Learning Experiences and Responsibilities

• Build your knowledge in Adirondack natural history, climate change, public speaking, visitor engagement, leadership, and job skills
• Facilitate short, informal conversations featuring live animals including river otters and birds of prey and learn to handle live animals including turtles, birds, and mammals for interpretive experiences 
• Help maintain and traverse our outdoor campus, including opening and closing duties, trail sweeps, and general tidying of outdoor spaces
• Learn best practices of online digital engagement and assist with TWC’s digital content creation and presentation, including virtual field trips, live digital programs, and special virtual events
• Build your knowledge of and teach climate science while engaging with visitors in a brand new exhibit opening in 2022 focused on solutions to reverse climate change 
• Work outside to facilitate seasonal interpretive activities, such as ice fishing and snowshoeing in the winter, maple sugaring in the spring, or guided canoe trips in the summer season 
• Specialize in an educational pathway, such as animal husbandry, school program logistics, compost logistics, etc, dependent on individual interest and museum need
• Work cross-departmentally with admissions, store, and facilities, to provide excellent customer service to all visitors in a variety of roles
• Work schedule is 40 hours per week, including weekends, special events, and occasional mornings and evenings 

Qualifications

• Flexibility and the ability to adapt to change - we work in a dynamic setting with shifting daily duties
• Self-motivated - you seek opportunities to learn and grow and can thrive independently
• Positive attitude and a willingness to work with people - you will work directly with visitors of all ages and must enjoy working and communicating with people
• Teamwork and collaboration - we work in a team based environment and offer support across departments
• Organization and time management skills - you will work on multiple tasks concurrently
• Maturity and professionalism - we will consider you if you demonstrate the above skills regardless of level of education completed
• An interest in teaching natural history and climate science and working outdoors in all seasons
• An interest in learning more about a career in environmental education, museum studies, or related fields 
• Availability - available from mid January through mid November of 2022, with flexibility upon discussion
• Policies - be prepared to adhere to all Wild Center policies including NYS Covid safety procedures and regulations. Covid 19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment.

Compensation & Benefits

• $13.20/hour (40 hours per work week) 
• Shared, fully equipped housing less than 1 mile from The Wild Center, with all utilities included
• Accrual of paid sick time
• The opportunity to work in an environmentally conscious facility featuring over 40 species of live exhibit animals on an 115 acre site along the Raquette River
• Health and Safety, Accessibility, and Customer Service training provided
• Certified Interpretive Guide training through the National Association of Interpretation
• Formal training opportunities and ongoing mentorship in the foundation of interpretation, visitor engagement techniques, questioning strategies, and interactive applications, including digital programming
• Water safety and canoe training along with the use of canoes, kayaks, and SUP’s outside of work hours
• The Wild Center strives to create an environment where our team thrives both personally and professionally. While life on the job can move at a fast pace, we appreciate the times we can slow down. Whether it's sharing stories over a staff potluck, being wowed by cool science facts, or taking a break during a meeting to view a cute animal - we make time to grow together as a community.