Environmental Educator, Fallen Timbers
CESA 6 is seeking to hire an Environmental Educator for our Fallen Timbers Environmental Center, beginning the 2020-2021 school year. The Environmental Educator reports directly to the Director, Fallen Timbers, and will primarily assist the Director and Program Coordinator in the facilitation of environmental educational experiences and activities through hands-on, in the field experiences at the Fallen Timbers Environmental Center and other offsite locations for educational programming for students and teachers within the 6 Consortium School Districts. This position will collaborate with other Fallen Timbers staff to operationalize the consortium's vision in Environmental Education, while adhering to the Agency's mission and strategic plan.
Essential functions of the Environmental Educator include, but are not limited to the following:
• Learn, develop, prepare and maintain environmental education lessons.
• Present onsite and offsite environmental education school programs as needed to K-12 students.
• Work with adults including but not limited to teachers, principals, parents and Fallen Timbers staff.
• Monitor safety of students and other visitors during programming and other events.
• Work independently and as a team member during programming.
• Ensure that all study areas and equipment needs for consortium school visits are in order.
• Help to maintain an accurate inventory of Fallen Timbers equipment and communicate needs to the Director and/or Program Coordinator as programming requires.
• Assist in the maintenance of educational displays.
• Assist in the care of all education animals housed at Fallen Timbers.
• Assist with planning and teaching summer school programs at Fallen Timbers.
Additional responsibilities of the Environmental Educator includes:
• Assist in curriculum development with consortium schools.
• Assist staff with maple syrup production and bottling.
• Communicate with maintenance staff as needs arise.
• Perform occasional computer work such as word processing, conducting research, and populating spreadsheets.
• Assist other Fallen Timbers staff with the collection of various types of data including but not limited to attendance and surveys.
• Participate in various seasonal projects.
• Attend and participate in scheduled staff meetings.
Prior experience working in environmental education, including experience with teaching outdoor or in the natural environment is required. This position requires knowledge and experience with instruction of and working with K-12 students. A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Education, or other applicable education or natural resources degree is preferred. WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) certification in Environmental Science is desired. Desirable candidates will be able to demonstrate prior experience in developing outdoor environmental education programming.
Due to the nature of this position, qualified candidates must be able to work in a variety of settings, including schools, state parks and the Fallen Timbers Environmental Center. Qualified candidates must be able to operate light machinery (with on-the-job training) including, but not limited to, ATVs, wheelbarrows, and other vehicles such as lawn mowers, wood splitters and small tractors. The Environmental Educator will need to occasionally hike, cross-country ski, or snowshoe several miles per day, therefore, the ability to maintain moderate to high physical activity during programming, including, but not limited to, walking, hiking, running, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, is required, based on the services provided.
Required skills and abilities to be successful in this position include:
• Ability to work independently as well as to lead and collaborate with diverse work teams.
• Communicate effectively and timely, verbally and in writing, to a diverse audience.
• Ability to interpret and administer policies and procedures consistently and objectively.
• Plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Remain flexible in order to adapt to changes in the work environment.
• Excellent time-management with ability to manage schedules and meet deadlines.
• Problem-prevention, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Exhibit a high degree of confidentiality of sensitive information and processes and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate interaction professionally and tactfully with the Fallen Timbers team, agency staff, consortium staff, consortium students, and chaperones.
• Maintain safe and respectful learning environments while instructing.
• Advanced computer skills, including email, scheduling, word processing, and spreadsheet development.
• Participate in and facilitate an overall work environment of mutual respect and collaboration.
• Ability to ask for help and/or clarification as needs arise.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude.