Lead Seasonal Educator
: Job Details :

Overview:

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds and our planet are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community. Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary:

The Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington seeks experienced teachers, environmental educators, and naturalists to lead our nature day camps. The Lead Seasonal Educator will work with 3- to 5-year-old and 6- to 12-year-old children (and new this year, one week of 13 to 16-year-old campers!) as they explore the forests, brooks, meadows, and ponds on the Centers 255 acres.? Each week of camp focuses on a different theme and all campers get the chance to search for wildlife, make crafts, go on hikes, play games, and hone their nature awareness skills. New this year, our campers will be supported by both Lead Seasonal Educators and Seasonal Educators. This position is excellent for an experienced educator who is interested in taking on more responsibility as a leader and mentor at camp.

Lead Seasonal Educators will be responsible for teaching outdoors all summer, developing camp activities and curriculum, and working effectively as part of a dynamic camp team. The Lead Educator position will be responsible for helping to mentor the High School Counselors-in-Training and seasonal educators and solely responsible for creating lesson plans for at least 2 weeks of camp (we have resources to support lesson writing). They will be responsible for communicating and working effectively with the entire camp team, which includes: 3 Lead Seasonal Educators, 3 Seasonal Educators, an education intern, Audubons year-round staff, and high-school Counselors-in-Training. As we continue to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we still expect to implement practices to keep campers and staff safe, healthy, and well. Staff will be trained on practices that support camp-wide health.

Staff will work at both our Preschool Nature Camp (PNC) and Ecology Day Camp (EDC) and should feel comfortable with both age groups. Throughout the summer, educators will share the role of coordinating the weekly and daily logistics for campers at either PNC or EDC. At each camp there will be 2 Lead Educators, 1-3 Seasonal Educators, and 2-3 CITs each week. Audubon will challenge you to enhance your leadership, teaching, and mentoring skills while encouraging you to share the wonder of exploring the most magical places at the Green Mountain Audubon Center.???

Camp runs for 8 weeks, June 24 August 16.? There are six days of paid professional development and naturalist training prior to the start of camp from June 13th to June 21st (19th off for Juneteenth).? This is a full-time, seasonal opportunity with an estimated 40-hour work week.

Camp Schedule?

• Required Training before camp: 6 days from Thursday, June 13th to Friday, June 21st (no training over the weekend or on June 19th for Juneteenth)
• The Daily staff schedule is 8:00am 4:30pm.?
• Camp clean-up and debrief Monday, August 19th after camp.?
• All camp staff will have 2 unpaid vacation days on Wednesday, June 19th and Thursday, July 4th.??
• There is one required overnight camp-out at Audubon for staff working Ecology Day Camp Tuesday July 2nd with campers.
• There is one camp, Twilight Adventures, 8/5/24-8/9/24 that will require staff working Ecology Day Camp to be available from 2:30pm to 9:30pm.

?This role is on-site at the Audubon Vermont, Green Mountain Audubon Center, in Huntington, VT?.

Compensation:

$16.50-$17.00 / hour?

Essential Functions:

• Attend camp training week led by professional Audubon Teacher/Naturalists.?
• Each lead educator will be responsible for creating and planning at least two entire weeks of camp to include games, crafts, activities, and lessons following a nature-based curriculum. You will work with your co-educators to implement these lessons. Additionally, you will work with the camp team to plan two additional weeks altogether.
• Communicate plan for the day to other Counselors and CITs.
• Provide a fun, educational experience for children during camp.?
• Help maintain the safety and wellbeing of all camp participants and coworkers outside, all day long, throughout the summer.?
• Work as a cohesive team to ensure we provide the best camp experience possible.?
• Speak to camp parents and guardians daily, in a professional manner.?
• Coordinate and assist with the completion of camp duties including morning prep, daily cleaning, and tidying.?
• Act as a mentor to high school counselors-in-training
• Mentor Seasonal Educators as needed on appropriate teaching methods for children of various ages, behavioral challenges, etc.
• Help facilitate communication among Lead Seasonal Educators, Seasonal Educators, CITs, year-round education team, and Education Manager.
• Provide feedback to Audubon staff at mid-season and end of summer evaluations.?Complete Youth Leadership Survey before your last day.
• Special attention is to be taken for following all State, CDC, and Audubon guidelines for COVID-19 safety. Educators must keep good communication with the Camp Director and co-teachers with possible sick campers, etc. Deep cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, materials, tables and chairs and other items used during the day will be expected at the end of each camp day. Camp will be primarily outdoors, except for thunderstorms or other potentially dangerous hazards. Counselors showing/feeling any signs of COVID-19, will be asked to remain home and not return to camp following Audubon policies.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Must be at least 18
• 1 year of combined experience, working directly with children aged 3 to 12 at camps, afterschool programs, internships, etc.
• Demonstrated group management skills; ability to guide a group of up to 32 campers (with support).???
• Ability to implement written lesson plans, follow schedule, and think on your feet to come up with games and activities as needed.
• Love of outdoor exploration and questioning; ability to model curiosity and wonder about the natural world.?
• Interest in taking on a leadership role at camp.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.?
• Committed to reflecting the values of Audubon Vermont by working towards justice, equity, and inclusion. This includes respecting all aspects of human diversity, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, and sexual orientation.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.?
• Child and adult First Aid and CPR certification must be up to date by the start of staff camp. Let us know if you need CPR certification or recertification.?
• Must have reliable transportation to and from our Audubon Center in Huntington, VT. each day for work. We are 8.5 miles from the nearest bus stop.?
• Must have the ability to keep up with a group of campers on all major trails of the Audubon Center and on uneven terrain in the woods, fields, river, and hillsides.?
• Be able to run, sit, stand, grasp, lift, carry, walk, push, reach, climb and pull for short and extended periods of time.?
• Able to work outdoors in the heat of summer.?
• Must be able to pass a background check.?

EEO Statement:

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement:

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