Environmental Educator

The University of Virginia's Blandy Experimental Farm seeks a full-time Environmental Educator to work with our preK-12 education programs. Blandy Experimental Farm is a 700-acre University of Virginia ecological field station located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, about 10 miles east of Winchester and 60 miles west of Washington, D.C. Our mission is to increase understanding of the natural environment through research and education. The State Arboretum of Virginia, located within Blandy Experimental Farm, is a public garden with more than 5,500 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in a diversity of habitats including woodlands, meadows, wetlands, and open fields.

Blandy’s prek-12 education program has been providing field learning experiences for students since the mid 1980’s. Approximately 6,500 public, private, and homeschool students participate in our programs each year. Our education programs engage students in authentic, age appropriate, science investigation experiences that align with Virginia’s Science Standards of Learning. We use hands-on, inquiry-based teaching techniques which we adjust to meet the specific needs of the teachers and their students. We also design and instruct professional learning opportunities for classroom teachers and environmental educators. Each year, we provide training for 400-600 educators throughout Virginia, the mid-Atlantic region, and nationally. The Education Team includes the Director of Education, the Lead Environmental Educator, two full-time Environmental Educators (including this position), and two part-time, seasonal educators. We are excited to add a new member to our team!

The Environmental Educator will:

• Serve as an essential instructor for our diverse population of students from urban, rural, and suburban school divisions as well as private and home schools.
• Assist with annual program review and revisions; especially collaborating with other EE team members in adapting our existing education resources to better serve diverse preK-12 audiences.
• Collaborate with members of the Education Team to brainstorm, create, test, evaluate, and revise rigorous new education programs.
• Help plan and serve as an instructor in professional development programs enhancing the science knowledge and teaching skills of preK-12 and environmental educators.
• Order and maintain program supplies.
• Engage in administrative tasks such as helping to maintain our annual program data and preparing school division contact lists.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Experience: At least one year of experience.
• Licensure: Valid Driver’s License

The ideal candidate:

• Has a degree in a natural science or education field.
• Has at least one year of experience teaching environmental education in an outdoor setting. Equivalent experience, such as classroom teaching with a strong emphasis on outdoor instruction, is relevant.
• Has created and taught outdoor science lessons based on national or state standards of learning.
• Has proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms).
• Has energy, enthusiasm, and passion for teaching and nature.
• Is excited about being part of a dynamic education team and possesses a collaborative work style.
• Thrives in a fast-paced teaching environment.
• Has an open mindset and embraces change: We frequently adapt our program content based on grade level, learning needs, and requests from teachers.
• Is life-long learner: enjoys learning about natural history and gaining additional teaching skills.
• Is safety-oriented for the well-being of students, teachers, the Education Team, and yourself.

Application Instructions:

Apply through Workday https://hr.virginia.edu/careers-uva/job-openings and search for R0056607. Submit the online application, attaching the following required documents:

• Cover Letter (summarize your relevant experience and why you would be a good addition to the Blandy Education Team)
• Current CV/Resumé
• Portfolio (examples of your teaching; lesson plan example(s) that you have created for preK-12 audiences; digital or pdf format preferred)
• Contact information for three professional references.

Applications that are incomplete or missing required documents will not receive full consideration.