More photos from this internship can be found here.
Join a vibrant international community near Bangkok, Thailand to share your passion for sustainability, the environment, culture, and global citizenship with students from around the globe.
The Barge Program is part of the Traidhos Three Generation Community for Learning, which includes the Prem International School, Chiang Mai, three sport academies, a cooking academy, six different types of specialty programs for students, an artist residency program, a farm, a residence, and corporate event programs. The Traidhos Community encourages families to participate in their children’s learning and offers short and long-term options for families and international groups.
The Traidhos Three Generation Community for Learning is an educational center located in Thailand, with their main facility near Chiang Mai and environmental education programs operating near Bangkok. They are an international community of learners, across all generations, working together for a sustainable future. Students and adults from around the world are invited to Chiang Mai and Bangkok to participate in short and long term programs in education, sustainability, leadership, sports, culture, and well-being. Each part of the Traidhos Three Generation Community has its own customer group but in addition to this, each part works with students and teachers of Prem International School to offer specialist learning opportunities outside of the classroom as part of the on-going curriculum. For more information, visit the Traidhos website.
The Traidhos Barge program is a unique experiential learning opportunity. It began as a “floating classroom” – a converted rice barge - which travelled throughout the Chao Phraya watershed near Bangkok; and has developed into a watershed program looking at environments where rivers begin, where rivers flow through and where rivers meet the sea. The aim of the Barge Program is to develop motivated global citizens who will find creative solutions and take action in their daily lives to promote sustainability. Established in 1995, the program aims to facilitate lifelong learning using interdisciplinary, interactive, and cooperative approaches, emphasizing the interconnections between physical, cultural, social, and historical aspects of the environment. They provide holistic barge and land-based field trips,
school outreach, trainings, and community activities for students, private groups, and communities from Thailand, Southeast Asia, and across the globe.
Participants of the Barge Program are encouraged to work in small groups while interviewing community members, playing environmental education games, and carrying out hands-on activities. The focus is on education (as opposed to advocacy), encouraging students to find out about the environment, their role in those environments, and about the future to consider potential solutions to difficult environmental, cultural, and resource management questions. More information about the Barge Program can be found here. ( check this link I could not open it https://www.threegeneration.org/barge)
Programs
· Barge Program: education for sustainability based in Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River and at forest and marine sites in Thailand
· Camps Program: school break activities and language camps for students aged 4 – 8, 9-14 in Chiang Mai
· Farm Program: sustainable educational activities about food, animals, and resources
· Visiting Schools Program: welcomes student groups focusing on leadership, fieldwork, cultural activities, sustainability and community service
· Wellness Program: range of language, sport, and cultural classes and activities for learners of all ages
Academies
· Cooking: Thai and Asian cooking and baking
· Cricket: coaching and tournaments
· Golf: coaching, and camps
· Tennis: coaching, and camps
Environmental Education interns are needed for the Barge Program year-round. Educational activities take place at forest, marine and river sites throughout the Chao Phraya watershed (From Chiang Mai to the Gulf of Thailand). In order to fully grasp the program philosophy and educational methodology, so as to create and facility appropriate activities, this internship requires a two term commitment (approximately six months). In order to provide training and organizational support, the internship may take place in both Chiang Mai and Bangkok depending on active programs, training, and organizational needs.
Interns will generally spend the first portion of the internship working with the teaching team, facilitating activities with groups of Thai and international students (most likely primary aged) on the barge, in the forest, at the beach or in Chiang Mai, to gain a sound understanding of the program framework and educational style of
the curricula. The intern will then spend time in the Bangkok–based office developing activities and content to implement into the existing curricula. Currently there is a need for new activities based on a) After 2030 – the SDGs what next? b) natural disasters and preparedness c) our life connections (looking at food networks, where clothes/goods come from, energy used at all stages of production and use, etc).
Interns will utilize their knowledge and expertise in these areas to create new educational material and activities that will eventually be utilized in the Barge curriculum or activities. Towards the end of the placement, interns will be required to run a training session to teach their suite of activities/curricula to the other staff. Finally, a promotional trip day trip will be held, with a focus on sustainability , where staff can trial the intern’s new activities with a group of students from an international school in Bangkok.
Interns will leave behind important new curriculum materials that will help to invigorate the Traidhos Barge program. This is an opportunity for interns to gain experience working in an overseas context as part of an international team, working with students who use English as a foreign language, gain significant teaching and curriculum development experience, while sharing their knowledge and passion with others.
Academic Background
· No specific academic background is required, but coursework in education, environmental sciences, sustainability, natural disaster management, or Asian studies is preferred.
Skills/Experience
· Ideal applicants will have prior experience in education or working with children in outdoor settings, such as summer camps, scout activities, sports coaching, etc. Experience with English language learners (ESL/EFL) is a plus. Students should have a passion for sharing the environment with students and working with diverse groups.
Language Requirements
· The working language in the office and classroom is English and interns will work with staff and students from a variety of countries. An interest in and willingness to learn a little basic Thai and understand Thai culture is appreciated.
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· Other Requirements
· Interns must be able to live with relatively little personal space in a residential setting and be able to work long hours. All staff should immerse themselves in the Thai way of life (rather than life an expatriate lifestyle). An open-mind, flexibility, creativity, and passion for the environment and education is key. First Aid training is appreciated.
· Successful applicants will need to obtain a background check in the USA and provide official copies to IE3 Global/Traidhos.
*Check with your university's Global Opportunities Office for their pricing
Shared housing with other staff is provided near the office (interns are responsible for costs). Interns can access the office outside of work hours for free internet, as well as fridge and microwave use. The office is located near plentiful inexpensive and safe street food. The area is also well-connected by express boat to tourist areas along the river and to the sky train for travel around central Bangkok.
Watch a video about the Traidhos Tennis Academy, featuring head coach Mr. LaDe Labya.
“I'm writing now from the end of my third month here at Prem. Living here is like living on a resort, especially when school is out and you have more free time to go to the gym, swim in the outdoor pool, or go biking around the area. It's a beautiful campus tucked away from the busy highway in Mae Rim, amid a quit local village. Many of the people who work with Traidhos are friendly and the office environment is pretty lively, with lots of humorous talk and games and gatherings between coworkers. Life here is very easy and peaceful when not working on a demanding project. You get the three meals a day in the cafeteria and access to all the school's services, which again, makes for pretty comfortable living. Although you're coming to a developing country, it doesn't always feel that way at Prem. Prem is isolated from Chiang Mai, but if you prefer a little quieter and scenic, natural areas, I would recommend Prem.” - Jesse, University of Oregon (interned with the Traidhos Visiting Schools Program)
Fall: April 15
Winter: September 15
Spring: November 15
Summer:
- Passionate about tennis
- Coaching or training experience
- Experience working with children and teens