Individual Placement - Outdoor Educator

Student Conservation Association•Voorheesville, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outdoor Educator serves at John Boyd Thacher State Park, a 2,000-acre park atop the Helderberg Escarpment with notable woodland, meadow, wetland, and lake habitats. The position connects visitors to the park’s natural and cultural resources through guided school field trips, public interpretive programs, tabling events, and other educational activities. It also supports stewardship projects, seasonal park events, and the educational work of the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center. The position is part of an SCA AmeriCorps program and is a 10-month service term. The member works 40 hours per week. Housing is provided in a shared house on park property. The work is primarily in a front-country setting, though emergency services may be delayed by 1–2 hours; public transportation is limited or unavailable, and cell phone reception may be spotty or unavailable. Members regularly interact with the public.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; preferably in Geology, Biology, Environmental Studies, Education, or a related field.
Personal vehicle required for personal travel.
Ability to interact professionally with unhappy patrons.
Ability to work independently or with a partner.
Artistic skills in graphic design or other visual arts.
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be actively working to complete one.
Must be willing to undergo a National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks after an offer.
To drive an NY OPRHP motor vehicle, must have a current and valid driver’s license for the vehicle type, provide a state DMV driver’s abstract, and pass New York State OPRHP Driver Training.
Must submit timesheets weekly or biweekly through SCA’s ADP timekeeping system and submit weekly output reports; training is provided at introduction.

Nice To Haves

Desire to work with children.
Baseline knowledge of biological and earth sciences, through coursework or experience.
Background in education.
Enthusiasm, positive energy, and a desire to learn.

Responsibilities

Create and deliver educational programs focused on the park’s biological features.
Create and deliver programs about the park’s geologic and historical qualities as needed.
Assist with stewardship projects, including Project FeederWatch in winter, Project NestWatch in spring and summer, and wild parsnip removal in summer.
Help plan and carry out events throughout the year, including I Love My Parks Day and Hawk Watch.
Support the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center by answering phone calls, maintaining and updating exhibits, caring for live animals, and completing other tasks as needed.
Drive an OPRHP vehicle as required.

Benefits

Housing in a shared house with other SCA members on Thacher State Park property.
Health insurance.
AmeriCorps and SCA orientation and training.
SCA Risk Management training.
Sexual Harassment/Drug Abuse in the Workplace training.
Mental Health First Aid Training.
Wilderness First Aid and CPR.
Project WILD and Project AQUATIC.
New York State Outdoor Educator Association conferences and events.
Hudson River Ecology training.
Leave No Trace Level 1.
Professional development and job readiness support.
Participation in service events, including Earth Day/Arbor Day, I Love My Park Day, National Trails Day, Patriots Day of Service and Remembrance, and A Day in the Life of the Hudson River.