Teaching

Foothill Horizons Outdoor School - Naturalist Intern

August 2024- May 2025

Sonora, California

In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Foothill Horizons is a bubble of safety, curiosity, personal growth and science education. As a naturalist intern, my job is to teach weekly groups of 20-35 6th graders outdoors and help foster a genuine connection to nature. Lessons taught include subjects in earth science, scientific practices, cave geology, Native Californian culture, traditions, and history, as well as an lesson on Giant Sequoias and fire ecology. Evening program duties consist of leading whole school groups of 100-180 students, managing large group activities, transition periods, and providing meal supervision. This job is extremely rewarding because I get to experience amazing things with my students, and many for the first time. Students experience climbing over giant boulders, putting your feet into a flowing creek, free explorations, laying in in the grass, petting a snake, and seeing a shooting star, among so many more special moments. My job includes being able to cater to and adjust my teaching methods to the needs of my students, have excellent time-management and student management skills, and be aware of safety at all times. As well, I follow lesson plans that use NGSS benchmarks and use the natural learning cycle to structure my teaching, meeting my students where they're at, and catering to their needs.