Environmental Education Instructor

The WV Science Adventure School is a 4-day, 3-night outdoor science school that is serving 6th grade students in West Virginia. Our goal is to integrate high quality, engaging, adventure sports-driven science and environmental curriculum with experiential education and student development. Environmental educators will play a crucial role in meeting that goal by teaching students in an outdoor classroom on a variety of environmental education lessons and activities. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

Environmental Educators will be expected to:

• Facilitate indoor and outdoor environmental education lessons for 6th grade students.
• Facilitate group and project-based learning initiatives
• Use and maintain scientific equipment and sensors
• Promote student’s science and ecological literacy
• Facilitate student’s ability to observe, ask questions, collect data, and communicate findings
• Maintain excellent group management
• Build a safe and strong learning culture
• Maintain a positive attitude, professional language, appearance, and behavior, willingness to take initiative.
• Spend Tuesdays with a pair of Outdoor Education Guides and their group facilitating experiential education activities.
• Assist with other camp duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements:

The applicant must, at a minimum, have the following experience/qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in the discipline of education, biology, ecology, environmental science or other applicable background.
• At least one-year experience teaching in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Basic knowledge of science-related topics
• Awareness and knowledge of the the natural environment and a passion for conservation
• Ability to pass a federal background check
• Be comfortable living in and physically able to work outside in the field regardless of weather for long periods of time and have sufficient camping skills

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred, but are not mandatory:

• Teacher certification
• Hold a First Aid, WFA, or WFR and CPR certification
• Experience with youth schools and camps
• Experience with E-STEM schools

Time Commitment:

The Science Adventure School will begin staff training in early August. We expect that you will be available to work with us through the beginning of November with minimal time off throughout that time, except for a mandatory week off near the middle of the programming season. Staff will be expected to work Monday-Friday with weekends off. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be “on-duty” nights where staff are expected to remain on-site at camp to assist with evening programming. Although sufficient breaks will be scheduled throughout the week, expect to be working long days with students Tuesday morning through Friday afternoon. Hours vary, but while students are on-site, days frequently start around 7:00AM and end around 10:00PM.

How to apply:

If you are interested in working for SAS, you can fill out our application form on our website: https://scienceadventureschool.wvu.edu/get-involved/jobs/environmental-educator