Outdoor Education Instructor

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and teach classes, primarily in the outdoor environment, to students in the 4th to 8th grades.
• Develop curricula and resources for the program.
• Assist in the maintenance and upkeep of campus teaching, habitat, and resource storage areas.
• Assist in the coordination of the residential outdoor education program.

 Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in education, science, natural resources, recreation, history, or related field.
• Two months experience teaching or facilitating learning experiences for youth. This may include classroom teaching, summer camp, natural history or environmental education, facilitating outdoor recreation experiences and other non-formal teaching experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an educator, program staff, naturalist or related position at a residential outdoor education center, nature center, or similar facility preferred.
• Previous experience in preparing lesson plans, outlines, or guides in preparation to teach or facilitate activities.
• Previous experience leading or facilitating groups in team building activities.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for the outdoors and outdoor education, even when conditions are challenging.
• Demonstrated professionalism as related to the field.
• Demonstrated initiative to go above and beyond minimum assigned duties.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with co-workers and supervisors to achieve the goals of the program. 
• Ability to convey information about environmental topics without bias and with the goal of encouraging lifelong learning.
• Ability to effectively engage in behavior management in order to maintain students’ interest and participation in outdoor classes and activities.
• Ability to manage work time effectively and with little supervision to ensure preparedness and project completion.
• Flexibility and the ability to deal with the unexpected and quickly changing nature of outdoor activities and children.
• Demonstrated competence in verbal communication, particularly the ability to present information, ideas, directions, etc. in a clear and concise manner.

Physical Demands

• Ability to hike hilly, uneven terrain. Ability to be on feet for much of the day.

Background Check: A successful pre-employment background check investigation, including a successful criminal background check will be required prior to start date.

Required Applicant Documents 

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
4. List of three references

For full consideration, please submit application and documents through NIU online employment system at https://employment.niu.edu/postings/76713. Applications received prior to 3/22/2024 will receive full consideration. Applications will be accepted after 3/22/2024 if needed, until all positions are filled.  For questions contact Lorado Taft Campus director, Melanie Costello, melcostello@niu.edu.