October through March:  October 1, 2018 – May 17, 2019

20-37 hours/week, occasional weekends: Generally Monday through Friday work schedule, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Hours are somewhat flexible, as there are some weekend events, some days when afternoons are free, and some days schools start earlier than 9:00 a.m. There may be some weeks when you are asked to work Saturday instead of Monday.

Classroom Visits: You are expected to teach classroom programs throughout the duration of the position. This involves learning certain programs for each grade level, Pre-K through 5. Training and observation opportunities are provided before you teach your first classes. Classroom programs involve interacting with children, classroom management, and conveying knowledge effectively to elementary aged students. Typically you will teach 5 – 6 programs in a school day. Three to four days per week are spent in schools.

Discovery Walks:  In October and May we lead guided walks. You may be expected to lead a fall walk, if experience allows, but certainly lead May walks. Your job is to engage the students in meaningful learning activities along the walk and to make sure you keep to a specified schedule. Training and observation is provided before you lead your first solo walk. Discovery Walks involve informal teaching methods, group management in an outdoor setting, and conveying information to students in an effective and appropriate way outdoors.

Public Programs: You are expected to assist with public programs if needed that happen during your employment. Programs range from sit-down lecture-type programs, to hands-on workshops. Holiday Camp, Snow Camp and Mud Camp are precursors to our Summer Day Camp and you are expected to assist with those days. Events held within the time frame of your employment are First Fridays, Enchanted Forest, the Annual Dinner, Thanksgiving with the Birds, Christmas with the Critters, Doors Open Jamestown, Snowflake Local Living Festival, Plant Exchange and Sale, Birdathon, and other single-year events.

What do we do for you?

You’ll walk away from this job with experience working in classroom settings with elementary age students. Hopefully, you will have gained confidence in presenting topics to this age range and developed the skills to communicate your message effectively and efficiently. You will learn to adjust your teaching methods to the skill and knowledge levels of the audience. Naturalists will work with you to teach classroom management techniques, different teaching methods, and age-appropriate delivery of information.

You will gain experience teaching outside the formal classroom by assisting with and teaching live animal programs, public programs (such as birthday parties or scouts), and discovery walks. This will allow you to learn the differences between formal and informal education methods.

You will gain a better understanding of the workings of a small non-profit. Through administrative tasks and learning opportunities, you will see that a naturalist wears many hats in the course of his/her work. It’s not all teaching and nature!

You will learn more about the natural world through professional development opportunities with volunteers, staff, and workshops/conferences. This knowledge will give you more confidence to lead walks, prepare lesson plans, and feel comfortable teaching about the natural world.

Finally, we hope you walk away with a better understanding that environmental education is a way of life, not a field of interest. Through experience, knowledge and action, your work here will give you the tools to shape the future and its citizens.