YMCA East Bay Outdoor School at Camp Arroyo is hiring Naturalists for the Spring 2019 season, beginning this January. Camp Arroyo is owned and maintained by East Bay Regional Park District, and YMCA of the East Bay operates camp in partnership with The Taylor Family Foundation.  YMCA of the East Bay has been operating residential outdoor environmental education programming at Camp Arroyo since 2003, serving upper elementary students from Alameda and Contra Costa counties, as well as other Bay Area locales.  Our core curriculum is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards.  At Camp Arroyo we foster a strong culture of personal and professional growth, self-assessment and reflection, and program evaluation and improvement.

Naturalists lead three-, four- and five-day education programs for fourth through sixth graders from around the Bay Area, September through June. Our experiential curriculum focuses on sustainability in the following lesson areas:

• Organic gardening 
• Green architecture and renewable energy
• Native Ohlone culture and lifeways
• Local ecology hike
• Freshwater Ecology
• Three-mile hike with an emphasis on personal accomplishment, watersheds, and geology
• Team building initiatives and the climbing wall
• Occasional challenge course (high and low ropes elements) facilitation for weekend groups

Essential Job Duties:

As a naturalist, you will be responsible for the following each week:

• Teaching the above curriculum to the same group of 15-17 students for the week
• Developing experiential, inquiry-based lesson plans
• Facilitating community-building initiatives with groups
• Orienting participants to program areas, including dining hall and cabins
• Leading two to three meals in dining hall
• Leading one to two structured activities during student recreation time
• Working two evening programs (skit nights, night hike, or dance)
• Assisting with the prep, maintenance, and clean-up of program supplies and areas
• Participating in staff development
• Working occasional weekend programs

Qualifications:

• Prefer at least 2 years of experience in environmental education programs, especially residential programs
• At least a four-year degree or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of the above curriculum areas or the passion and follow-through to learn more 
• Experience working with a diversity of children from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds 
• Ability to work flexible work hours
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Positive management skills with children
• Ability to walk up to 5 miles per day
• Musical and acting abilities are a plus! (It is a camp setting, so be prepared to perform in front of large groups of kids!)
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, with AED training
• Previous challenge/ropes course experience preferred
• Lifeguard certification, WFR/EMT certifications, and language skills are desirable
• Flexibility, a positive attitude, and a sense of humor are absolutely required!
 

Compensation Information:      

• $14/hour

• Provided housing
• Food during programming
• Stipend for development opportunities
• Pro-deal accounts with various outdoor equipment vendors