Delaware River Watershed Fellow at National Audubon Society – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Full time
Requisition ID: JR1076

About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary:

The Delaware River Watershed Fellowship is a 12-week, paid summer job opportunity designed to introduce early career professionals from local communities to careers in environmental education, created by the Alliance for Watershed Education. Fellows are hired at one of 20 environmental education centers across the Delaware River Watershed. They will 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. Audubon Mid-Atlantic, a member of the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE), is seeking to hire a Fellow from Strawberry Mansion, and other North Philadelphian neighborhoods, to help connect with local community members around protecting the Delaware River and its waterways.

More about Discovery Center:

The Discovery Center provides a public space for neighbors, Philadelphia Outward Bound School, and Audubon Mid-Atlantic to come together and co-create opportunities for Philadelphians to discover themselves in nature, practice leadership, and work toward a greener city for birds and people. The National Audubon Society and the Philadelphia Outward Bound School joined forces to save and sustain a vital part of our natural heritage in a unique partnership. Their missions converge in the East Park section of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park - just blocks from the neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion - where a century-old, abandoned reservoir has become a unique wildlife sanctuary and an important stopover location for over 100 species of birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.

Length of Position: June 2, 2026 to August 22, 2026

Hours: 34 hrs per week

Workdays: Tuesday through Saturday

This position is classified as on-site at Discovery Center: 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19121.

Compensation:

$19.00 / hour

Essential Duties

Assist Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

Fellows will participate in a 3-day watershed education training, at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (overnight, June 10-12.) http://www.peec.org/

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.

Discovery Center Duties:

Depending on the strengths and curiosities of the fellow, they can get involved in some or all of the projects and tasks. Frequency of tasks will vary and fluctuate to prioritize deadlines. Around 70% of their time will be invested towards planning and prep, and 30% will be engaging with the public.

Community Engagement-

• Support our educator with K-5th grade field trips to the Discovery Center.

• Support public environmental programs, usually taking place on Saturdays.

• Greet visitors who come to Discovery Center and provide resources such as flyers to upcoming events, bird guides, etc.

• Gathering content from our trail and underwater cameras for wildlife and reservoir viewing. Can possibly use these videos for educational lessons, our website, or social media.

• Filling the seed library when it’s low.

Aquatic Surveying-

• Getting in the boat and observing along the reservoir with the DRW and Center team. Noting the presence of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and habitats.

• Gathering samples to survey different groups of organisms: sediment samples for microorganisms, and leaf packets for macroinvertebrates.

Trail/Meadow Improvement-

• Assist the Discovery Center team with maintenance, including invasive plant removal, trash clean up, etc. Can also join a volunteer day to help with center projects like removing the fence line and replacing it with wire.

• Feather Fun Area Re-Vamp: Help design a few upgrades for the feather fun area to be used by our educators.

• Start seeds for future planting and water them in the greenhouse.

• Plant new buds on the trail and in the meadow, maintained by watering.

Discovery Center Capstone Project:

The future fellow will have the option to choose a capstone project that highlights AWE, AMA, and the neighborhood’s goals. They will assist with designing and implementing a green and educational “tool” that’s stationed in the neighborhood, or at the Discovery Center. Along with the finished project, the fellow will lead an educational, volunteer workday to get neighbors involved with hands-on activities and to learn more about watershed conservation. Capstones should have a focus on community engagement around watershed education, trail use and/or waterways. We aim to increase and enhance constituent attitudes (e.g., self-efficacy, pride, and appreciation), knowledge, and intention, as well as create a larger and more inclusive constituency of people engaged at and near centers and their waterways.

Qualifications and Experience:

A background in environmental education is not required but preferred.

Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Must be 18 years of age by June 1, 2026.

Must be people oriented, have a team-focused attitude, and the ability to professionally represent Audubon Mid Atlantic and the network to the public.

Ability to work outdoors in the summer to maintain gardens. Willingness to get your hands in soil and water.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills with a demonstrated commitment to cultural diversity also necessary.

Ability to work in a dynamic fast-paced environment and juggle multiple, changing priorities. Strong time and project management skills needed.

Must be self-motivated and willing to work in a flexible, non-structured environment.

Must provide your own housing since AWE and Audubon Mid-Atlantic do not provide housing.

A willingness to greet visitors and start conversation with strangers.

Occasional evening hours may be needed for public programs. Scheduling will be adjusted to maintain hours.

Valid state driver’s license required OR proficiency with public transportation.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at