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Position Description

Burpee Museum Intern Application

This is the application form for Internship Programming at Burpee Museum

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Please select the internship you are applying for.
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    For high school students: prior work experience is not required. Please include relevant coursework, volunteer experiences, extracurricular activities, or other applicable experiences.
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    Max. file size: 2 GB.
      Description: Please describe why you are interested in working at the Burpee Museum of Natural History and what you hope to learn or contribute through this experience. We encourage you to write this in your own voice. The most competitive applications are those that clearly reflect your genuine interests, experiences, and curiosity. You may upload your file here, or type your answer directly into the box below.
      Complete this only if you did not upload a file above.

      What follows are internships that may or many not have a stipend associated with them.  We are happy to assist interns with seeking funding and encourage interns to apply for funding from their university of high school when possible.

      Title

      Focus Areas

      Learning Opportunities
      Museum Operations Intern 
      		 This is a broad internship within multiple areas of operation from visitor services, to facilities, to education, and animal care.  This is a position designed for high school students interested in understanding museum operations Customer service, museum maintence inclulding facilities, operation and communication between museum departments, science research and outreach, and leadership.
      Biology Intern Work in the wet lab and animal care areas. Learn introductory taxidermy, care for eggs and juveniles, maintain tanks, observe behavior, and engage in animal training.  Animal husbandry, behavior observation, taxidermy prep, science writing, individualized projects depending on the skill level of intern, teamwork with biology staff.
      Paleontology Intern Assist in fossil prep labs and collections. Clean, stabilize, and conserve fossils; help with cataloging and organizing specimens. Summer interns may also participate in field work. Fossil preparation techniques, collections care, paleontology research skills, individualized projects depending on the skill level of intern,useum conservation practices. Field work is seasonal.
      Anthropology Intern Move objects from old exhibits into secure collections. Learn pest mitigation and database cataloging. Curate collection items within the collections and database. Preventive conservation, artifact handling, digital cataloging, cultural collections management.
      Geology Intern Work with mineral, rock, and fossil collections. Catalog and conserve specimens, assist with exhibits. Earth science specimen care, cataloging, conservation, research documentation.
      Education Intern Assist with homeschool classes, field trips, and public programs. Learn curriculum development, progress from assisting to teaching, and organize education collections. Teaching practice, curriculum development, science communication, leadership with learners of all ages.
      Apply Now

      Position: Museum Operations Intern (High School)

      Part time and full time options are currently open

      Location: 737 N Main Street, Rockford, Illinois

      Institution: Burpee Museum of Natural History

      Position Overview:

      The Museum Operations Intern will assist across multiple departments at Burpee Museum—including Education, Facilities, and Visitor Services—to support daily operations, prepare for events, and enhance the visitor experience. This is a hands-on opportunity for a high school student interested in science, museums, customer service, and behind-the-scenes logistics.

      Qualifications:

      • Currently enrolled in high school 
      • Interest in science, education, museums, or customer service 
      • Friendly, dependable, and eager to learn 
      • Willing to assist with cleaning, organizing, and event setup 
      • Comfortable working with children and interacting with guests 
      • Able to follow instructions and work both independently and on a team 

      Key Responsibilities:

      Education Support

      • Help prepare materials and clean classrooms before/after programs 
      • Assist with children’s activities during classes and family events 
      • Support field trip and camp activities (training and supervision provided) 

       

      Facilities Support

      • Help with basic cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, and tidying program spaces 
      • Assist with room and exhibit setup or teardown for public events 
      • Help ensure public spaces are neat and guest-ready 

      Visitor Services Support

      • Greet visitors and help answer general questions about the museum 
      • Provide friendly support during events, field trips, and family days 
      • Restock gift shop shelves 
      • Operate Point of Sale to check out visitors for basic purchases such as museum admission and gift shop purchases.

       

      Learning Opportunities:

      • Gain behind-the-scenes experience in museum operations 
      • Learn about science communication and public engagement 
      • Build workplace skills in customer service, communication, and organization 
      • Explore potential career paths in science, education, and hospitality 

      Additional Info:

      • Interns may be asked to wear a museum shirt, or other business casual appropriate attire, and name badge during shifts 
      • This position requires standing, light lifting, and some weekend availability 
      • Interns must be respectful of museum property and follow all safety guidelines
      Apply Now