Education Intern Fall 2026

Description

Gowanus Canal Conservancy works to build an equitable, thriving and resilient urban ecosystem in Gowanus — its waterway, urban forest, parks and open space — through education, stewardship, and advocacy that empower our community.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy is seeking three (3) interns to assist with Community Science Water Quality and Urban Ecology field trips for K-12 students. Each intern will have opportunities to lead small groups of students in hands-on education activities relating to water quality or urban ecology in and around the Gowanus Canal, help with set-up and clean-up for outdoor field trips, and work toward leading large group activities and facilitating trips on their own. During field trips, participating K-12 students investigate the many aspects of water quality or ecology in a 90 minute field trip, with an understanding of the issues the Canal faces and how that affects the topics we investigate and learn about. Field trips are welcoming to students of all abilities, languages, and learning levels.

Intern Role

Receive training in programmatic topics, Gowanus history, Canal ecology, water quality, and teaching best practices
Work with the GCC education team (Education Coordinator & Senior Manager) as a teaching assistant (informal teaching and hands-on activities)
Participate in team planning, training, program delivery, and reflection
Setup/Breakdown of trips, facilitation of trip activities, and maintenance of materials.

Experience / Qualifications

Background or demonstrated interest in environmental science, informal STEM education, or related field
Some experience teaching students in informal, outdoor settings/working with kids preferred but not required (desire & enthusiasm to learn is more important)
Enjoy working outside and with kids, sometimes in variable weather conditions (may include cold, heat, rain, wind)
Must be reliable, committed, responsible, and a clear and consistent communicator
Multilingual is a plus but not required

Physical Requirements

Work is performed in the field. Intern will potentially experience weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, and snow
Requires moderate physical exertion - lifting, pushing, and carrying, etc.
Requires communicating information orally and in writing
Ability to enter and work at the Lowlands Nursery, an unpaved site with uneven terrain (mulch, gravel)
Ability to be on your feet for long periods

Compensation

This is a seasonal, part-time position paying $20 per hour for an average of 6 to 12 hours of work per week. This position starts September 14 and ends November 14, 2026.

Schedule
Wednesday, September 16, Thursday, September 17, Monday, September 21, and and potentially one additional day on Thursday, September 25 between 9:30am - 3:00pm (paid training, hours will vary by date)

September 22 - November 13, 2026. 6-15* hours/week, must be available Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

This internship will total between 90-108 hours.

*We do not host field trips on days NYC public schools are closed.

Due to the outdoor nature of our field trips, we do not host field trips December through March. Interns in good standing are welcome to return & teach with us in the Spring, April through mid June.

Location
GCC Lowlands Nursery, 25 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

To Apply
Complete the application questions and submit your resume on this application page. Apply by August 21, 2026. Applications may remain open after the deadline as we may accept additional applicants as needed.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds to apply.

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Are you 18 years of age or older?

What languages do you speak?

Why do you want to intern for Gowanus Canal Conservancy, and what interests you specifically about the field trips we offer (water quality testing and urban ecology topics)?

Do you have any type of experience working with K-12 students or children? If so, at what capacity?

Would you feel comfortable leading outdoor activities with small groups of 10-12 students (grades K-12), assuming you’ve had the appropriate training?

What would you hope to gain from this experience? What are you most interested in learning more about or growing skills in?

Are you able to commit to Monday through Friday between 9am – 12:30pm, during Fall 2026? (Please refer to the dates outlined in the role description under the "Schedule" heading) *

If you are not able to commit to all dates, please list here when you are not available.

Are you able to attend the training dates: Sept. 16, Sept 17, Sept 21, and potentially an extra day on Sept 25 between 9:30am - 3:00pm (paid, hours will vary by date)

Is there a date you need to complete the internship role by? If yes, please tell us below.

Are you seeking any form of college credit, community service, or other hours? If there are specific criteria you need to meet, please let us know.

We have one date, October 15, where there is a call for working a field trip till 2:30pm, would you be available for that?