Would you want to spend a summer living and working in a National Park? Summer Teacher Naturalists spend our summer season helping people of all ages connect with the natural world, each other, and themselves. If you are a person who experiences nature with awe and wonder and want that for others too, than you should consider our open Summer Teacher Naturalist positions.

Summary

Our Values and Culture

We create experiential education programs focused on the natural world, knowing such learning and research opportunities are uniquely suited to bring about life changing outcomes in individual passion for learning, sense of worth, and behavior.
We believe a lost connection with the natural world can be repaired beginning with experiences that take place in the original classroom—the outdoors. We believe such experiences produce cascading results that enrich individual lives, strengthen communities, and empower community members.
We celebrate the distinctive setting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) provides as a living laboratory to explore the biodiversity that forms the building blocks of healthy ecosystems, examine past and present human impacts on the land, and navigate questions about how to best support the land that supports us.
We carry out our mission with both urgency and joy, recognizing that the work of connecting people and nature could not be timelier.

We are seeking individuals with experience leading outdoor adventures, whether at an outdoor school, summer camp, or out-of-school time program. Teacher Naturalists demonstrate curiosity and awe for the natural world, embodying the naturalist mindset of learning about nature from nature itself. Teacher Naturalists help create an atmosphere of welcome, warmth and belonging as they welcome youth into exploration of nature.

Briefly, responsibilities include the following (more details listed in the position description):

Work in all aspects of implementing summer residential camp programs for youth. This includes developing and teaching daily natural history activities, conducting evening programs, co-leading backpacking trips, and supervising campers in the lodge.
Work to facilitate social and emotional learning in campers through direct experience and reflection.
Serve in a leadership capacity for summer interns.
Maintain a positive attitude and energy to accomplish individual and collaborative projects.
Assist with facility setup, cleanup, and maintenance and needed.

Please see the full position description for more details.

Compensation Information

Compensation: Starting salary $425/week, plus meals and lodging. On-site housing provided with monthly utilities paid by the Institute. Paid professional development including First Aid and Red Cross Lifeguard Certification.