Dietetics and Nutrition Education Intern

Dietetics & Nutrition Education Intern (Summer 2026)

The Barton Center for Diabetes Education
North Oxford, MA (Residential)

Position Type

Seasonal Residential Internship (Unpaid; housing & meals provided)

Duration

• 1 week pre-camp training (virtual + on-site)
• 4 weeks residential camp programming
• Optional remote extension for project completion

About The Barton Center

The Barton Center for Diabetes Education is a nationally recognized organization serving children and families living with Type 1 diabetes through residential camps, education, and leadership development. For over 90 years, Barton has combined medical safety, skill-building, and joyful community to help young people build confidence and independence.

Our summer program is a high-impact, immersive environment serving hundreds of campers and delivering ~20,000 meals across the season.

About the Role

The Dietetics & Nutrition Education Intern will work directly under the Dietitian / Nutrition Program Director to support both:

1. Nutrition education programming for campers and staff
2. Operational nutrition systems (menus, carb counts, materials)

This is a hands-on, applied learning experience designed for students pursuing careers in:

• Dietetics / Nutrition
• Public Health
• Nursing / Pre-med
• Health Education

Interns will split time between:

• Cabin counselor responsibilities (camp life)
• Nutrition-focused internship work and projects

This hybrid model is core to the Barton internship experience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Nutrition Education & Camper Engagement (Primary)

• Support and co-lead engaging nutrition education sessions (“Scoop” / “Rap”)
• Help translate nutrition concepts into fun, age-appropriate, real-world learning
• Reinforce:
  • Carb counting
  • Fueling for activity
  • Reading nutrition labels
  • Real-life diabetes decision-making
• Support integration of “teachable moments” during meals and activities

2. Nutrition Program Support

Under guidance of the Dietitian:

• Assist with nutritional data organization (carb counts, allergens, serving sizes)
• Help format camper-facing and staff-facing nutrition materials
• Support creation of quick-reference tools for insulin dosing support
• Help ensure materials are clear, usable, and practical in a camp setting

3. Kitchen & Menu Systems Exposure

• Observe collaboration between Dietitian and Kitchen Services team
• Support:
  • Ingredient list organization
  • Menu documentation
  • Portioning and nutrition consistency checks
• Gain exposure to large-scale food systems (~300 people/day) 

4. Internship Project (Portfolio-Building)

Each intern will complete a defined project such as:

• Designing a nutrition education curriculum or toolkit
• Creating visual carb-counting guides for campers
• Developing staff training materials
• Supporting menu analysis or improvement recommendations

Deliverables are designed to be resume- and portfolio-ready.

5. Camp Community Role (Counselor Component)

• Live in cabins with campers
• Support daily activities, meals, and evening programming
• Serve as a mentor and positive role model
• Help create a safe, inclusive, and joyful camp environment

What You’ll Learn

• Applied nutrition in a real-world, high-volume setting
• Diabetes-specific nutrition and carb counting in practice
• How to translate clinical concepts into accessible education
• Collaboration across healthcare, kitchen operations, and youth programming
• Leadership, communication, and youth mentorship skills

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate or graduate student in:
  • Nutrition / Dietetics (preferred)
  • Public Health, Health Sciences, or related field
• Interest in:
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Diabetes care (experience not required)
  • Education and youth development
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Comfortable working with children in a dynamic environment
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills

Preferred (Not Required)

• Coursework in nutrition or dietetics
• Experience working with children or in camp settings
• Interest in becoming an RD or healthcare professional
• Personal or community connection to Type 1 diabetes

Compensation & Benefits

• Unpaid internship (eligible for university funding support)
• Housing and meals provided
• Mentorship from:
  • Registered Dietitian / Nutrition Program Director
  • Healthcare team
  • Camp leadership
• Hands-on, meaningful experience in a mission-driven organization

Barton will support interns in securing university stipends or academic credit where applicable.

Why This Role is Special

This is not a typical nutrition internship.

You will:

• See nutrition in action, not just theory
• Work at the intersection of healthcare, education, and lived experience
• Help young people with Type 1 diabetes build confidence and independence
• Be part of a community that changes lives—including your own

To Apply

Please submit:

• Resume
• Short statement of interest
• (Optional) Any relevant coursework or projects