Responsibilities:

• Participates in creating, preparing and implementing all aspects of the Eco-Act program.
• Assists with the instruction and supervision of students for afterschool programming.
• Assists the School Programs team through the preparation and delivery of scout, school or community programs as directed by the supervisor.
• Creates a positive, healthy, and safe learning environment for students that is developmentally and culturally appropriate.
• Implements programs primarily at the Main Garden campus and may deliver programs at any of the Garden's four remote sites (The Butterfly House, EarthWays Center, Litzsinger Road Ecology Center and Shaw Nature Reserve) or at designated off-site locations (field trips, outreach, school partnerships, Eco-Act extended outdoor experiences and community events).
• Assists with the instruction and supervision of students for K-12 school programs.
• Facilitates informal discussions with students that directly connect to high school science content concepts.
• Mentors high school students in the teaching process and nature experiences via informal conversations.
• Assists Eco-Act with intensive student programming including: three weeks of summer programming, plus two four-day canoe trips, and four to six weekend overnight outings throughout the year.
• Administers activities of scout, camp, living history/science or overnight programs as requested by supervisor.
• Collaborates with Education Division colleagues, Garden staff and area educators to develop evaluate or review best practices, program development, and teaching methods.
• Purchases, prepares, organizes, and maintains teaching, field trip and extended trip supplies.
• Makes arrangements, reservations, and schedules transportation for trips.
• Maintains databases and files of student information and program photos.
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed (i.e., informs students/ volunteers of safety guidelines and safe working practices and routinely monitors to enforce them.).
• May facilitate group activities, prepare and deliver lessons.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments prepared and on time.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings, as required.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively, using correct spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Interpersonal - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of (2) two years experience student teaching, teaching, naturalist, recreation leader, camp counselor or similar instructional experience working with the target population required.
• Knowledge of principles and processes of outdoor adventures and camping required.
• Experience with group leadership and educational background preferred.
• Must be able to swim, using the crawl stroke, for 300 yards.
• Must be competent guiding a canoe on moving water up to 10 miles a day.
• Knowledge of and adherence to all health and safety guidelines.
• Must have an interest in outdoors, ecology, and environmental issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with a team in preparing materials or lessons and in sharing expertise in science and teaching.
• Use of personal car may be required to purchase supplies and food; occasionally travel to schools within Missouri and Illinois surrounding areas. Travel required >25%.
• Scheduling flexibility and the ability to work overtime as needed in order to work some overnights, evenings, and weekends.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skills and / abilities required

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required with an emphasis on Science, Education, Science Education, Ecology, Recreation, outdoor education required.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in navigating through the Internet and other PC applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite 2003, (i.e Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Publisher).

Language Skills:

• Ability to effectively communicate in English (oral and written).

Mathematical Skills:

• Proficient basic math aptitude; requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, calculate percentages and decimals, etc.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Wilderness and Remote First Aid Certification.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain valid driver's license and valid chauffeur's license.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to walk up to three miles on uneven terrain, on and off trails.
• Ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion. Must be able to swim for 300 yards and canoe up to 10 miles a day on moving water, including portaging.
• Ability to sleep outdoors on the ground in a variety of conditions.
• Ability to work outdoors; with unavoidable variations in temperature and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. wet, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc).
• Flexible scheduling and overtime as needed to work overnights during the week, on weekends, and evening hours.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e. step stools, etc.).
• Able to lift up to (50) pounds (i.e., load, unload and move supplies and equipment).
• Must be able to drive a 15-passenger van.
• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, etc.).

Work Environment:

• Inside classroom and outside at various garden sites and off-site locations.
• Classroom and outside instruction and at school or informal institution sites.
• Quiet indoor office setting, shared by multiple staff within the Education department; cubical work area.
• Work outdoors, with unavoidable variations in temperature (100F or more and less than 32F) and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. humidity, rain, snow, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc).