Individual Placement - Outdoor Educator

Student Conservation Association • New Paltz, NY

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) New York places members in 10-month positions serving alongside conservation professionals and partner organizations across New York State. This SCA AmeriCorps position is hosted by Minnewaska State Park Preserve, NYS OPRHP, in Cragsmoor, New York. The member provides outdoor education and recreation programs for public audiences and school groups, supports conservation stewardship and trail work, and staffs the Sam’s Point Visitor Center.

The role includes researching, developing, promoting, delivering, and evaluating educational programs about the site’s natural and social history. The member will seek new audiences, create and distribute promotional materials, and lead year-round recreation programs such as hikes. Other work includes invasive-species mapping and removal, fire-monitoring surveys, trail assessment and maintenance, visitor education, and assistance with visitor-center operations. The member participates in SCA trainings, service projects, evaluations, and reporting.

The position is primarily in a front-country setting, though emergency services may be delayed by one to two hours. Members regularly interact with the public. Public transportation is limited or unavailable at the work site, and cell reception may be limited or unavailable. A personal vehicle is required for personal travel, and driving an OPRHP vehicle is required for work. The member receives a $500 weekly living allowance and a $1,000 monthly housing allowance to procure their own housing; allowances are subject to applicable taxes. The position runs January 25, 2027, through November 19, 2027, and is scheduled for 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• At least two years of college experience in a relevant field.
• Valid driver’s license; must provide a state driver’s abstract, pass New York State OPRHP driver training, and be able to drive an OPRHP vehicle.
• Ability to pass a background check and undergo the AmeriCorps National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks after an offer.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be actively working to complete one.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather.
• Passion for connecting people with nature.
• Must submit timesheets weekly or biweekly through ADP and required output and narrative reports.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework in education, environmental studies, or a related field.
• Familiarity with the flora and fauna of New York State.
• Specialized education training, such as Project WET or Project WILD.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop, promote, deliver, assess, and update outdoor education programs about the natural and social history of the site.
• Create and distribute promotional materials and seek new audiences, including local libraries, preschools, veterans, and people with mobility or cognitive impairments.
• Lead year-round public recreation programs, such as hikes, and provide trail stewardship and visitor education on busy days.
• Conduct conservation stewardship work, including fire-monitoring surveys and mapping and removing invasive species, sometimes with partner staff.
• Participate in SCA Corps-wide trainings and service projects, and complete project evaluation and reporting.
• Assess park footpaths and make needed improvements, including clearing water bars and building turnpikes.
• Support trail education improvements, such as posting signs and providing information about trail use and hike routes.
• Assist with supervision of NYNJ Trail Conference Trail Stewards in collaboration with the supervisor.
• Staff the Sam’s Point Visitor Center, answer phones, assist patrons at the information desk, and provide information about Leave No Trace, site history, directions, and park policies.
• Maintain visitor-center displays and storage areas and perform modest cleaning and maintenance.
• Submit timesheets and required weekly output and monthly narrative reports.
• Complete required trainings, including AmeriCorps and SCA orientations and listed safety, education, and professional-development trainings.

Benefits

• $500 per week living allowance.
• $1,000 per month housing allowance to procure housing.
• Health insurance.
• Training and professional-development opportunities, including Wilderness First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid, Project WILD and Project AQUATIC, Leave No Trace Level 1, and professional development and job-readiness training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED