Outdoor Equity & Environmental Education Intern

JOB LOCATION

16002 E Smith Rd Aurora, Colorado 80011-3200

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The deadline for submitting applications is May 1, 2026. Please note that the City of Aurora will conduct ongoing application screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. As soon as we determine that we have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.   

The hiring rate for this role is $17.50/hour.

This is a temporary internship position expected to start May 25, 2026, and end August 9, 2026, and is classified as a Variable Hour Non-Benefit Eligible (VHNE) position. This position does not receive medical benefits and is expected to work 15 hours per week, Tuesday- Friday. This position is eligible for academic credit(s) and will work with the candidate to complete necessary paperwork.

Position overview

The Generation Wild Outdoor Equity and Environmental Intern supports the Generation Wild program by assisting with the planning and delivery of inclusive, community-centered outdoor and environmental education programs. This role helps expand access to nature for underserved youth and families while gaining hands-on experience in outdoor equity, natural resources, and public engagement. The intern contributes to fostering meaningful connections between youth and the outdoors, supporting the development of lifelong environmental stewards.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with the planning and facilitation of outdoor education and recreation programs for youth and families
• Support programming that helps remove barriers and increases equitable access to outdoor spaces
• Create inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive outdoor learning environments
• Assist with preparation and cleanup of program materials and activity areas
• Maintain accurate program numbers and assist with required documentation like waivers
• Develop unique and creative programming opportunities for diverse communities
• Supervise participants with safety as the first priority and ensure each participant is always accounted for
• Engage students in hands-on environmental learning activities
• Support communication with participants, community partners, and naturalist team as directed
• Attend staff training and meetings
• Maintain awareness of participant medical needs and communicate concerns to supervising staff
• Assist with accommodations to ensure all participants can fully engage in programming
• Perform other related duties as assigned

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education:

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Must be currently enrolled in college-level coursework at an accredited college or university

Experience:

• Previous work experience is not required for this role

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in youth education, natural resources, or conservation is preferred
• Spanish language proficiency preferred

Knowledge:

• Basic understanding of environmental stewardship, ecology, or conservation principles
• General awareness of safety practices in group or outdoor settings
• Familiarity with the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness in community programming
• Basic understanding of environmental stewardship and respect for natural spaces

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Organizational skills and attention to detail
• Basic computer proficiency (word processing, spreadsheets, and data entry)
• Ability to follow directions and complete assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Basic problem-solving skills and willingness to ask questions when guidance is needed
• Attention to detail when assisting with documentation and program materials

Abilities:

• Ability to create a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to engage respectfully with youth and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and support problem-solving with guidance from supervising staff
• Ability to follow established procedures related to safety, documentation, and participant care

Licenses and Certifications:

• First Aid and CPR certification (Generation Wild will cover this training if not already obtained by candidate)

WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential Personnel:

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the City, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands:

• Moderate physical work with the ability to lift up to 40 pounds at a time with or without assistance
• Considerable walking and standing on uneven terrain

• Occasional bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and performance of activities requiring full range of motion
• Ability to review and interpret reports and other written documents with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to communicate with employees, contractors, and residents in field environments, with or without reasonable accommodation

Work Environment:

• Works in various locations including indoor and outdoor settings, assisting with programming or outreach events in varying weather conditions
• Frequent work outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Occasionally works in indoor settings, like the nature centers, can have varying working conditions such as environments that are loud, fast paced, and require interaction with the public

Equipment Used:

• Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel
• Audio/visual equipment and presentation materials

This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference:  Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
           
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer.  We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants.  It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
                                         
Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace.  A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.
 

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. 

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.  

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.