Seasonal Educator and Program Liaison, March-November

OVERVIEW

The Seasonal Educator & Program Liaison contributes to creating, planning, implementing, monitoring, and documenting Oxbow’s outdoor and educational programs for children. These include field trips, summer camps, in-school programs, and activities at public events. The position involves both administrative and programmatic functions, including supporting program registrations, providing customer service to teachers and parents, and coordinating with teachers prior to field trips.

In collaboration with Oxbow Education (“OxEd “) colleagues, the Seasonal Educator and Program Liaison will develop and deliver educational programming including curricular enhancements for existing programs and new initiatives.

They will contribute to summer camp activities and planning, including creative contributions of stories, crafts, music, or Kids’ Farm features, and serve as camp instructor for our five weeks of summer day camps. Responsibilities will include parent communication and contribution to staff and volunteer training for camp and seasonal Farm Adventures field trips.

This position also contributes to the growing and upkeep of the Kids’ Farm and Living Playground, public programming, and representing the education programs vis-à-vis other Oxbow staff (administration, volunteer coordination, communication, etc.).

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Environmental Education and Public Engagement (50%, including Summer Camp)

• Assist in preparing for Oxbow’s 5-weeks of summer camp and act as Summer Camp Instructor
• Lead your group of campers, ages 4-6 or 7-11, in farm- and nature-based camp activities

• Ensure safety of campers at all times
• Contribute to planning and prep in advance of summer camp sessions, typically the Friday before the upcoming camp session is used as a planning day on site at Oxbow
• Plan and lead most day-to-day activities of your summer camp group
• Facilitate games, songs, stories, and activities
• Participate in all-camp activities & farm tasks
• Behavioral management of campers and parent communication
• Work with and give direction to volunteer(s) assigned to your group, or the pre-teens during camp collaboration times
• Setup and cleanup of daily camp activities

• Participate in daily planning and debriefing meetings, and in team-building activities that contribute to the development of the education team

• Document camp sessions using personal cell phone or digital camera, uploading photos at the end of each camp week

• Deliver environmental/farm education programs to all age groups at occasional weekend Kids’ Farm tours, seasonal festivals and special events
• Contribute to training of volunteers and staff
• Collaborate on special projects as needed

Assist with Program Coordination (30%)

• Assist in tracking program registrations in our system
• Post events & update the OxEd Program Calendar in Outlook
• Support program coordinator with teacher and parent communication, and scheduling of events

Farming and Gardening (20%)

• Assist with planting, sowing, weeding, mulching, harvesting, and seed-saving, and other farm tasks
• Assist with general maintenance and upkeep of OxEd infrastructure, including the two-acre Kids’ Farm and Living Playground

QUALIFICATIONS

• A./B.S. degree in education, science or related field, or a combination of equivalent education and work experience
• Experience in outdoor education and working with kids
• Strong leadership skills, confident giving direction and managing people and activities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must possess good problem solving and interpersonal skills
• Openness and flexibility
• Ability to learn basic functions of our registration software and utilize Microsoft Excel to update and manage programing reports
• Ability to take direction, ask for help/clarity when necessary, and accept constructive feedback on work and technique
• Strong organizational skills, and punctuality
• Farming and/or gardening, nutrition, or garden education experience not required but helpful
• Experience developing and refining education programs
• Ability to work hard physically, able to lift heavy & awkward objects, up to 50 lbs.
• Positive attitude and creativity

To be considered, candidates must be available for ALL of the following camp weeks:

Additional desired qualities include: environmentally conscious, detail oriented, self-motivated, energetic, and professional.

OxEd is part of a larger non-profit organization. A commitment to Oxbow’s overall mission and working as part of a team is critical.

Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

COMPENSATION

This is a seasonal, full-time position, paying $14-$15 per hour , with some paid time-off and access to food from the fields.

REPORTS TO:

The OxEd Program Manager, with direct oversight from the EE Program Coordinator for administrative roles

TO APPLY

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered. Email a resume, letter of interest, and 3 references to:

Megan Boyce-Jacobs
Deputy Director
Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center
thedirt@oxbow.org

Please write Seasonal Educator in the email subject line and include where you found this position in the message body.

Deadline to apply is Monday, February 18, 2019.