Seasonal Naturalist

Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies
Capon Bridge, WV 26711   
Employment Type: Seasonal/Temporary  (Sept. 6–October 30)

The Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies (BCWS) is the mountain campus of the Burgundy Farm Country Day School, a progressive school where priorities are diversity and nature. To read more about our mission, visit our website.

Grades 1–8 attend 3-day overnight programs. The outdoor classroom and everyday curricula are mutually integrated. BCWS interweaves hands-on nature, science, arts, and humanities. The program develops alongside the children, increasing challenges and skills each year.

BCWS employees teach classes, lead hikes, facilitate traditional camp activities, assist with some daily operations and facility upkeep, as well as guiding student work teams in some kitchen tasks, and advising chaperones.

32 students are accompanied by teachers and parent chaperones who supervise free times and assist with bedtime and some kitchen duties.

A workweek is 5 days. Weeks vary, but there are half-day and full day chunks of free time between trips. Some set up and cleaning work will be required on days when students are not present.

Staff participate in program design, set up and breakdown. With classes, workdays are approximately 7 AM–9 PM, with breaks. Occasional duties later at night may include night walks and a few tenting sleep-outs. Additionally, the staff tends to gather over a cup of tea to review and plan—and laugh.

BCWS inhabits a 506-acre wildlife sanctuary in eastern WV: ridges, field, thicket, forest, spring, stream, and pond. Pole-barn buildings with electricity and wi-fi are clustered in one area. Staff share screened sleeping cabins.

Qualifications: Individuals with proven interests in education, field biology, and conservation, age 18+.

Experience working with children ages 6-13 is ideal, and comfort working alongside adults is helpful. Must be physically able to lead hikes and a few sleep-outs. Wilderness First Aid and CPR are required.

Lifeguard certification and/or experience with institutional kitchen operations are a plus.

How to apply:

How to Apply: Please submit a resume and a letter of interest to Joe Heathcock, BCWS Director at [email protected].  

Burgundy Farm Country Day School actively maintains its commitment to equal opportunity for all employees. To fulfill this commitment, we recruit, hire, promote, and retain individuals in all job titles without regard to race, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, or disability.