Chewonki Foundation is a year-round, nonprofit environmental education center based on a 400-acre peninsula in mid-coast Maine. We offer semester school for high school juniors, summer camps for boys, all-girl adventures, co-ed wilderness expeditions for teens and adults, programs for independent and public school groups, and traveling natural history programs.

Outdoor Classroom for Schools Chewonki's Outdoor Classroom program is a unique model where educators work with residential school programs leading groups of students on base-camping trips and facilitating lessons in ecology, natural history, sustainability, organic farming, team building and outdoor living. During these programs educators live with their students and school chaperone in small groups camping at shore-side campsites on Chewonki Neck, sleeping in tents, cooking over open fires, and teaching other hard skills. Personal growth, appreciation for the natural world and building community are the three core values that support Chewonki’s mission. Each Outdoor Classroom program strives to achieve each of these core values. The majority of programming takes place on Chewonki's 400-acre peninsula, which is surrounded by tidal estuaries. The land is mostly wooded, and also contains fields, two freshwater ponds, a working organic farm, an extensive salt marsh, a hiking trail system and ten established shore side campsites with tent platforms. In addition to the base camping programs, the OC program also offers wilderness trips and day programs for schools. The Outdoor Program Educator position spans two seasons, late March through late October.

During the summer months, Outdoor Educators take on leadership responsibilities in Chewonki’s Wilderness Trip Program. Chewonki Wilderness Programs are managed from our campus in Wiscasset, ME. This program facilitates over 60 separate wilderness programs within the 10-week summer season. The tripping program consists of cabin wilderness trips for our Chewonki Camp for Boys, Adventures for Girls, and co-ed extended wilderness trips for teenagers ages 13-18.

Mission Chewonki inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives.

Qualifications Bachelor Degree in a related field e.g. environmental education, natural sciences, recreation, etc. Passionate about working with students and other educators Experienced in teaching ecology, natural history, sustainability, team building and outdoor living. Adaptive, communicative, accountable, solution focused Candidates must pass a background check and have driving record approved by Chewonki’s insurance carrier.

Salary and Other Details Salary for the Outdoor Classroom season is $355.00 per week plus room and board. Salary for the summer portion starts at a base rate of $3,600.00 with adjustments for experience. The two salaries are combined and spread over the employment period. Educators earn one half Paid Time Off day each pay period. PTO is taken with supervisor approval in consideration of program schedule. Health insurance is available in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.