The Sharon Audubon Center is a nature center and wildlife sanctuary owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. The nature center is located in the northwest corner of Connecticut, in the town of Sharon. The Sharon Audubon Center has over eleven miles of scenic hiking trails, and includes 1,147 acres of mixed forest, meadows, wetlands, ponds and streams. The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of the Earth's biological diversity and humanity. The Sharon Audubon Center strives to meet this mission through education, conservation and environmental research to encourage the responsible usage and stewardship of natural lands.The Sharon Audubon Center offers educational programs for all ages, nature programs, wildlife rehabilitation, research, live animal exhibits, a children's adventure center, a nature store, and a natural history library.
The Seasonal Environmental Educator/Assistant Camp Director will have a furnished apartment on-site at either the Miles Wildlife Sanctuary or Sharon Audubon Center with private bedrooms and a shared kitchen, bath and living room. Students should arrange for school credit with their advisor beforehand, if applicable.
Seasonal Educators will work with and learn from experts in the field of conservation education while gaining exposure to informal education techniques both inside and outside of the classroom. Expand your Wings at Audubon and learn how to:
- Research and develop educational conservation programs;
- Create teacher resource materials for outreach;
- Draft, review and modify curriculums;
- Lead field trip and camp programs; and
- Organize community outreach and involve the community in conservation efforts.
Audubon Sharon, consisting of the Sharon Audubon Center and Emily Winthrop MilesWildlife Sanctuary, has been connecting people with nature for over fifty years. Creating life-changing experiences that enable community members and their families to appreciate, understand and protect the natural world is at the very core of our mission.
The Seasonal Environmental Educator/ Assistant Camp Director position will:
- Deliver established curriculum for in-class and outdoor field trip programs, both on and off-site.
- Design and implement curriculum for the Sharon Audubon Center Summer Nature Programs for children in grades K-6, in cooperation with the Education Program Manager and Summer Naturalists. Children visit the Center for 6-8 hours each day during weeklong sessions. Activities range from discovery hikes, pond explorations, live animal programs, nature crafts and games. Seasonal Env. Educator/Asst. Camp Director will implement facilitation and group management techniques, set up, clean up and keep track of materials and equipment, resolve conflicts and address student needs in a caring and positive manner, and supervise students and maintain physical and emotional safety at all times.
- Oversee Summer Camp registration and assist Education Program Manager with communication with camp parents.
- Schedule and implement weekend public programs (in the spring)for all ages to generate more visitor income.
- Assist with other aspects of running a nature center, such as answering telephones, wildlife rehabilitation, public education programs, answering requests for information from the public, running the Nature Store, and helping with many other facets of a Nature Center's day to day operation.
Additionally, the position will be an opportunity for the candidate to sharpen / broaden their environmental education skills in:
- Providing hands-on environmental education and natural history topics to students while in the classroom.
- Engaging with the public via in-person and phone regarding natural history and wildlife questions.
- Writing and coordinating curriculum for students featuring a variety of natural history lessons, games, crafts and activities.
- Effectively managing time for age appropriate lessons and activities.
- Executing a summer camp program while communicating with parents, staff, campers, as well as, handling registrations.
- Learning the operation of the day to day responsibilities of the Nature Center are run (customer service, wildlife rehabilitation, mailings, communication with volunteers and the general public, etc.).
**This is a five month position running April 1 through late August, 2019. The Seasonal Environmental Educator/Assistant Camp Director works under the guidance and direct supervision of the Education Program Manager, however, the entire staff is available for special interest sessions, guidance and assistance. The Seasonal Educator may also work with Center volunteers, the general public, school teachers and parents.
- Must be at least 21 years old.
- Previous experience teaching outdoor and environmental education for groups of childen ages 4-14, as well as some curriculum development, is necessary.
- Some experience working in or running summer camp programs, facilitating games, activities and creative arts, and using creative strategies for conflict resolution and problem solving.
- Completion of at least two years of college coursework in environmental or life sciences, degree preferred.
- Confident in public speaking, leading a group and initiating activities, working independently and team teaching.
- Strong work ethic, natural history background, self-motivation and self-directed organizational skills, on-going enthusiasm, commitment, flexibility, a desire to learn, and the ability to work well with others and with children.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Ability to efficiently use a computer and learn various programs such as Doubleknot and Filemaker.
- Must enjoy being outdoors in all weather conditions and have the ability to traverse all major trails of the Sharon Audubon Center and on uneven terrain, even in the hot summer heat, and must be able to sit, stand, grasp, lift, carry, walk, push, reach, climb and pull for short and extended periods of time.
- A current driver’s license and own vehicle are required.
- CPR and 1st Aid Certification are preferred.