Nature Center Instructional Guide

JobID: 939

OVERVIEW: Johnson Nature Center is a 40-acre nature preserve that includes more than 2 miles of
trails, a scenic four-acre inland pond, a sugar bush, and a visitor center. Johnson Nature Center has
hosted educational programming for schools and the surrounding community since 1968, including field
trips, camps, and community events.

REPORTS TO: Education Specialist; Johnson Nature Center

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Nature Center Guide will contribute to increasing visitors’ awareness of their
surrounding natural environment and cultural heritage. The Guide will foster the appreciation,
enjoyment, and sustainable use of our Michigan natural and cultural resources through education with a
commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position includes providing instructional support to
educators in Bloomfield Hills Schools and the surrounding communities, connecting the outdoors to the
classroom, in addition to contributing to community development through educational programs and
community events.

The Nature Center Guide will be scheduled to support educational programs and community events on
an as-needed basis with advance notice provided. This is an hourly, on-call position with hours that vary
by the season, which may include weekend and evening work.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Work alongside staff to plan, lead, and provide high-quality educational programs and
community events for diverse learners and visitors
● Attend and actively engage in required professional development and meetings
● Be responsible for implementing risk management plans to maintain the safety of students and
visitors, including recognizing and reporting hazards in the outdoor setting as well as physical
symptoms of participant injury and illness

● Organize, assemble, and be responsible for the materials and supplies needed for programs and
community events
● Collaborate with and support volunteers
● Communicate effectively with teachers, the public, and staff
● Care for plants, animals, and site on an as-needed basis
● Supports and participates in other Bloomfield Hills Schools functions as appropriate or as
needed by leadership and administrative staff