Overview
In summer 2020, traditional in person camps at the City of Austin's Austin Nature and Science Center shifted to fully remote programming due to COVID. Instead of leading outdoor activities on site, the Virtual Programs team created digital experiences that kept kids engaged with nature education from home.
As a Virtual Programs Counselor, I supported this pivot by designing and delivering camp style content over video, combining outdoor education topics with hands on activities that families could do indoors or in their own backyards. The goal was to preserve the spirit of camp exploration, curiosity, and hands-on learning even when everything had to happen through a screen.
Role & Activities
My role blended youth mentoring, content design, and basic production work. Instead of walking kids through activities in person, I:
- Led live Zoom sessions that mirrored camp style programming, including nature lessons, Q&A, and guided activities.
- Planned and recorded instructional videos on topics such as Leave No Trace principles, how and where to pitch a tent, and how to build an indoor fort using household materials.
- Worked independently to storyboard, film, and edit each segment, incorporating program title cards and Austin Nature and Science Center branding.
- Adapted in person activities to safe at home formats, focusing on clarity of instructions and step by step demonstrations so kids could follow along without being physically on site.
I operated as a one person production line for several pieces of content at a time, balancing scheduling for live sessions with recording and editing on a tight summer timeline.
Highlights
- Created multiple fully produced instructional videos end to end, including topic selection, filming, basic editing, and final delivery with ANSC branding.
- Translated outdoor oriented camp activities into engaging, practical at home alternatives that still taught core concepts like Leave No Trace and basic camping skills.
- Built confidence presenting on camera and running live Zoom sessions with groups of kids, keeping them engaged and on track without in person supervision.
Skills & Tools
Instruction & Program Design
- Designing age appropriate, activity based lesson flows for remote delivery
- Breaking complex topics into simple, visual steps kids can follow at home
- On camera communication and pacing for virtual audiences
Tools & Production
- Zoom for live virtual sessions and group interaction
- Basic video recording and editing for instructional content
- Applying consistent branding using provided title cards and logos
Outcomes
- Helped the Austin Nature and Science Center maintain continuity of youth programming during a fully remote summer by delivering ready to use video lessons and virtual sessions.
- Gained practical experience creating structured, repeatable content that could be reused by families and staff beyond a single live session.
- Strengthened communication skills that carry over to technical presentations and documentation, including explaining multi step processes clearly without being in the same room as the audience.