Beach Naturalist

About ESC: The Environmental Science Center (ESC) is a non-profit organization offering experiential environmental education programs at local beaches, streams, forested areas, and in classrooms throughout south King County. Our goals are to foster environmental stewardship actions in all participants of our programs, and to offer knowledge and resources for communities to deepen their relationship with their local environment. ESC recognizes that many communities in south King County – particularly Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrant/refugee, and low-income communities – have been systematically excluded from safe, positive, and relevant outdoor experiences, and we are striving to change that. We aim to remove some of the barriers to these experiences by providing free and low-cost programs, and by working to create a safe and affirming space within our programs and in the broader community. 

Nature of the work: We are currently hiring Beach Naturalists for our spring 2024 Beach Heroes Program. Naturalists will be teaching on-site at Seahurst Beach in Burien, WA, with the potential for some virtual programming as well, as needed due to health guidelines and school requirements. The two-part Beach Heroes program introduces students in grades K-3 to the local Puget Sound beach habitat and the organisms that live there. During the 1-hour Introductory Lesson students are introduced to proper beach etiquette and stewardship while learning about marine invertebrates and their relationship to the beach habitat. The 2-hour Field Lesson focuses on student-centered beach exploration and includes a structured activity through which students learn about the seawall removal and habitat restoration that has taken place at Seahurst Beach. ESC curriculum is provided for all components. 

Responsibilities: 

• Facilitate 2-hour student-centered Field Lesson programs at Seahurst Beach, focused on common intertidal marine organisms, the ecological importance of the nearshore habitat, student connection with the outdoors, and beach stewardship. 
• Model appropriate stewardship behavior.
• Guide groups of 10-15 students during field study programs. 
• Give feedback on programs and contribute to staff debriefs. 

Qualifications: 

• Experience teaching youth in outdoor or informal settings.
• Knowledge of or enthusiasm to learn about the Puget Sound nearshore habitat, including marine invertebrate identification, tide zonation, and ecological relationships.
• Willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions. 
• Exceptional interpretive skills.  
• Priority will be given to applicants who are bilingual in Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Ukrainian, or another language commonly spoken in south King County.
• Must be able to pass a Washington State background check. 
• COVID-19 vaccination required. 

Compensation: $20.50/hour, $21.50/hour for bilingual naturalists 

Time Commitment: Part-time/seasonal, based on demand from schools and low tide schedule. Naturalists will be scheduled primarily for Field Lessons with the potential for work with other ESC programs (public programs, after school programs, etc.). Each Field Lesson is a 3.25-hour shift; estimated 2-6 shifts on weeks where there are low tides. The ESC Beach Heroes season starts in late March and runs through the end of the school year in late June. Field studies are typically scheduled Monday – Friday between 9:00am and 2:30pm. There may be special weekend programs and projects on occasion. Beach naturalist time commitment per shift is approximately 2.5 hours, with 45 minutes paid travel per Field Lesson. 

Attendance is required at the naturalist training sessions on March 13th and 14th at Seahurst Park in Burien. 

Supervisor: Hanna Jones, Beach Heroes Program Manager 

Work Location: Seahurst Park, 1600 SW Seahurst Drive, Burien, WA 98166 

How to Apply: Please fill out the naturalist application linked on our website and send an updated resume with subject line “Job Opening Beach Naturalist” via e-mail to ESC’s Program Manager: hanna@environmentalsciencecenter.org Applications due by Wednesday, February 21st . For more information, please email Hanna