2027 Outdoor Experience Internship

Art and Wellness Enterprises•Bentonville, AR

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outdoor Experience Intern supports Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s Trails and Grounds team in delivering nature-based educational programs and caring for outdoor learning environments. The role combines environmental education, guest engagement, program logistics, volunteer support, horticultural work, and nature-based interpretation. The intern gains hands-on experience in landscape stewardship, program development, evaluation, and cross-departmental collaboration, working in both indoor and outdoor settings. The internship is based on-site in Bentonville, Arkansas. The anticipated internship period is January 25, 2027, through November 15, 2027. Normal working hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday; occasional adjustments, early mornings, evenings, or weekends may be needed to support programs, events, or weather-dependent work. Undergraduate students are paid $13.00 per hour.

Requirements

Be a current undergraduate student with an interest in environmental education, horticulture, outdoor recreation, interpretation, museum education, or a related field.
Have strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Be comfortable engaging with diverse audiences, including children, families, adults, volunteers, and museum guests.
Be organized, dependable, adaptable, and eager to learn in a collaborative environment.
Be able to work independently on assigned tasks and contribute effectively as part of a team.
Be able and willing to work outdoors in varying weather and terrain conditions.
Have basic proficiency with computers and common workplace applications, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation tools.
Meet the physical demands of the role, including working on uneven terrain and lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or moving objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
Complete a confidentiality agreement and background check where permitted by state law, and provide proper identification verifying eligibility to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience with gardening, landscaping, environmental education, interpretation, public programs, or volunteer coordination.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning and delivering outdoor educational programs for youth, families, adults, and other diverse audiences.
Support guided nature walks and outdoor activities, including preparation, setup, participant engagement, and cleanup.
Help develop curriculum materials, interpretive content, and educational resources aligned with environmental learning goals.
Assist with workshops, classes, and special events connecting art, nature, wellness, and stewardship.
Create or support nature-based writing and interpretation for programs, signs, digital communications, and other educational materials.
Promote conservation practices, habitat care, and sustainable gardening through educational content and guest interactions.
Coordinate and support landscape and grounds volunteers, including scheduling, orientation, training, communication, and task supervision.
Participate in horticultural and grounds tasks, including planting, weeding, watering, mulching, pruning support, and habitat maintenance.
Collaborate with Trails and Grounds, Learning and Engagement, Guest Services, Facilities, and other departments to support integrated outdoor experiences.
Engage museum guests in ways that foster curiosity, belonging, and appreciation for the natural world.
Assist with program logistics, including materials preparation, participant communication, attendance tracking, and equipment organization.
Collect and summarize participant feedback and other program information to support evaluation and continuous improvement.
Follow and support safety, risk-management, and weather-related procedures for outdoor activities.
Help maintain educational tools, program materials, natural learning spaces, and shared work areas.
Perform other related duties as assigned.