FAO Schwarz Fellow
The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.
North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.
Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
FAO Schwarz Fellows work at high-impact nonprofit organizations in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. These organizations are all deeply valued in their communities and have a strong record of delivering consistent results and high-quality services. Host organizations vary from year to year — and all have a proven commitment to addressing critical issues of social inequity.
Fellows deepen their knowledge and understanding of relevant social issues, work directly with host communities, and lead strategic projects that strengthen the host organization’s capacity and impact.
The FAO Schwarz Fellow will deliver science curriculum to 1st-5th grade students through in-class lessons at partner schools. The Fellow will also be responsible for implementing a strategy for Audubon Mid-Atlantic to build and strengthen our North Philadelphia audience and create deeper community connections.
For more information or to apply directly to the role please visit this link.
Compensation:
- $42,000 year one
- $48,000 year two
- Elementary School Students. The Fellow, during year 1, will provide delivery of in-school conservation education lessons to all students and grades (1st – 5th) at the Community Partnership School, JB Kelly School, and Dr. Ethel Allen School (each class is visited four times during the academic year). In year two, that engagement increases to include the St. James school and their classes. Introducing the St. James 4th grade class to Audubon lessons and gaining a base knowledge before they interact with Bria Wimberly the following year for an in-depth 5th grade community science study on freshwater mussels.
- High School Clubs. The fellow will teach specific lessons centered around Environmental Education on-site at The Discovery Center for our Environmental Leaders internship program. This will be during school visits and after-school programs that will reach 50 students in grades 9 – 11 at the nearby partner schools of Belmont Charter, Vaux Big Picture High School, and Strawberry Mansion High School. These interns go through an intense 22-week long internship where they learn environmental educational aspects from all education staff at The Center. These lessons from the Fellow will focus on career pathways and development, and environmental stewardship (how and why we take care of the environment.) This commitment remains the same in Year 2.
- Public Programs. Working alongside Audubon staff, the Fellow will staff certain public programs aimed at building Audubon into the Communities of North Philadelphia. These will mostly be our
Project Work
The Fellow will help implement a strategy for Audubon to build and strengthen our North Philadelphia audience, create deeper community connections, and orient our direct community to act on behalf of birds, conservation, and policy. The Fellow will use the school connections made to ensure school community input is considered for public programming by:
- Managing school connections and contacts through frequent communication with school administrators and teachers to ensure that curriculum standards are being met for all lessons, that students and staff are engaged, logistics are efficient and effective, and school communities feel connected and empowered by Audubon to act on behalf of the natural world.
- Working with Audubon staff to plan and execute opportunities for volunteers and supporters to participate in our local conservation and advocacy work plan. This will come from input gathered periodically at our schools to ensure families of students are also involved and reached by Audubon.
- Applicants must be college seniors at accredited four-year institutions at the time of application and be eligible to work in the United States for the duration of the Fellowship.
- Applicants must demonstrate leadership in their college communities and have a proven record of academic excellence.