Our internship model is designed to accommodate the rich and diverse skills and experiences that each staff member brings, making ones experience at Green Meadows unique to each individual.  The goal is for each intern-naturalist to gain expertise and perspective through their own practice, reflection, and observation, while also being mentored by our permanent naturalists and principal.  New staff arrives in late August to get acquainted with the program, logistics, and area, and also to begin learning our teaching style and philosophy through observation and training.  By October they are generally teaching their own groups of 12-16 students.

Some typical fall classes are Geology (we have our own lava formations!), Giant Sequoia Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, Stream Ecology, Miwok Material Culture, Forest Ecology, Team Building, and Astronomy.  After observing naturalists, gaining experience in teaching the curriculum, and demonstrating aptitude, our interns begin to inservice district teachers, training them to teach our classes on the trail.  As snow arrives we introduce new curriculum as well as the ever-popular snow plow operating inservice!  By February, intern naturalists begin to observe the functions of the "cabin leader coordinator” naturalist, eventually taking on this challenging and rewarding role during the last quarter of the year.

This key position is responsible for the leadership training and evaluation of high school cabin leaders and assumes lead program responsibilities in the evening hours and when the principal is off site.  By June, after a year of mentoring and focused professional development in our always evolving program, you'll be ready for graduation!  Interns have also taken initiative to completed amazing projects such as solar water systems, interpretive displays, and developing weather curriculum that contribute to the long-term goals of the program and directly affect the student's experience.