Outreach Education Assistant
About The Position
The Outreach Education Assistant represents the Seabird Institute (SI) to the public as a narrator and bird guide aboard puffin watching cruises, and as a greeter and interpreter at the Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland, Maine. Providing outreach in the form of educational programming and presentations to the public is expected. Overall, the Outreach Education Assistants bring the story of SI’s 50+year history to children, adults, and families, and help people to understand the necessity for this applied conservation work, as well as to inspire them to become personally involved in conservation action as donors and citizen activists. Shared housing is provided and required at Audubon's Todd Wildlife Sanctuary, located at 12 Audubon Road, in Bremen, Maine. There are (3) full-time seasonal positions available as detailed below:
Requirements
- Pursuing bachelor’s degree, already hold a degree, or 2+ years’ experience in Environmental Education, Environmental Studies, Biology, or similar background.
- Must be able to spend up to 3 hours at sea (on boats) and withstand rough sea conditions.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to write clearly.
- Must be able to traverse over rugged terrain and maneuver approximately 30 lbs.
- Must possess a valid driver's license, as well as, have familiarity with the use of binoculars.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
- Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience in environmental education, bird-watching, and/or teaching public programs is desirable.
- Familiarity with spotting scopes, point-of-sale register system, and camping equipment is desirable.
- Participation up to 5 days (although not required) in seabird island field work including, but not limited to, bird counts and weather data collection, 3-hr observation stints from small unheated blinds, bird handling, measuring, data entry and assisting with habitat management projects at an assigned island research site using binoculars (can be provided) and spotting scopes (supplied) to aid in the collection of data as specified by the Island Supervisor.
- Living conditions on seabird island; 2-person-sized personal tents, which can be provided. Wood platforms for tents on seabird islands will be provided. A sleeping bag and ground pad are essential and can be provided. Drinking water, food, and propane for cooking are brought via boat and carried by hand to the field camps.
Responsibilities
- Train with Education staff to learn: SI history; how to identify Gulf of Maine seabirds; natural history of the Maine Coast with the goal of working independently as tour interpretive narrator.
- Serve as interpreter, field naturalist and store-keeper aboard commercial puffin-watching tours departing from New Harbor and Boothbay Harbor to Eastern Egg Rock, offshore in Muscongus Bay.
- Train with the Project Puffin Visitor Center (PPVC) Manager to learn: the operation of the point-of-sale system; Visitor Center interpreter, PPVC education programs and inventory management procedures.
- Maintain inventory and sell seabird-related items aboard the commercial tours and at the PPVC.
- Assist in writing social media posts.
- Assist with implementing educational and birding programs.
- Promote SI’s mission, and encourage tour participants and PPVC visitors to financially support the program by soliciting donations.
- Serve as storekeeper at the Hog Island store and help maintain inventory demands.
- Assist mainland staff with logistics, which includes driving to boat docks, bus and limo stops as needed.
- Assist mainland-based staff with procurement of supplies, packing groceries, research supplies and mail-in waterproof island transport bags; cleaning and filling water jugs for resupplying research stations, etc. as needed.
- Greet and guide new Seabird Institute volunteers. Help them with shopping and packing of supplies for the remote island field camps as needed.
- Ensure shared housing facility is properly and consistently maintained and cleaned.
- Act as official point of contact for visitors at the Todd Wildlife Sanctuary when mainland staff are not available; times assigned as necessary.
- Maintains and fosters culture of safety.
- Other job duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
