Coastal Environmental Educator

Make the beach and salt marsh your new outdoor classroom at the Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island! A Georgia barrier island surrounded by nature, history and beach town vibes; this opportunity is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast looking for living and working in a coastal community! As part of University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Georgia 4-H, Burton 4-H Center’s Environmental Education Program provides high-quality day and residential (overnight) learning experiences and is a partner in education to serve public, private, and homeschool groups across the Southeast. In our outdoor classroom, our research-based curriculum correlates to the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE), providing hands-on learning opportunities and connections in the context of the real world.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island is accepting applications until filled for 6-8 seasonal educators. Staff training for the 2023-2024 Environmental Education Season begins (tentative start date) August 21, 2023-September 8, 2023. Residential environmental education programs resume September 10, 2023-June 1, 2024. Depending on reservations and impacts of hurricane season, there will be a short-term 4 to 6 week Christmas/winter break determined by November 1, 2023. Please note, a successful pre-employment background will be required prior to start date (4-8 weeks processing estimate).

PRIMARY EDUCATOR RESPONSIBILITIES (60%)

Environmental Educators will teach hands-on day classes and evening classes most frequently to 3rd-8th grade students and chaperoning adults attending residential (overnight) environmental education programs. Coastal classes cover material on barrier island ecology, herpetology (reptiles), marine invertebrates, ornithology (birds), dissections, local history, and more! Please click to view a full listing of our  Burton 4-H Center EE Class Descriptions.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES (40%)

Additional duties include, but are not limited to, student and adult group management while teaching programs, dorm cleaning 2-3 times a week, assisting with meal service in the dining hall, maintaining teaching facilities and supplies, providing animal husbandry for residential education animals, operating UGA vehicles and 14-passenger mini-buses to transport guests, lead staff rotations, and various maintenance projects on center as needed. Educators must be able to work outside in buggy environments, extreme heat / cold and be flexible as schedules will adjust and shift with changing weather conditions and late guests arrivals.

WORK SCHEDULE

Workdays are consistently Monday-Friday with weekly hours/schedule depending on reservations (spring season being more demanding than fall season). Mondays and Wednesdays are longer days due to teaching arrival day evening classes, accommodating Sunday arrivals, and/or Wednesday turn-over between sessions. Throughout the year, there are potential opportunities of working at other UGA Georgia 4-H facilities including Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Wahsega 4-H Center, Fortson 4-H Center and Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll. Working at other 4-H Centers is dependent of facility staffing needs and availability to support our overall shared mission and goals of the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education Program. Weekend work is limited due to attempt of balancing hours. Opportunities may arise for weekend work (i.e. community outreach and tabling, weekend groups, etc.), in which staff coverage is based on educator willingness and commitment. Time off is allowed, supported and flexible with advanced and professional notification (and approval) from direct supervisor.

ELIGIBILITLY REQUIREMENTS 

Seasonal applicants committed to the Environmental Education Season (August-May school year), are required to have a bachelor’s degree (education or science preferred). Ideal applicants are recommended to have a minimum of 1-2 years of experience working with students in a summer camp, traditional, nontraditional and/or outdoor education setting.

RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates have a commitment, genuine interest in youth development, strong passion for education, enthusiasm for life-long learning and seek opportunities for connecting students with meaningful experiences in science and the natural world. Applicants with customer service and hospitality/food industry experience are strongly encouraged. Ideal candidates also have dynamic personality, group management skills, leadership abilities, teamwork mindset, self-confidence, effective communication skills, a positive attitude and flexibility. Qualities fitting for the job include adaptability, integrity, willingness to connect and build relationships, and the desire to grow and be challenged.

HOW TO APPLY?

1. Go to www.ugajobsearch.com

2. At the “Posting Number” type the UGA Posting # G/R21312P

3. Click “Search”

4. Click “View Details”

5. Click “Apply for this Posting” and complete the UGA application

6. After applying, notify Environmental Education Program Coordinator, Erine-Fay McNaught (erinefay.mcnaught@uga.edu) of your submitted application. Please include your application confirmation #, your attached resume, cover letter and 3 work references (academic references will not be considered unless applying for undergraduate internship).