Summer Environmental Educator

Environmental Educator

at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Organization Description:   

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service overseeing the Golden Gate National Recreation Area — 84,000 acres of national parkland spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, including Muir Woods, Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, and Alcatraz Island. The Parks Conservancy is a membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future.    

With our local and federal partners, the Parks Conservancy is committed to the work of supporting Bay Area national parks as places where we can further racial and social justice for our community and climate resilience for these protected lands.   

Department Description:   

The Parks Conservancy Youth Programs team prioritizes individuals, groups, and communities that national parks and conservation organizations have failed to previously serve. Our programs encourage new generations to become bold leaders for thriving parks, healthy communities, and a more environmentally just society. Our programs erase boundaries between communities and the environment. Each program is community driven and inspired. Our programs focus on teaching participants about social and environmental issues while building leadership skills that can contribute to positive change.  

Our programs not only engage youth across the Golden Gate National Recreation Area but in their individual communities as well. Our programs span multiple counties and work with a variety of partnerships. To deliver our programs the Crissy Field Center works with partners like the OneTam Collaborative, National Park Service, and Presidio Trust. These partners provide opportunities for youth to engage in stewardship, conservation, and volunteer work. Our department is in the Presidio of San Francisco at the bottom of “Tunnel Tops”.  

Position Overview:  

We are hiring two Environmental Educators. The term for both positions is May 30th, 2023, to August 11th, 2023.  

The Environmental Educator is responsible for supporting the Conservancy’s Youth Programs Managers in the facilitation of leadership and education programs for local youth. The Environmental Educator facilitates activities centering around environmental science, environmental justice, service learning, outdoor experiences, visual art, wellness, and leadership development. In addition to program delivery, the Environmental Educator supports program evaluation, teaching spaces, logistics, program photography, and the mentorship of youth participants. Depending on our team’s needs, there may also be opportunities for curriculum development. Programs take place at the Crissy Field Center, in parks, at schools, and in communities of the youth we serve. 

During Summer 2023 (June-August), the Environmental Educator will primarily support the Urban Trailblazers (UTB) Middle School Leadership Program. Some of the primary activities of UTB include outdoor adventures such as camping and hiking, leadership development workshops, project-based learning, and service learning. 

The Environmental Educator typically works a Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm schedule. There is the possibility to have schedules shifted to accommodate overnight trips, field trips, and trainings. The Environmental Educator is expected to support with the facilitation of 2-3 or more overnight camping trips during the summer. Schedules, including any irregular hours, overtime hours, and overnight trips, will be planned with supervisor support and approval. 

In Summer 2023 the Environmental Educator will work in-person and is based at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio.  

For Summer 2023, the Youth Programs Department is looking for candidates with one or more of the following competencies: 

• Spanish Language Ability: Ability to facilitate programming, connect with youth, and communicate with youth’s families in Spanish. 

• Competency to Facilitate Programs with Middle School Students: The Environmental Educator’s primary audience is middle school aged youth. 

Not having these skills will not disqualify applicants from consideration. 

Reports To: 

The Environmental Educator reports to one of the Youth Programs Managers. 

Key Responsibilities: 

This is an education and youth development position that includes the instruction and mentorship of youth and program support to the multiple youth-serving programs. 

Program Development and Delivery: 

• Leads youth participants in outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, camping, team-building activities, service learning, and environmental education lessons. 

• Delivers project-based learning curriculum for youth. 

• Facilitates in-classroom activities and presentations.  

• Assists with lesson planning. 

• Delivers programs in English and other languages spoken by youth participants (if applicable). 

• Facilitates overnight camping trips with youth. Assists with program planning for overnight programs. 

• Supports youth with interdisciplinary projects. 

• Creates a physically and emotionally safe space for youth to engage in the outdoors  

• Prepares materials for activities. Cleans up after activities. 

• Drives work vehicles and is responsible for all passenger safety and supervision during transport. 

Youth Mentorship and Supervision  

• Supports program managers in developing short-term and long-term goals for youth. 

• Mentors and/or supervises high school aged youth interns. 

• Models healthy and supportive behavior for youth participants. 

• Facilitate lessons that support leadership and professional career skills for youth participants.  

• Supports supervision of youth work plans. 

• With direction from program managers, provides positive and constructive feedback to youth. 

Collaboration and Coordination 

• Supports program managers in communicating with program partners. 

• Supports with program evaluation and reporting. 

• Edits and catalogs photos of youth programs for use in outreach and fundraising. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Commitment to education, youth development, and social justice. 

