4,000' of elevation, wild scenery, fun people, incredible opportunities...

Internships / Seasonal Recreation Employees / Environmental Education Instructors / Elderhostel Instructors

Internships
The Mountain Lake Conservancy's Recreation Internship Program is designed to provide opportunities for individuals interested in Outdoor/ Experiential Education and Recreation Management to gain hands-on professional experience and knowledge in this exciting and challenging field. Interns will experience all aspects of program development and management. They will be involved in daily activities ranging from guiding hikes, mountain bike rides and river floats, to designing climbing, caving and naturalist programs.

Two internship positions were available for the 2008 season:

Outfitters Supervisor
Position Overview:
The Outfitters Supervisor is in charge of the daily operations of all summer recreation programs including equipment rentals, archery, lawn games, hay rides, disc golf, mountain biking, and hiking. The Supervisor will manage recreation employees and be responsible for all equipment and rentals. This position will also be actively involved in leading all manner of trips for guests.

Programs Coordinator
Position Overview:
The Programs Coordinator manages and develops attractive summer recreation schedules and programs. The Coordinator schedules and tracks hours of employees and keeps accounts of all rental business and sales receipts from the Outfitter Shack, and Daily Parking Passes. This position will also be actively involved in leading all manner of trips for guests.

Requirements:
Internship will begin Monday following graduation and run for 12 weeks. The applicant may be offerred the option to stay on through the end of October as a full-time hourly employee. Qualified applicants may be offered an opportunity to set up a non-traditional internship or practicum. Please contact our office to learn more and set up an interview. Summer 2009 application deadline: March 31st.

Seasonal Recreation Employees
Position Overview:
Seasonal Recreation Employees perform the daily operations of all summer recreation programs including equipment rentals, archery, lawn games, hay rides, disc golf, mountain biking, river trips and hiking. They assist the Recreation Supervisor in maintaining all equipment and rentals.

Requirements:
Applicants must be available to start after April 21st on a flexible basis till season opens May 1st.

Summer 2009 application deadline: April 14th.

Please contact our office to learn more and set up an interview.

Ben Brown
Director of Resource Development and Recreation
BBrown@MountainLakeHotel.com

Environmental Education Instructors

We are looking for instructors who want to become involved with our Spring 2008 environmental education programs.  The program dates range from the beginning of May through the middle of June.  The programs last from 9am -1pm.   The program’s lessons are preset, so you do not have to create your own lessons – you simply follow our easy outlines!  However, the outlines allow flexibility for you to tailor the teaching approach/style to your preferences. 

The lessons are a very hands-on, discovery type of learning using our wetland, trails, and fields to explore nature subjects that the students are learning about in the classroom. We pay up to $12/hr for instructors depending on experience.  If you have only a little bit of experience, but are interested in broadening your skills, we welcome you to participate in this type of outdoor environmental education with us as well.  The experience is a great opportunity to educate children and learn about the environment.

Please contact Emily Woodall at ewoodall@mountainlakehotel.com or call 540-626-7121 (ext 444).

Elderhostel Instructors

Elderhostel is America's first and the world's largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and over.  They are a non-profit organization that offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes learning experiences for almost every interest and ability.  For the 2008 year, we are offering 8 different Elderhostels.  The Mountain Lake Conservancy has been offering Elderhostel programs for over 10 years. For 2008, we have expanded our programs and are looking for Elderhostel instructors who would like to help instruct for the following new offerings:

Natural History of Appalachia's Mountain Lake:  A Unique Sky Island
June 22 - 27

Stories, Songs & Walks:  The Appalachian Experience
August 3 - 8

An Introduction to Family Research Through Oral History and Traditions in Southwest Appalachia
September 14 - 18

Astronomy:  The Universe and Beyond 
October 19 - 24

The programs are flexible and incorporate a morning and afternoon session.  Programs must include 4 hours per day of 'active' learning in a group setting. This is usually structured around a classroom setting, but may also include hands-on activities and program related field trips.  Instructors must be experts in their fields and must be able to communicate effectively and positively the course they teach. 

Participants will expect an instructor to speak clearly and distinctly as well as have good conversational skills.  Instructors receive an Elderhostel stipend, meals with the Elderhostel group at Mountain Hotel, complimentary night stay at Mountain Lake before or after your instruction and travel reimbursement.