• Job Description

  Req#: R05314
  This job posting expires at 11:59PM on March 06, 2026. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on March 06, 2026.

  Job Title: Environmental Education Intern

  Department: Agriculture and Land Resources

  External Hiring Range: $15.00 -

  Buncombe County offers in-office, hybrid, and remote positions. Employees in positions that are approved for remote work must work at a location within a 2-hour drive from the position's assigned Buncombe County facility.

  Buncombe County Soil & Water (BCSW) is hiring a paid summer intern. The intern will be working with staff environmental educators on youth and community programming. The pay rate for this internship is $15/hour. Firm start date of June 1st with an End date of J uly 29 th which can be flexible.

  Required Work Schedule:

  Work hours are expected to occur between 8am and 5pm weekdays and at least 2 Saturdays. They will vary between10-35 hours a week based on programming. The total number of hours may differ, depending on the selected candidate(s) academic program requirements but will likely be 150-200 hours. This internship is a temporary part-time position. Specific workdays and hours will be set with the site supervisor and the student’s academic advisor. This position has limited flexible work availability for applicants residing within a 1-hour drive of the Agriculture and Land Resources Building located at 49 Mount Carmel Rd, Asheville, NC.
  

  Education and/or experience and training required and/or preferred:

  The selected candidate(s) should be enrolled in good standing in a Bachelor’s or Master’s-level degree program in education, parks and recreation management, natural resource conservation, or similar.
  

  List of Essential Job Functions:

  • Assist with setup, activity facilitation, and participant supervision during Camp RIO youth summer day camps for elementary students including students in the Migrant Education Program and foster system.

  • Assist with daily care of animal ambassadors – Southern toad, corn snake, and isopod colony.

  • Other environmental education based on scheduling including library programming, festivals, and external camp partnerships.

  • Maintain collaborative working relationships with students, parents, the community, and our staff.

  • May assist in researching grant funding options for grants and prepare report(s) on various options.

  • Opportunity to shadow work of other Soil and Water Staff; opportunity to attend and present at BCSW board meetings.

  • Opportunity to pursue personal project based on interest and academic program requirements including but not limited to: creation and delivery of EE activity, development of educational resources, etc.

  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
    

  Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Comfortable working and communicating with children.

  • Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.

  • Ability to exercise judgement and discretion in applying and interpreting policies and procedures.

  • Ability to work up to 8 hours outdoors in summer weather, hike at a slow/moderate pace for 2 miles, lift 35 lbs.

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

  Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Knowledge of Common Core & NC Essential Standards with experience in science, environmental education.

  • Spanish language proficiency

  • First Aid/Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified

  • Lifeguard certificate

  Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

  It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.

• About the company

  Nestled in between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains lies a serene treasure that is Buncombe County. We have been here for more than 200 years and are named after Col. Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary War hero.

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