Summer VISTA STEM/STEAM Curriculum Developer

Position Overview

The Hardy Center is seeking a creative and organized Summer VISTA member to support the development of STEM and STEAM programming for our summer educational program. This role will focus on designing engaging, hands-on learning experiences that help students explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math in meaningful and practical ways.

The Summer VISTA STEM/STEAM Curriculum Developer will help create and organize lessons that teachers can implement during the summer program. Lessons may include hands-on experiments, creative problem-solving activities, and real-world applications such as garden-based learning and environmental exploration.

This position is ideal for students interested in education, STEM fields, curriculum development, environmental education, or youth programming.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop engaging STEM and STEAM lesson plans for elementary and middle school students
• Create hands-on activities that encourage problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration
• Design structured lesson guides that teachers can easily implement during the summer program
• Support the development of garden-based learning activities, including science and environmental exploration
• Ensure lessons align with grade-level learning goals and promote curiosity and discovery
• Organize materials, instructions, and resources for teachers to use throughout the program
• Work with program leadership to ensure lessons support the overall educational goals of the summer program

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in STEM, STEAM education, or curriculum development
• Experience working with children or youth programs (preferred but not required)
• Strong creativity and ability to design engaging learning activities
• Ability to organize ideas into clear lesson plans or instructional materials
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Interest in hands-on learning, environmental education, or garden-based learning

What You Will Gain

• Hands-on experience in curriculum design and educational program development
• Opportunity to see lessons implemented in a real youth educational program
• Experience designing hands-on STEM learning experiences for diverse learners
• Professional experience in education, nonprofit programming, and youth development