Far Horizons Summer Counselor

Adler Planetarium•Chicago, IL

1d•$18•Onsite

About The Position

The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Far Horizons Summer Counselor to join our dynamic team located on Chicago's Museum Campus. The Far Horizons Counselor collaborates with Far Horizons staff and the Teen Programs Manager to implement two programs - Mission Near Space and Far Horizons Teens. In Mission Near Space, 7th and 8th-grade students join a unique team of engineers, educators, and astronomers. They prepare, launch, track, and retrieve a scientific payload sent to the stratosphere aboard a high-altitude balloon. During Far Horizons Teens, high school students will continue a teen-implemented light pollution research project. Teens will learn about light pollution and the ecology of local ecosystems through hands-on activities and plan and carry out the next steps of a research project. They will also create communication tools and activities to share their project with the public. The Counselor keeps middle through high school-aged participants engaged all day, every day, while assisting the Program Manager with program operations. They take the lead on individual needs management, allowing the Program Manager to focus on whole group instruction.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
Must be 18 years of age or older
One or more years of experience working with 7th - 12th graders in an educational and/or camp-like setting
Valid driver’s license
Proficient in Google Suite
Confident tech user and excited to learn new tech skills

Nice To Haves

One year or more of college
College coursework or comparable in formal (classroom) or informal (museum) education, space science field, technology, or relevant science field
Experience teaching in bilingual (English/Spanish) learning environments
Previous research fieldwork experience
Camp counselor experience
Experience with high-altitude ballooning
Comfortable driving a 15-passenger van

Responsibilities

Assisting the Program Manager to maintain participants’ safety and positive engagement during indoor and outdoor activities, including one weekly off-site trip (Mission Near Space) and fieldwork (Far Horizons Teens)
Understanding and implementing all Adler Planetarium emergency procedures
Helping participants complete fun, STEAM-based activities and adapting activities to meet participants’ needs.
Encouraging all teens to participate fully in all activities while providing individual attention when required
Participating in all training sessions and preparation as needed
Supporting Mission Near Space drop-off and pick-up procedures by greeting participants and keeping them engaged in games or other age-appropriate activities while waiting
Setting up and cleaning up program materials and activities daily
Traveling with Mission Near Space program participants to Kankakee and the payload recovery site on balloon-launch day, and traveling with Far Horizons Teens to a TBD location for fieldwork

Benefits

35-hour workweek
Eligible to accrue up to 6 vacation days per year
3 sick days as of date of hire (can accrue up to 6.5 days per year)
Eligible to earn time and a half for working on any of the 7 Adler observed holidays
Flexible work arrangements
Paid Family Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty
Paid Parental Leave
Commuter flexible spending account
403B plan with Adler match
Adler's match is 100% vested immediately
Eligible to enroll as of the date of hire
Resources to help address emotional, legal, and financial issues
Face-to-face, telephonic, and web-based services
Free subscription to the Calm Premium app
Employee Loan Program
Discounted Onsite Parking Program
Free Entrance to Chicago area museums and cultural institutions