Environmental Education Fellow - DE River Watershed

The Delaware River Watershed Fellowship is a 12-week, paid summer job opportunity designed to introduce young people from local communities to careers in environmental education. Fellows are hired at one of 20 environmental education centers across the Delaware River Watershed. Fellows participate in training sessions to help prepare them for a summer of helping people connect with nature and informing their local communities about issues affecting the Delaware River, the source of drinking water for 15 million people living in the region.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, a member of the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) , is seeking to hire a Fellow from Northwest Philadelphia (encompassing the neighborhoods of Roxborough, Manayunk, Mt. Airy, Wissahickon, Chestnut Hill, and Germantown) to help connect with local community members around protecting the Delaware River and its waterways.

Position Location: The Schuylkill Center is located at 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128.

Compensation: Fellows are paid $16.50/hr, 40 hours a week over the summer.

Duties:

• Fellows will participate in a 3 day watershed education training, at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (overnight, June 10-12.) .
• Fellows will help their host Center lead programs and activities, whether in-person or virtually, for community members and visitors to their site.
• Fellows will attend in-person meetings with Fellows from other AWE Centers (second week in July there will be regional meetings with TBD locations, and one All-region meeting on July 31 at Berks Nature Center).
• With guidance from their supervisor, Fellows will focus their efforts on a specific Capstone Project and present their work at the end-of-program Summit event (August 14).
• Fellows will document their progress by completing a short log report every other week.

The Schuylkill Center Fellow will specifically:

• Create interactive trail signs along the Ravine Loop, a mile-long trail that follows a first-order stream through the Schuylkill Center’s forest. These signs will direct trail users to pre-recorded videos that educate about the Schuylkill River watershed and the history of Philadelphia’s streams. The purpose is to educate trail users about how human activities impact watershed health and by extension, the health of wildlife and people that live in the watershed.
• Research interactive trails and exhibits at museums and nature centers in the area to gather ideas and information about what makes an interactive exhibit engaging for visitors.
• Research the history of Philadelphia's first order streams.
• Write scripts, record video and audio footage, and edit content to create 1-2 minute videos for each stop on the trail.
• Design signs for each trail stop that will include a QR code that visitors will scan to access each video.
• Lead Saturday trail hikes for Schuylkill Center visitors.
• Engage Saturday visitors to the Schuylkill Center with hands-on educational activities about watersheds, native plants and wildlife.
• Lead (or assist with) education programs and public events at the Schuylkill Center.
• Lead (or assist with) education outreach programs in the community.
• Maintain a Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm schedule.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Age 18 by June 1, 2026 start date.
• A background in environmental education is not required.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs.
• Interest in and enjoyment of the outdoors is highly recommended.
• Able to spend multiple hours outdoors in all types of weather.
• Ability to hike 2 or more miles each day at a steady pace.
• Strong communication skills and confidence in speaking to groups of people.
• Saturday hours required.
• Obtain Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and criminal record check.

Essential dates:

• Monday June 1: Program start (Fellows may start as early as June 1 but must start by June 10 Orientation).
• June 10, 11, and 12 (Wed-Fri): Orientation. Attendance is required of Fellows for all three days.
• Monday July 6, 9:45am-3pm: Regional meeting, lunch provided (location TBD).
• Friday July 31, 9:00am-3pm: Creek snorkeling at Berks Nature Center, lunch provided.
• Friday August 14: End of Program Summit (if need be, Fellows may finish their term immediately after the Summit).
• Friday August 21: Official program end.

How to apply:
Complete an application at

Application Deadline : April 10, 2026.