Environmental Educator / Butterfly House Coordinator

Ladew Topiary Gardens, Inc. • Monkton, MD

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Environmental Educator/Butterfly House Coordinator is a member of the Education team reporting directly to the Director of Education. The overall purpose of this position is to help promote Ladew Gardens’ mission-driven programming to attract and serve multi-cultural and multi-generational audiences providing all participants an opportunity to learn, create memories, and connect with nature. The Environmental Educator/Butterfly House Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations of a butterfly exhibit, including volunteer staff supervision, insect husbandry, and plant care. This position also responsible for developing, planning and directly teaching hands-on environmental education to our audiences focused on quality experiences related to our butterfly house, topiary gardens, historical house and contained collections. Educating the public through interactive programs, lead guided tours, and oversee educational initiatives regarding lepidopteran life cycles, botany, and ecological conservation throughout our Nature Walk trail and other areas of display at our Topiary Gardens.

Requirements

• Leadership and direct staff management expertise
• Organization, planning, and educational skills in the area of environmental education and insects/ wildlife
• Effective Communication & Relationship Management
• Exemplary Customer service
• Ethical Conduct
• Technical Capacity

Responsibilities

• Oversee the breeding, rearing, and care of butterflies and caterpillars, as well as the maintenance of host and nectar plants within the butterfly house.
• Design and deliver engaging presentations, field trips, and workshops for visitors, school groups, and summer camps.
• Act as a docent, providing information to visitors about butterfly behavior and ecology, ensuring safety, and enhancing the interactive experience.
• Manage, schedule, and train interns and volunteers, maintain records, and manage the facility's climate and cleanliness.
• Coordinate the operations and maintenance of Ladew’s native butterfly house to include inventory, budgeting, programming, staffing and appearance.
• Manage large quantities of butterflies and caterpillars, including but not limited to catching butterflies, removing caterpillars, tidying exhibit spaces, logging inventory of species.
• Interview, hire, train, and schedule butterfly house interns.
• Schedule, train, and communicate regularly with over 50 butterfly house volunteers and staff.
• Stay up to date on latest news and trends in butterfly/caterpillar management and sustainable gardening.
• Maintain butterfly house gardens. Make design changes as needed for aesthetics and the health of the gardens as well as needs of butterflies/caterpillars
• Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture to purchase plants and coordinate delivery or pick-up
• Organize and maintain equipment needed for Butterfly House and oversee the maintenance of the physical structure of the Butterfly House
• Plant and maintain gardens inside the Butterfly House, as well as gardens and meadow surrounding the Butterfly House
• Build and maintain relationships with other butterfly house-related, partner organizations
• Develop and deliver programming applicable for school age groups spanning from preschool to high school
• Develop and deliver summer nature camps ensuring age-appropriate materials and engaging hands-on experiences
• Participate in coordinating, planning and teaching weekend and evening family programs and events including Maple Magic, Family Nature Explorers, Garden Glow, Christmas Open House and new programs
• Participate in the delivery of training for college interns and volunteer program leaders
• Participate in the operation of audio-visual equipment for Ladew’s virtual/hybrid lecture presentations
• Participate in volunteer events, Garden Festival, Wild Walks, etc.
• Develop and propose recommendations to enhance, expand, or otherwise continuously improve the educational programs to ensure relevant and engaging content and experiences
• Provide support to the education and administrative staff with appropriate social media posts, answering phones, marketing programs, program registration, and other tasks, as needed
• Perform functions that include periodic trail and garden hands-on maintenance & direct care of animal ambassadors
• Participate in occasional outreach programs throughout the community

Benefits

• Medical benefits available, including an HRA plan, Dental, Vision, Life insurance
• Matching 401K program
• Life Insurance provided by Ladew
• Paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed