Butterfly House Education Intern
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is looking for a part-time Intern interested in the field of Science and Conservation Education for spring 2025. The Science and Conservation Education Intern will assist with our formal education programs for students, conservation-focused programming for adults, and family events. They will also work with volunteers and staff to enhance the daily visitor experience through interpretation of our exhibits.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
- Enhances the guest experience through interpretation of Butterfly House exhibits.
- Utilizes live arthropods, pinned insect specimens, insect artifacts such as nests, interactive activities, and more to connect guests with the world of arthropods.
- Assists with structured presentations to students and informal learning opportunities using live arthropods.
- Helps with outreach programs for schools, camps and other groups throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area.
- Promotes our Project Pollinator program by providing information on designing native habitats for pollinators and educating visitors about pollinators and how we can support them in our landscapes.
- Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Missouri Botanical Garden Employee Handbook, Butterfly House Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
The role responsibilities listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
ABOUT YOU:
- Currently pursuing a major in education, entomology or the biological sciences
- Passionate about insects and their relatives, conservation, and working with the public
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Prior experience in delivering education programs, whether formal or informal, is a plus
- Must be willing to speak in front of groups of all ages
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong attention to detail
- Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies
- Lives in the Greater St. Louis, MO area
This role may require availability on weekends, holidays or evenings to support the Butterfly House's programming needs.
OUR BENEFITS:
- Unpaid internship; candidates have the capability of earning course credit
- Opportunities for cross-training to learn arthropod husbandry, horticulture, or exhibit design
- Part-time role of appx. 15-20 hours per week
- Flexible workplace environment (candidate can work remotely or at our Chesterfield, MO location)
- Complimentary admission into the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Missouri Botanical Garden, and Shaw Nature Reserve (with valid Intern ID)
- Discounts in gift shops and the Garden’s Sassafras Café
ABOUT US:
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The Butterfly House supports the Garden’s overall mission to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment by fostering a greater understanding of plant and animal relationships to promote the conservation and restoration of natural habitats.
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is home to over 60 tropical butterfly species and over 150 tropical plants, in our enclosed 8,000 square foot Tropical Conservatory. This breath-taking garden habitat, combined with the beauty of the butterflies, is the heart of the Butterfly House. The entire facility, which also includes an insect zoo, classrooms, theater space, and a seasonal Native Butterfly Garden, is open year-round.