• Knowledge of environmental justice issues. Ability to make connections between environmental and social issues. Commitment to supporting youth-led advocacy. 

• Ability to connect with diverse groups of youth, especially middle school and high school aged youth. Interest and ability to make curriculum relevant to youth audiences. Understanding of issues related to the urban environment, as well as current local, regional, and global events that may impact youth’s home communities. 

• Willingness to work with communities historically excluded from environmental experiences and careers in the Bay Area, including low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.  

• Teamwork: Ability to contribute to group goals and the organizational mission. Ability to relate effectively to others when encountering difficult situations. Can collaboratively support curriculum refinement and brainstorm lesson plan ideas. Ability to collaborate and co-lead programs. Ability to balance team and individual responsibilities.  

• Good Judgment: Can exhibit sound and accurate judgment. Able to analyze calculated risks while prioritizing the safety of both staff and youth. Includes appropriate staff and/or community members in the decision-making process. 

• Flexibility: Can comfortably shift priorities as the team’s needs change. Can work in a variety of outdoor and indoor environments. Can adapt to a flexible work schedule that does include some evening, weekend, and overnight work (camping trips primarily). Able to change or adapt programs on the spot based on youth needs.  

• Ability to stay positive, energetic, and creative during program planning and implementation. 

• Ability to take initiative and recognize what tasks need to be done. 

• Ability to receive direction and feedback in a constructive manner. 

• Ability to stay organized and pay attention to detail. 

• Leadership: exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well.  

Education and/or Experience: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent. 

• One or more school years working with elementary, middle school, or high school students. 

• Experience working with diverse groups of youth. This includes multiple dimensions of diversity such as race/ethnicity, income, language, physical ability, sexuality, gender identity, and neurodiversity.  

• Experience, strong interest, or education in environmental education, child development, recreation, or other related fields. 

• Experience (personal or professional) with one or more of the of the following: facilitation, leading small groups, visual arts, science, or outdoor recreation. 

• Knowledge of environmental and social issues, especially those issues affecting underserved Bay Area youth. 

• Multilingual preferred: Able to speak language(s) other than English that are spoken by Bay Area communities, Spanish preferred. 

• Capacity to work outdoors in all kinds of weather and site conditions. 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.  

• Due to the nature of this position, we require the Live Scan fingerprint clearance in addition to the standard pre-employment background check. 

• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, SharePoint, etc.) 

Licenses: 

• Valid Driver’s License with 2 years of driving experience. Employees must have a clean driving record.  

• CPR and First Aid certification- will assist upon hire. 

Health and Safety: 

It is the policy of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthful workplace free from recognized hazards that may cause harm to employees, consistent with and in compliance with applicable state and federal laws. Employees will play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and will comply with all applicable health and safety rules. The Conservancy is committed to the goal of implementing an effective health and safety program and an injury prevention program. 

Based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks Conservancy requires all employees, interns, and independent contractors to be vaccinated and to provide proof of such vaccination as a condition of employment or performing contract work. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

• Schedule (Summer): Typically, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, with some evening work. 2-3 overnight programs over the summer. 

• Works in-person and is based at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio.  

• Work is performed in multiple settings, including at a desk in an office, in front of a computer, in indoor teaching spaces such as classrooms, and in outdoor settings such as parks.  

• Ability to hike 5 miles on uneven terrain.  

• Work is often performed standing or walking with a backpack.  

• Frequently lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 25 pounds. 

• Occasionally sits at a computer station for up to 3-4 hours. 

• Regularly drives youth and staff in work vehicles. 

• Work will be performed in person with safety precautions. If in-person work is deemed unsafe by the Conservancy’s Director of Safety for COVID or any other reason, work will be performed virtually.  

Pay Rate and Benefits: 

This is a seasonal position working an average of 40 hours per week, from May 30th to August 11th. Overtime is paid for any hours exceeding 8 hours in one day. The hourly wage is $24/hour.  

This is a non-benefitted position. Educators do receive paid sick time. Educators also receive unpaid time off on Federal holidays. Additionally, educators have access to the Employee Assistance Program and Employee discounts. Uniform shirts, jacket, and hat with the Parks Conservancy logo will be provided. 

To Apply: 

Please submit a thoughtful application, cover letter, and resume here: https://www.parksconservancy.org/careers. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Application review will begin by March 20th, 2023. Applications received after that date may not be considered. 

Past Parks Conservancy and One Tam staff and youth program participants (I-YEL, REYL, Project WISE, and LINC) are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Start date is May 30th, 2023. End Date is August 11th, 2023. 

Disclaimer: 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. 

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement, and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.