Outdoor Educator

This job has expired.

Organization

Christodora-Manice Education Center

Job Posted

September 27, 2023

Job status

Open

Job Category

Job Type

Job Duration

Job Compensation Type

Remote

No

Website

https://www.christodora.org/

Careers

Contact Name

Jake Kreuzer

Contact Email

[email protected]

Deadline to Apply

Location

Florida, MA
United States
Outdoor Educators (OE) in the Fall/Spring School Programs work as residential, recreational camp counselors, facilitating three-day, school-chaperoned field trips at and nearby MEC for our partner NYC public schools. Staff work closely in a supportive atmosphere and teach small, mixed-gender groups of 10 youth in all types of weather (there is no bad weather, only poor preparation!) in forest, mountain, and pond settings during the spring and fall. The MEC staff lives in similarly rustic housing as students from Monday through Thursday each week: large, canvas-walled tents on top of large wooden platforms that can fit up to eight beds. Each school trip engages in nature hikes to a summit with a view of four states, an 80-foot cascading waterfall, and a unique bog ecosystem. During the summer program, MEC offers environmental and expedition (backpacking and canoeing) courses for NYC youth in grades 6-12 with approximately 40 campers in age-grouped sessions, running approximately one to three weeks in length.

Summary

Join our Spring Team: April 15 – May 31, 2024

Join our Summer Team: June 4 – Aug 24, 2024

Join our Fall Team: Sept 4 – Nov 2, 2024

Responsibilities:

  • Facilitate low-ropes challenge course activities designed for teamwork, communication, leadership skills, trust, and social-emotional outcomes
  • Inspire curiosity about the natural world through discovery-based activities in a variety of ecosystems
  • Plan active and experiential lessons from MEC’s discovery-based curriculum
  • Work closely with other educators within activity groups to create meaningful, problem-based,  experiential, and active environmental science lessons
  • Provide overnight supervision for up to seven youth in canvas-walled, cabin-style tents on large wooden platforms
  • Co-lead up to 14 youth participants on multi-night backpacking and canoeing trips in the summer program on the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, Deerfield River, and throughout Savoy Mountain State Forest

Qualifications:

Required:

  • Adventurous spirit, willingness to learn, passion for the outdoors, and enjoy connecting with youth from NYC
  • Background clearances and medical physical from a licensed medical professional required
  • BA/BS in related discipline, demonstrable professional experience, and/or previous Christodora program experience

Preferred:

  • Experience in environmental education in a residential camp or outdoor setting
  • Experience working with middle-school groups from large cities in classroom or outdoor settings
  • Spanish/English bilingual preferred
  • Valid driver’s license

Compensation Information

$650 weekly salary, commensurate with experience, room/board and meals at MEC during employment, outdoor equipment discounts, and training certifications listed below

Spring/Fall Training Opportunities: Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED certifications. Additionally, all educators receive hands-on training and ongoing professional development in the delivery of an active, outdoor, experientially driven curriculum, grounded in social-emotional development and trauma-informed care

Summer Training Opportunities: Wilderness First Aid through SOLO Wilderness Medicine; Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguarding (optional); and 1.5 day professional canoe training on flat and whitewater through ZOAR Outdoors. Additionally, all educators receive hands-on training and ongoing professional development in the delivery of an active, outdoor, experientially driven curriculum, grounded in social-emotional development and trauma-informed care