Camp Educator

Tennessee Aquarium•Chattanooga, TN

6h•$15

About The Position

Camp Educators carry out the mission of the Tennessee Aquarium to connect children with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife. The goal of our summer camps is to instill and foster a love for animals and nature through animal encounters, being outdoors, crafts, games, and play. Camp Educators take on the role of counselor in environmental education for children ages 4-16 in the Aquarium’s summer day camps. Camp Educators will help campers engage in activities and make connections with the world around them. Camp Educators will maintain professional standards, demonstrate positive behavior management of campers, exhibit superior customer service skills, and ensure safety by following organizational policies, procedures, and standards.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age when applying.
Day camp experience or experience with classroom management preferred.
Some college experience preferred, science and education classes a plus.
First Aid/CPR certification preferred (provided paid training if needed)
Passion for teaching environmental science in a hands-on play setting, and for working with children to encourage them to engage with activities.
Strong problem-solving skills to analyze issues and find effective solutions.
Excellent conflict resolution skills to address issues and maintain positive relationships.
Resilience and ability to maintain composure and handle difficult situations with professionalism in a fast-paced environment.
Critical thinking and decision-making abilities to prioritize tasks, handle complex situations, and work efficiently under pressure.
Empathy and emotional intelligence to understand and respond to the needs of colleagues or campers.
Superior customer service and communication skills.
Must ensure discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

Co-leads 9 weeks of summer camp that will follow a curriculum developed by the Aquarium Education staff.
Ensures that campers have basic needs met such as lunch, snacks, and restroom breaks.
Uses suitable research-based education methods, such as techniques for engagement, inquiry based learning, and interactive experiences, while facilitating camp programming.
Encourages campers to actively discover, question, and participate in science.
Makes impromptu changes to programs to meet the needs of campers of different ages and needs.
Supervises campers during all camp experiences such as tours, activities, before care, after care, and animal encounters, which may include insects, amphibians, reptiles, arachnids, mammals, birds, and marine invertebrates.
Keeps track of all campers throughout the day as well as maintaining the highest level of safety.
Actively demonstrates positive behavior management by providing alternatives, giving choices, redirecting, and logical consequences in response to inappropriate behaviors.
Provides guidance for our Counselors in Training volunteers (CITs), who are between the ages 14-17 hired to support the Camp Educators.
Demonstrates regular attendance and punctuality.
Adheres to the camp dress code policy, which includes black or khaki shorts/pants, camp t-shirt (provided), and closed toed shoes.