Camp Caldera Environmental Educator

Caldera • Sisters, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The goal of Caldera’s Environmental Education program is to inspire curiosity about nature and help students build lasting connections to the environment. We hope to increase student knowledge of the natural history of Caldera’s land in Central Oregon and to develop a sense of place through an emphasis on direct sensory exploration of the diverse habitats immediately surrounding the camp. Campers may learn about trout habitats while wading barefoot in the creek, make observational sketches of forest regrowth with charcoal from wildfire-charred trees, and taste wild mint during a field lesson in ethnobotany. Many of them are experiencing just being young people in the outdoors for the first time in their lives. Beyond lessons taught in the context of class, Caldera uses common daily practices to model environmental responsibility. Campers weigh the amount of food that is thrown away at the end of each meal and graph the reduction of waste over the course of their stay at camp. Fruit and vegetable matter are separated for compost to nourish our vegetable garden. It is our hope that when complemented by discussion, hands-on activities like these help students draw connections between environmental lessons learned at camp and the far-reaching ecological impact of small choices they make everyday at home.
This role is a part of Camp Caldera’s Adventure Team. The Environmental Educator is responsible for designing and facilitating environmental curriculum for middle and/or high school campers. They provide a positive learning environment and deliver engaging lessons that reach a diverse population, incorporate program goals into daily sessions, inspire curiosity about nature, and build connections to the natural world. This position will facilitate discussions about environmental justice with a population that has historically been marginalized in the environmental movement.

Requirements

• Two years of experience teaching youth and a background in the environmental studies, through education or profession
• Knowledge of high desert and forest ecosystems or willingness to learn about them
• Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth
• Familiarity with social-emotional learning and strong classroom management skills
• Strong communication with youth and adults and experience facilitating groups of varying skill levels
• Ability to design sequential lesson plans around environmental concepts that build creativity and youth voice
• Ability to understand our racially diverse student population’s perspective, either through lived experience, previous qualifications, or work experience
• Ability to navigate through potentially triggering and challenging conversations and situations while maintaining focus on the wellbeing of youth
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Ability to set appropriate boundaries in a proactive and positive manner
• Requires on-site living in shared staff quarters
• Alcohol and drugs are not permitted on campus, even in personal living quarters.
• Must be physically able to move around 116 acres of camp property with varied terrain
• Must have visual, perceptual, and cognitive ability to recognize and respond quickly to health and safety concerns of students and appropriately re-direct any behavior that is misaligned with Caldera agreements
• Moments of quiet and non-activity are few and spread out
• Creating a cohesive staff environment round the clock can be challenging. It is crucial that staff see youth and adults through a strengths-based lens and prioritize creating the best possible youth experience at all times, despite what challenges may arise at the staff level

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly preferred

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective delivery of fun, creative, and engaging environmental instruction with the support of Environmental Education Assistant.
• Submit initial lesson plans, adjust based on feedback, and complete detailed, final plans prior to staff training
• Provide supply lists and other requested information by designated deadlines
• Partner with the Environmental Education Assistant to adjust curriculum, organize supplies, and oversee youth during classes
• Collaborate with Assistants and Advocates around student needs to ensure smooth delivery of instruction
• Maintain clean, organized classroom and shared supply spaces
• Set and respect appropriate boundaries inside and outside of the class and encourage appropriate risk-taking
• Plan, set up, and take down exhibition of student work
• Document, archive, and organize student work and transfer work and files as instructed by supervisor
• Manage setup and breakdown of compost stations, teaching space and other areas as assigned
• Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues
• Promote program understanding and involvement through Caldera’s goals and agreements, participation agreement, and responsibility process
• Actively participate in all aspects of camp life including: camper orientation, community meetings, evening activities, campfire, free time, etc.
• Model appropriate camper behavior at all times
• Perform duties with consistency and integrity
• Set and respect personal boundaries while acting as mentors, guides, and allies to campers
• Oversee health and safety of charges in fire drills and emergency procedures
• Maintain cleanliness of living and common areas and help with clean-up at the end of each session
• Serve as mandatory reporter, working with Youth Impact Manager to report instances or suspicion of child abuse.
• Employees must carry out their duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include but is not limited to, heat, rain, wind, cold, and smoky or dusty conditions.

Benefits

• Room and board provided during days with programming; room only during non-programming days. A light dinner will be provided on staff arrival days. Brunch is served on the last day of each session.

What This Job Offers

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