Sustainability Experience Center Intern

The Pennsylvania State University • University Park, FL

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The Sustainability Experience Center (SEC) is a nine-acre property on the eastern edge of Penn State’s University Park campus that serves as a living laboratory for students, faculty, and the community. Its learning spaces and features include the MorningStar solar home, the Eco-Machine ecological wastewater system, a community garden, experimental forests, and ongoing research projects, offering opportunities to explore food, energy, water, land, and community systems.

The intern supports educational tours and visitor engagement and helps steward the SEC’s pollinator garden and vegetable plots, maintaining a welcoming and functional space for visitors. The position ideally begins in March 2027 and continues through the end of June 2027. Students participate in Penn State Outreach’s experiential learning framework, including brief pre- and post-assessments and self-reflections aligned with NACE Career Readiness Competencies, and complete UpSkill Penn State, a free, non-credit, eight-week Canvas mini-course.

Requirements

• Interest in sustainability, environmental education, gardening, and ecological stewardship.
• Comfort with public speaking and engaging diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in outdoor settings.
• Basic proficiency in Excel or similar data-tracking tools.
• Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather, including extreme heat and cold, may be required.

Responsibilities

• Lead engaging, educational tours for visitors and support public programming, including workshops, volunteer events, and other visitor experiences.
• Support general site operations, including basic data tracking, garden and plant documentation, and preparation for programming and tours.
• Maintain the pollinator garden and vegetable plots through planting, weeding, harvesting, and general upkeep.
• Participate in Penn State Outreach’s experiential learning framework, including assessments, self-reflections, and the UpSkill Penn State mini-course.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed