Humane Education and Teaching Intern at Animal Friends – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Position Summary:

The Education & Teaching Intern will support our humane education team in delivering fun, engaging, and educational summer camp experiences for youths in grades Pre-K through High School. This internship is ideal for students interested in education, child development, nonprofit work, or animal welfare. Interns will gain practical experience in lesson facilitation, classroom management, and program operations while contributing to impactful community programs.

Our programs are grounded in humane education and explored through five interconnected lenses:

• The Human Perspective
  Campers explore identity, inclusion, social-emotional learning, and their relationships with animals, engaging with concepts such as consent, speciesism, and empathy to ask, “Who am I?”
• The Beyond-Human Perspective
  Campers learn about animal agency, behavior, instincts, physiology, and social life to better understand, “Who are you?”
• The Caregiver’s Perspective
  Through developmentally appropriate lessons, campers explore the Five Freedoms, enrichment, nutrition, and hygiene to answer, “What do you need?”
• The Animal Professional’s Perspective
  Campers gain exposure to animal-related careers and services, including veterinary care, shelter operations, humane investigations, spay/neuter services, TNVR, advocacy, and adoption work, asking, “Is an animal career for me?”
• The Citizenship Perspective
  Campers connect to broader issues such as animal welfare, One Health, inclusivity, volunteering, and community engagement to reflect on, “How are we all connected?”

Essential Functions:

• Assist with daily camp activities, including educational lessons, crafts, animal-themed projects, and enrichment activities
• Help facilitate safe, positive interactions between campers and animals under staff supervision
• Support camp instructors with classroom management and group transitions
• Prepare materials, set up learning stations, and help maintain organized program spaces
• Greet campers and families; assist with check-in and check-out procedures
• Support staff in monitoring camp safety guidelines and ensuring humane education messages are reinforced
• Provide general program support such as taking photos, restocking supplies, and assisting with minor administrative tasks
• Serve as a positive role model and ambassador for the organization’s humane values

What You’ll Learn

• Hands-on experience in youth education and program facilitation
• Humane education practices and core animal welfare concepts
• Skills in child engagement, communication, and behavior support
• Behind-the-scenes experience in nonprofit program operations
• Exposure to animal care protocols and safe animal-handling basics (as appropriate and supervised)

Qualifications and Experience:

• Interest in teaching, education, youth programs, or animal welfare
• Comfort working with children in a lively, fast-paced environment
• Reliability, punctuality, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers
• Strong communication skills and a positive, enthusiastic attitude
• Ability to follow instructions and maintain a safe learning environment
• Willingness to work around animals (no direct handling required without training)
• Must pass background checks as required for youth programming
• Minimum age requirement: 18+
• Driver’s license and personal vehicle preferred for offsite programming.

Required Clearances & Certifications

• Candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited Education program and working toward teacher certification
• Valid Pennsylvania State Police, Child Abuse, and FBI clearances
• CPR/First Aid certification (strongly preferred)
• Mandated Reporter training (strongly preferred)
  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the primary functions.

Schedule & Commitment

• Flexible part-time schedule based on camp needs
• Typically, 15-25 hours per week between June 8–August 7-no camps scheduled June 30-July 5
• Internship duration is 9 weeks, with options for additional involvement during school-year programs if desired

Benefits

• Meaningful experience working in education and the nonprofit sector
• Skill-building and resume development
• Supervision and mentorship from experienced humane educators
• Opportunity to make a positive impact on youth and animal welfare
• Letters of recommendation available upon successful completion