Description

The City of Austin, MN is seeking a highly motivated, energetic individual for a full year intern/teacher/naturalist position at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, a division of our park and recreation department. The ideal candidate would be able to start on January 1st, 2026.

The successful candidate will:

• Teach environmental, conservation, and outdoor education to all ages. The intern will work most often with children in grade levels preschool through 8th grade.
• Teach in a variety of learning environments rain or shine, including our Nature Center and surrounding property, our Sola Fide Observatory, and on offsite trips.
• Write and deliver the curriculum for two summer classes. The intern will also assist with writing and updating school and summer programming.
• Help care for and maintain the center’s gardens and landscape spaces.
• Handle, feed, and care for all critters, including the Nature Center’s bees and raptors. 
• Assist with the rescue and triage injured birds of prey. 
• Maintain the Center’s social media pages and website.
• Promote the nature center through different media outlets including podcasts, newspaper articles, and the nature center’s own newsletters.
• Participate in offsite classes like rock climbing and canoeing, as well as major events like the Dammen Family Fun Day, Halloween warm-up, and Merry & Bright Night.
• Work consistently with the public and welcome visitors to the center.

Requirements

The successful candidate must:

• Have a minimum of two years (preferred four years) college study in natural resources, biology, or environmental education. 
• Have good written and oral communication skills.
• Present themselves in a way that reflects positively on the Nature Center both during work hours and after hours in the Austin community.
• Be able to adapt to changes in time, subject matter, and weather while teaching school and public programming.
• Be able to manage multiple projects while maintaining daily tasks.
• Be able to work independently and as a team.
• Have good interpersonal skills.
• Be able and willing to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends. 
• Have valid driver’s license

Workweek is typically 40 hours per week and will include Saturdays or Sundays. The hourly wage is $15.50/hr. Intern is eligible for city health insurance benefits and will earn public employment retirement contribution (PERA). Intern is also eligible for Minnesota Sick & Safe Leave accrual of one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours for the year. Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of a background investigation.

Interested candidates should submit a completed application for employment form (found on our website), cover letter, résumé and three references to Director Luke Reese at info@hormelnaturecenter.org or to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, Box 673, Austin, MN 55912. Access the Hormel Nature Center website directly at www.hormelnaturecenter.org/employment. Application deadline is November 7th, 2025.