Native Bee Watch Community Science – Education & Outreach Internship
Front Range Region
Arapahoe
County
(Statewide, Larimer)
- Natural Resources
- Equal time spent on-campus and in the field
Primary Topic:
Natural Resources
Other Topics:
Horticulture
Internship Overview:
Native Bee Watch (NBW) is a community science program offered through CSU Extension that trains and supports volunteers to identify and monitor bees. As a multi-disciplinary collaboration, NBW’s overarching goal is to create a ripple effect of engagement and education based on ecological and social science research. This internship will support the program’s educational efforts, volunteer coordination and engagement, and data collection. Visit NativeBeeWatch.org for more information.
Goals, Scope and Objectives:
This internship will focus on the education and outreach components of Native Bee Watch including:
1) Coordinating the community science volunteers,
2) Delivering virtual and in-person educational programming (e.g. possibilities include presentations, videos, educational and marketing materials, and informal science writing depending on interest of the intern)
3) Assist with data quality control (e.g. work on photo data and/or spot checking data accuracy, and working one-on-one in the field with volunteers), and
4) Collecting native bee data at a public garden site
We have flexibility to adjust the goals and objectives for the internship based on the interests and skills of the intern.
1) Coordinating the community science volunteers,
2) Delivering virtual and in-person educational programming (e.g. possibilities include presentations, videos, educational and marketing materials, and informal science writing depending on interest of the intern)
3) Assist with data quality control (e.g. work on photo data and/or spot checking data accuracy, and working one-on-one in the field with volunteers), and
4) Collecting native bee data at a public garden site
We have flexibility to adjust the goals and objectives for the internship based on the interests and skills of the intern.
With which stakeholder group(s) will the intern work?
The intern will work closely with Arapahoe County Extension, Native Bee Watch volunteers, and Colorado Master Gardener volunteers and other community partners along the Front Range.
What student learning outcomes do you anticipate and what are the opportunities for professional development?
The intern will gain experience with verbal and written communication, working as a team, and applied research and problem solving. They will also gain knowledge in the areas of pollinator conservation, horticulture issues as it relates to individuals and communities. Skills developed during the internship will be transferrable to other jobs and projects the student may pursue. The intern will also have the professional development opportunities to shadow staff in other program areas and will gain a broader understanding of the role of Extension interfacing with research and the community.
