn a variety of environmental education activities
- Reliable transportation
September – December 2026
Description:
- Serve as teaching aides to help facilitate nature-based play and investigation in an environment that values hands-on learning, risky play, and getting muddy
Shifts for 2026 Fall Semester include: - 8:30am- 2:30pm or 2:00pm-5:00pm (MWF)
- 8:30am-2:30pm or 2:00pm-5:00pm (T/Th)
Year-long placement preferred, Semester placement accepted.
Responsibilities:
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Assiting children with self-help skills
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Facilitating social interaction and cooperation
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Engaging in play with children
- Recording anecdotal records
- Reading to children
- Assisting with outdoor exploration
- Helping with set-up and clean-up
- Collaborate with ECE staff and Director in completing related projects
- Must be physically capable of hiking up to two miles per day
Desired Qualifications:
- At least 16 years old
- Experience and/or strong desire to work with children ages 3-5
- Trust in children’s abilities and willingness to step back and let them take the lead
- Enthusiasm and curiosity about the natural world
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Strong communication skills
- Positive attitude and professional demeanor
- Physically capable of hiking up to 2 miles a day in all forms of weather
- Your own transportation
- Complete and pass fingerprinting, background check, and physical per MSDE requirements
- Current First Aid and CPR helpful but not required.
September – December 2026
Description:
- Assist with the preparation, delivery, and clean up of nature connection classes for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers. You will work alongside the Head of Caregiver & Child Programs. Schedule: At least two days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm.
Responsibilities:
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Preparation for class supplies & materials
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Cleaning class materials, used toys, muddy buckets, etc. and tidying class space
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Encouraging curiosity and respect for nature, tuning into children’s interests and needs
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Help teachers with lesson planning if desired
Desired Qualifications:
- Comfortable interacting with infants and toddlers
- Comfortable interacting with kind adult caregivers
- Interest in Early Childhood Education, play-based learning, and/or nature-based education
- Able to be outside, get up and down from the ground, and lift / carry up to 20 pounds
- Organizational skills
- Some environmental knowledge of Maryland Piedmont area is a bonus
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
Irvine Nature Center is a non-profit educational organization that offers hundreds of programs of environmental studies and natural science to children and adults of the greater Baltimore area. As the largest independent non-profit nature center in the region and a leader in environmental education our mission is to educate and inspire current and future generations to explore, respect and protect nature. Located on 211-acres in Owings Mills, Maryland, Irvine is the home to over 50 animal ambassadors and serves families in The Nature Preschool, Earth Friends Outdoors Homeschool, and hundreds of school groups with fieldtrips and in-school events. In addition to its educational programming, Irvine has an interactive exhibit hall and hiking trails and is available for special event rentals.
Irvine is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by federal state or local laws. 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.
