Environmental Educator
Teatown Lake Reservation Nature and Science Summer Camp
1600 Spring Valley Road #1 Ossining, NY 10562
"From the beginning of training week to the end of the last session (June 20th-August 19th), I became immersed in in the field of environmental education. My internship as a camp counselor was one of the most rewarding experiences in all my years working with children. I have gained experience in teaching children about environmental topics, biology, ecology, and I have learned a tremendous amount my supervisors and my co-workers. All those involved in the program not only have a tremendous amount of dedication and respect for nature, but also to children and passing along environmentalism to the next generation. For each of the two-week sessions, spanning eight weeks plus one week for training, I took my campers on hikes, introduced them to many different animals, encouraged good naturalist behavior, played games that were related to the environment, and taught about many things along the way."
Organization: Teatown Lake Reservation
Teatown is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental awareness, appreciation, and education. Their mission is to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship. Located in Ossining, NY in Westchester County, Teatown offers 15-miles of hiking trails as part of a 1,000-acre nature preserve with the streams, waterfalls, hardwood swamps, mixed forests and three lakes.
Website: http://www.teatown.org
Contact: Lisa Baugh (Camp Director) lbaugh@teatown.org
About the Internship:
Because this camp is very hands-on and intensive, counselors went through a rigorous training week and we received RTE First-Aid Training, CPR Certification, EPI-Pen Training, animal-handling training, abuse training, and training for activities/counselor bonding. A typical day at Teatown included, more or less, a nature/animal related craft/table activity, a hike, lunch, an animal showing/activity, environmental services, outdoor skills practicing and games. A couple days a week I would combine with another group to make a “super group” which gives us an opportunity to teach a larger group of kids while working together.