Resident Outreach Coordinator

Imagine living somewhere surrounded by natural beauty and ample opportunities to hike, snowshoe, or canoe right out your front door! Join MHAS in engaging people of all ages to “develop a sense of wonder and joy for nature and the importance of wild places” at the Neilson Spearhead Center, just 11 miles south of Bemidji, MN.

The purpose of the resident outreach coordinator is to increase community engagement with the Neilson Spearhead Center (NSC) through organizing and promoting NSC events, representing and promoting MHAS/NSC to the community, and providing basic onsite security and building and grounds oversight.

This is a part-time, year-round, annual renewable position (averaging 10-15 hours per week). The coordinator will have an active role in helping the Board co-create a vibrant future for the Neilson Spearhead Center. They must have enthusiasm to continuously improve the Neilson Spearhead Center as a place to “foster personal connections to and stewardship of our natural world.” We hope growing community use and love of Spearhead will create opportunities to expand this position; e.g. leading NSC programs and activities, providing social media support, being our assistant or lead naturalist for the summer Young Naturalist Program, or facility and grounds maintenance services.

If interested, contact us or email your resume with a letter of interest to mhas@spearheadmhas.org. We will start reviewing applications on February 17th. Let us know how you can help shape Spearhead’s future!

Primary responsibilities:

• Organizing and promoting NSC events.
• Supporting science, research, & educational use and activities such as the Young Naturalist Program.
• Engaging and assisting visitors to enhance visitor experience at NSC. This requires having or developing a comprehensive familiarity of NSC site history, trail system, ecology, and nature sightings.
• Partnering with the MHAS Board to generate $5,000 to $10,000 per year of revenue (above current baseline) in support of the NSC through any combination of program, auxiliary, and gift income.
• Actively promoting MHAS via visitor interactions, articles, kiosk and signage.
• Developing and maintaining neighborhood relationships.
• Site security and property monitoring.
• Basic (homeowner-level) building and grounds maintenance

Neilson Spearhead Center

NSC is a 466 acre nature preserve in north-central Minnesota encircling a pristine, 189 acre headwater lake with pine-hardwood forests, wetlands, and bogs. Development is limited to a few rustic buildings, trails, and boardwalks designed and maintained to keep the visitor’s focus on their natural surroundings and not the built environment. Visitors to NSC can have a quiet, remote experience not commonly available at most other public parks or resorts.

Vision: The Neilson Spearhead Center is a ‘Walden Pond in the Northwoods’ - a place for experiential nature education, scientific research, quiet reflection, and contemplation; where one develops a sense of wonder and joy for nature and the importance of wild places.