Environmental Educator / Assistant Naturalist

Putnam|Northern Westchester BOCES anticipates a full-time vacancy for an Environmental Educator/Assistant Naturalist with the Center for Environmental Education (CEE) to support CEE's nonresidential environmental education program. An environmental educator/assistant naturalist creates, develops, and leads instructional programs concerning nature, conservation and/or the environment, often with live animals and/or animal artifacts to a mainly public-school student audience. Most programs are 45 to 60-minute classroom programs at the school designed for students grades K through 12, and we also offer an expanding selection of on-campus field trips. Additionally, in the fall and spring, campus-based day-long Challenge Course programs and in-school team building are very popular.  In addition to school programming support, assistant naturalists design and lead an outdoor-based Young Naturalist summer camp and assist seasonal counselors.  Additional responsibilities for the position include daily animal care for the center’s animal ambassadors, including rotating weekend care, trail and on-campus educational space management and development, and a range of office responsibilities. 

We strive to create an environment in which naturalists continue their own personal and professional growth in alignment with the overall mission of our program. Assistant naturalists often lead regional professional development, facilitate adult learning opportunities and peer conferences, support special events and regional programming, pursue special interest projects, participate in campus and regional committees, and more. 

This is a Westchester County civil service position with all of the associated benefits (including access to the New York State Employee Retirement System). Housing is not included with this position. 

In cooperation with the CEE Team, the Assistant Naturalist is responsible for all of the following: 

• Instruct students K-12 both in-person (and virtually as necessary) in lessons regarding all matters of Natural History, Ecology, Conservation, Physical Science, and any and all disciplines concerning environmental science (mostly in school classrooms) 
• Lead team-building programs for both students and adults 
• Facilitate groups of all ages on the PNW BOCES low-ropes challenge course 
• Provide animal care for a wide variety of local and exotic animals including but not limited to snakes, turtles, birds of prey, and mammals. 
• Provides feedback for updating and refining existing programs 
• Develop new and innovative lessons aligned to the newly established New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS) 
• Design and lead an outdoor based Young Naturalist summer camp and assist seasonal counselors 
• Maintain and repair various program materials as well as create new program materials 
• Assist the entire CEE team in helping create or enhance natural teaching space on the PNW BOCES campus 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Conservation, Biology, Science Education, Ecology, or a related field 
• 2 years of teaching experience either in classroom, Outdoor Education center or Nature Center 
• Experience facilitating team building and challenge course activities 
• Experience caring for and handling various species of reptiles, mammals and birds. 
• Experience working with a raptor on-glove is preferred. 
• Fluency in Microsoft office programs including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Publisher 
• Familiarity with online platforms. (e.g Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, etc.) 

Additional requirements for this position also include a valid driver’s license and working vehicle for transportation to and from outreach programs (mileage is reimbursed) and NYS fingerprints registered to the NYS TEACH platform. 

   
Characteristics Desired: 

• An understanding of and experience with local NYS ecosystems 
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and maintain open communication with colleagues 
• Ability to handle, and care for animal care related equipment (filters, cleaning solutions, heat lamps/pads. Etc.) 
• Research skills for any given subject needed to facilitate, develop or refine Environmental Programming 
• Ability to recognize and identify native species of plants, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals 
• Experience operating various power tools including power drills, circular saws, and table saws.    

Application Instructions 

Application materials can be submitted to the program coordinator at dnovak@pnwboces.org. We will be accepting applications until the position is filled and we may be contacting applicants to start the application process before that deadline. We are hoping for a start date as soon as possible.