Everglades National Park Every Kid In A Park Program

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About National Park Service Education Department

Location:

40001 SR 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, US

Mission Statement

The Every Kid in a Park Program (EKIP) is an environmental education program that connects fourth-grade students to Everglades National Park. Thanks to our volunteers, we can welcome over 90 fourth-grade classes to the park! Volunteers will be stationed at one of five "field lab" tables on topics including alligators, birds, water, invasive species, and periphyton. These stations are meant to teach children about the importance of getting outside and understanding nature and it's resources. The EKIP Program will run four days a week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from late-October until the end of March. Each program day will last approximately 3 hours, plus travel. Locations for this program include Royal Palm (RP) (40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034) and Shark Valley (SV) (36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33194).

Description

General duties may include the following:

• Assist with the setup and cleanup of lab stations.
• Staff a field lab station on one of the following topics: alligators, birds, water, invasive species, and periphyton.
• Present to student groups (~10 children plus a chaperone), as they rotate through field stations.
• Volunteers may give their short presentation up to five times per day.

Requirements/Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Willing and able to commute to your assigned location.
• Interested in learning about the Everglades and relevant topics.
• Excited to share their knowledge with fourth-grade students.
• Able to attend one of our EKIP training dates: September 13, September 25 and October 16

Benefits to Volunteers

• Volunteers will receive an official uniform (polo shirt, hat and name tag)
• Meet and work alongside National Park Service Rangers and other program volunteers
• Opportunity to learn more about Everglades National Park and park divisions
• Training: NPS background, site tour, site history, curriculum to be covered
• Opportunities to gain volunteer recognition items, based on cumulative service