Internships

The Strong^® offers unpaid, competitive internship opportunities for students interested in history and museums. Interns may work with The Strong’s collections, research, education, or marketing and communications teams. For example, students may conduct research for exhibits, learn how to handle and care for artifacts, or assist with the development of educational programs for children. Students seeking certification as social studies teachers are encouraged to apply for internships for the summer, when the museum can provide opportunities to work with children in community education programs.

Requirements

• Like all Strong staff, internship applicants must consent to a criminal background check and a drug screen.
• Undergraduate internships require a minimum of 125 work hours; graduate internships require a minimum of 140 work hours.
• Students must attend all training sessions and meetings required by their supervisor.
• Students must keep a journal to document their experiences.
• Graduate students also may be assigned readings and/or a research project (to be determined by their faculty sponsor in conjunction with their internship supervisor).

Application process

Submit an internship packet to the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources (see address below). Please include all of the following:

• completed Strong internship application
• letter stating personal interests, reasons for wanting to work at The Strong, desired learning outcomes for the internship, and potential benefits to The Strong
• resume
• a faculty sponsor letter

The Strong will consider each student’s interests and determine whether an appropriate project is available. If one is, the applicant will receive an interview with the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and, if appropriate, members of The Strong’s history, collections, or education teams.    

Current available opportunities

Horticulture Internship

Description: The Strong is looking for a Horticulture Intern to maintain and care for the National Museum of Play’s Discovery Garden and grounds. Ongoing responsibilities include:

• Installation and ongoing care of the collections, woody and herbaceous plant material.
• A wide range of landscape/maintenance tasks important to the preservation, protection and transplanting of existing plants; including but not limited to soil preparation, planting, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilization, irrigation.
• Attending display beds to maintain health of plants and beauty of display. 
• Assisting the Horticulturist with mapping the Discovery Garden and updating the current plant species list.
• Creating a plan for seasonal adjustments to the Discovery Garden.
• Assisting the Grounds staff with installing drainage/irrigation in pre-determined areas.

Timeframe: Summer

To Apply: Submit application materials as outlined above.

Public Programs Internship

Description: The Strong has internship opportunities available on its Public Programs team. Interns will assist in planning and executing public programs such as the Royal Ball, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, and Berenstain Bears weekends. Interns will assist the education team in a variety of capacities such as:

• brainstorming, researching, and designing family-friendly crafts and activities related to program themes
• setting-up and taking down events
• running craft or activity stations during events 
• Optional: observe school lessons and scout workshops to gain additional educational knowledge 

This internship entails predominately behind-the-scenes work on week days, accompanied by periodic weekend work assisting museum educators in running special events.   

Timeframe: Flexible

Job Requirements: Candidate must work well in a team setting, be reliable, flexible, organized, and self-motivated.  Must be available periodically to assist with weekend programming and special events.

To Apply: Submit application materials as outlined above.

Marketing Internship

Description: The Strong has an  internship available on its Marketing Team for summer and fall 2012. Specific duties include scheduling online calendar entries, press release editing and distribution, writing for the member e-newsletter and related publications, and supporting public relations efforts. The intern will also assist in growing the educator e-news list; perform website editing, review, and entry as needed; create signage and schedules related to public programming; support social media efforts; and assist with other activities as necessary. The intern will gain additional knowledge by accompanying Marketing Team members to meetings and press events as needed.

Timeframe: Fall 2012

Job Requirements: Candidate must work well in a team setting, be reliable, flexible, organized, and self-motivated. Candidate should be currently enrolled in a marketing undergraduate or graduate degree program.

 To Apply: Submit application materials as outlined above.

COLLECTIONS INTERNSHIP

Description:  The Collections Team at The Strong is looking for an intern to work with the International Center for the History of Electronic Games. This internship is extremely research and writing intensive. Although other tasks may be occasionally assigned, the intern will spend the majority of his or her time writing brief (250 to 500 word) essays on the history and impact of various electronic games and related materials, which will be displayed on our website. These essays are meant to provide guests with further information regarding our collections. Examples of such essays can be viewed on the museum’s online collections website at http://www.thestrong.org/online-collections/icheg/.

Timeframe:  Immediate and on-going

Job Requirements:  Exemplary written communication skills; familiarity with electronic games and the electronic games industry, while a bonus, is not required. The intern will be provided with the means to research all needed information while at The Strong.

To Apply:  Submit application materials as outlined above.  In addition, interested applicants must provide a recent writing sample of at least 2,000 words, preferably written within the last year. This sample may be a complete essay or excerpts from a longer body of work, and may be on a subject of the applicant’s choosing.

GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNSHIP

Description: Working with the Media Services and Marketing teams, intern will assist in design and creation of promotional signs and graphic identity packages for museum programs and events. Intern will also work on exhibit-related graphics, labels, title walls, and banners.

Timeframe: Fall 2012 semester

Job Requirements: Candidate must work well in a team setting, be reliable, flexible, organized, and self-motivated.  Candidate should be currently enrolled in a graphic or computer design program and have knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite.

To Apply: Submit application materials as outlined above.

EDUCATION INTERNSHIP

Location: Woodbury Preschool 

Description: Working in the preschool with three and four year-old children, the intern will assist teachers in the use of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. This includes, but is not limited to, helping with small group activities, documenting and organizing student work, cleaning up after activities, taking part in day-to-day life in the classroom, helping escort children to museum exhibits, and taking part in preschool celebrations and events.

Timeframe: Two or three full days a week for either a semester or an academic year.

Job Requirements: Candidate must work well in a team setting, be reliable, flexible, organized, and interested in learning about and implementing Reggio ideas. Additionally, the candidate must be enrolled in an early childhood degree program at an approved college or university or have experience in early childhood education or the arts.

To Apply: Submit application materials as outlined above.

Contact information

Laurie Phelps, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
The Strong
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
585-410-6343
lphelps@thestrong.org