The Escondido Creek Conservancy is seeking a part-time, seasonal Environmental Education Facilitator to develop and implement a new outdoor summer day camp program for underserved youth in Escondido to become immersed in nature and scientific learning!

ABOUT US: Located in the County of San Diego, California, The Escondido Creek Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the Escondido Creek watershed.  The Conservancy has protected over 7,000 acres of wildlands and is working to improve creek water quality to enhance wildlife habitat.  The Conservancy also supports educational programs and compatible outdoor recreation within the watershed and in the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve—a 784-acre park featuring 11 miles of trails.

DUTIES: The Environmental Education Facilitator will work with the Conservancy’s Education Director and Education Manager to help develop and implement a new summer camp program—the Escondido Creek Adventure Camp—and will be the lead educator implementing the program curriculum for Escondido children, ages 7-10.  The Education Facilitator will connect youth with nature via a series of fully immersive week-long outdoor camps that run Monday-Friday and repeat each week. Responsibilities include:

• Participating in paid orientation training
• Developing a variety of lesson plans that enable youth to explore the natural world by hiking, playing, and conducting hands-on science; campers will learn about their local environment, the challenges it faces, and what they can do to help
• Leading each camp and implementing the curriculum, primarily at the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve and Grape Day Park, located in Escondido, CA
• Managing volunteer helpers to support the activities
• Ensuring that the youth are picked up by their parents/guardians by the end of each day
• Helping to recruit Escondido youth to enroll in the camp program
• Administering pre- and post-camp evaluation surveys
• Carrying out other duties as assigned

While the plan is for the summer camp to take place in person, given the uncertainty still surrounded the pandemic there is a possibility that the camp could need to be converted into a virtual format.  The Education Facilitator must be prepared to adapt for such a contingency.

QUALIFICATIONS: A background check and fingerprinting will be required.  Must be first aid and CPR certified before beginning work.  This is an entry-level position for someone with at least 1 year of experience working with youth.  Applicants should be team players comfortable working in both indoor and outdoor settings, in hot summer temperatures.  Patience working with children and a positive attitude are both essential.  Reliable transportation and flexible weekday-morning availability are also required.  Experience with curriculum development is desired but not required.  A bachelor’s degree in education, environmental conservation, or a related field is beneficial, but not required.  Similarly, familiarity with Southern California ecosystems, national and state education standards (NGSS; Common Core), and inquiry-based learning concepts are all a plus, but not required.  

HOURS: Curriculum development and youth camper enrollment will begin by late April, and will require approximately 80 hours of work on the part of the Education Facilitator, spread out over several weeks as determined by the Education Director, according to the workload required.  After that, the Education Facilitator will spend 30 hours per week implementing camps, for 8 weeks.  Camps will occur Monday-Friday, 8:00-2:00, with the first 1-week camp beginning June 21, 2021, and the eighth and final camp of the summer ending after August 13, 2021.  After the camps have concluded, the Education Facilitator will have 10 hours allotted for program evaluation.  In total, the Education Facilitator should expect to spend approximately 330 hours in the role.

There is a possibility of additional hours for other programs occurring in the fall 2021-22 school year, contingent upon funding.

PAY: The pay rate is $22/hour.  Mileage between Grape Day Park and the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve will be reimbursed $0.56/mile (the 2021 CA Mileage Reimbursement standard rate).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The position will remain open until filled. However, applicants should submit resumes by April 11th to be considered.

Please Note: The position is pending final approvals. Final approvals are expected before interviews commence.