Resident Outdoor Educator

Resident Outdoor Educator Position Description

Do you have a passion for sharing the natural world with others? Imagine living somewhere surrounded by natural beauty and ample opportunities to hike, snowshoe, or canoe right out your front door! Join MHAS in engaging people of all ages to “develop a sense of wonder and joy for nature and the importance of wild places” at the Neilson Spearhead Center, just 11 miles south of Bemidji, MN. This is a part-time, year-round, annual renewable position (averaging 10-15 hours per week). 

Purpose of the position

The purpose of the resident outdoor educator is to increase community engagement with the Neilson Spearhead Center through organizing and promoting NSC events, representing and promoting of MHAS/NSC to the community, and providing basic onsite security and building and grounds oversight. The outreach coordinator is required to live on-site.

The position will have an active role helping the Board co-create a vibrant future for the Neilson Spearhead Center. They must have enthusiasm to continuously improve the Neilson Spearhead Center as a place to “foster personal connections to and stewardship of our natural world.” We hope growing community use and love of Spearhead will create additional opportunities to expand this position.

Role

The Resident Outdoor Educator welcomes, engages, and connects visitors with a unique and special natural space: the Neilson Spearhead Center. The position helps visitors learn about and experience Spearhead, discover what’s blooming or making that trilling call coming from the trees or woodland ponds, or explore how Spearhead can be a source of inspiration and creativity for the arts, music, literature, history, and science.

The outdoor educator is Spearhead’s nature ambassador offering energy, enthusiasm, and a positive representation of MHAS to Spearhead visitors and the surrounding community. They help provide safe, reliable facilities for education, research, and general visitor use of the Neilson Spearhead Center, while reducing the Board’s need to directly manage day-to-day site operations.

Primary responsibilities

• Engaging and assisting visitors to enhance visitor experience at NSC. This requires having or developing a comprehensive familiarity of NSC site history, trail system, ecology, and nature sightings.
• Organizing and promoting NSC events.
• Actively promoting MHAS via visitor interactions, articles, kiosk and signage.
• Partnering with the MHAS Board to generate $5,000 to $10,000 per year of revenue (above current baseline) in support of the NSC through any combination of program, auxiliary, and gift income.
• Developing and maintaining neighborhood relationships.

Neilson Spearhead Center

NSC is a 466 acre nature preserve encircling a pristine, 189 acre headwater lake with pine-hardwood forests, wetlands, and bogs. Development is limited to a few rustic buildings, trails, and boardwalks designed and maintained to keep the visitor’s focus on their natural surroundings and not the built environment. Visitors to NSC can have a quiet, remote experience not commonly available at most other public parks or resorts.

Vision: The Neilson Spearhead Center is a ‘Walden Pond in the Northwoods’ - a place for experiential nature education, scientific research, quiet reflection, and contemplation; where one develops a sense of wonder and joy for nature and the importance of wild places.

NSC Goals:

• Maintain the integrity of the natural communities present on the NSC property.
• Provide and be a resource for education in environmental science nature-based experiential learning and personal growth.
• Conduct and be a resource for research in areas of environmental science.
• Provide opportunities to create personal connections and a sense of place with nature.
• Be financially sustainable and a valued contributor to the quality of our surrounding community.

Who We Are

The Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society is one of Bemidji’s most enduring environmental conservation organizations. We were founded through the efforts of concerned local citizens who saw the need for a strong environmental voice in the early 1970's. The majority of our activities are environmental education and outreach. “Our mission is to foster personal connections to and stewardship of our natural world."

What We Do

• Manage a 466 acre preserve called the Neilson Spearhead Center
• Host a nature camp called "The Young Naturalist Program" each summer where kids get a hands-on nature experience!
• Lead community projects and events that connect people with nature
• Advocate for local conservation of important habitats and ecosystems
• Provide opportunities for nature-inspired study and research

Qualifications

We are looking for a self-starter with a willingness to learn and grow in the position. This can be someone with a strong base of work experience to draw from; or a person with essential skills plus a passion and energy for connecting people and nature.

Essential Skills and Abilities

§ Committed to the mission of the Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society and vision for the Neilson Spearhead Center.

§ Good relationship building skills and ability to interact effectively with all sorts of people; including visitors, partners, donors, neighbors, and the Board.

§ Strong written communication skills for preparing public communication and publicity materials.

§ Positive attitude, ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and respond to feedback from others.

§ Enthusiasm for providing culturally responsive learning experiences for all ages and from diverse backgrounds.

§ Ability to reach out, engage, and mobilize groups or individuals.

§ A passion and joy for finding ways to connect people with the natural world.

§ Interest and willingness to participate in community science projects like recording precipitation and lake data.

§ Working knowledge of standard software programs and social media.

§ General familiarity with building and ground maintenance.

Additional Qualifications

§ Experience organizing community projects, events, programs, and other group activities.

§ Demonstrated success teaching in outdoor setting or classrooms.

§ Familiarity with north woods ecosystems, culture, lore, and stories; and willingness to learn and share the history of the Neilson Spearhead Center.

§ Experience in social media skills.

§ Ability to create visually pleasing interpretive and promotional materials.

§ Experience raising funds for an organization or cause.

§ Experience with building and grounds maintenance and equipment.

Licensing Requirements: (position requirements at entry)

§ Valid driver's license.

If interested, email your resume with a letter of interest to mhas@spearheadmhas.org or call Peter Buesseler, MHAS President, 218-760-3592. Let us know how you can help shape Spearhead’s future!