Temporary BCOE Planting Seeds Intern - Office of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness at Middletown Public Schools

Wesleyan Assurance Society•Middletown, CT

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Bailey College of the Environment is seeking interns to serve in food justice organizations across the state through our Planting Seeds program. The intern is managed by their on-site supervisor, as well as a BCOE designated supervisor. The internship is part of a broader project building a network of food justice and environmental justice groups in CT and supporting student engagement. Interns will work on-site four days a week. One day a week, they will engage in a food justice curriculum with the BCOE Project Coordinator (Malana Rogers-Bursen) and the Professor of the Practice (Christine Caruso). Transportation and lunch provided for this course. The Office of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness Services at Middletown Public Schools is seeking a motivated and responsible high school student intern to assist with projects that support school nutrition, sustainability, and student wellness initiatives. This internship provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in school gardens, healthy meal planning, and environmental sustainability while making a meaningful impact in the school community. The intern will work closely with the Director and department staff on a variety of engaging projects.

Requirements

High school student in good academic standing.
Interest in nutrition, sustainability, gardening, or student wellness.
Strong communication and teamwork skills.
Responsible, dependable, and eager to learn.
Creative and willing to contribute ideas to school programs.

Responsibilities

Assist with planting, watering, and maintaining school gardens.
Help create fun and engaging garden-based learning activities for younger students.
Promote the school garden initiative through posters, social media, and school announcements.
Work with teachers and staff to make gardening an interactive learning experience.
Participate in taste-testing and provide feedback on new school meal recipes.
Help develop ideas for school meals that reflect diverse cultural backgrounds.
Assist in simple meal prep activities under supervision.
Learn about how school meals are planned, prepared, and served.
Assist in creating fun and educational materials to teach students about reusable cafeteria trays and utensils.
Help monitor the transition to reusable servingware in the cafeteria.
Encourage fellow students to properly use and return reusable trays and utensils.
Provide feedback on how to make the program more engaging for students.
Help research and prepare simple presentations on how nutrition and sustainability connect.
Support hands-on activities related to healthy eating and environmental stewardship.
Assist in setting up and running school-wide events or activities focused on food and wellness.
Work with school staff to find creative ways to engage students in learning about healthy habits.