Environmental Educator

Join the Hitchcock Center for the Environment as an Environmental Educator serving as Summer and Vacation Camp Director, Lead Afterschool Educator, and School Residency Educator. We seek a passionate professional skilled in youth engagement, team mentorship, and hands-on science education to foster an inclusive, collaborative community.

Responsibilities

• Summer Camp and Vacation Days Director
  • Direct February and April Vacation programs and Summer Camp.
  • Oversee and implement all aspects of camp programs, including mission-aligned curriculum development, marketing, and registration in collaboration with the staff team.
  • Recruit, hire, train, and lead a team of 6 Vacation Camp Counselors and approximately 15 Summer Camp Counselors and Counselors in Training.
  • Collaboratively plan and oversee budgets for vacation week programs (February and April) and summer camp, ensuring appropriate spending on staff, materials, van rentals, etc.
  • Plan, lead, and delegate responsibilities for staff training and weekly summer camp meetings.
  • Organize materials for camp sessions.
  • Collaborate with Assistant Director, Registrar, and Office Manager before, during, and after vacation camp and summer camp programs.
  • Communicate regularly with camp families and caregivers, addressing concerns and mediating conflicts professionally.
  • Provide support, energy, motivation, and a fun, inclusive community for camp staff.
  • Work with the Amherst Board of Health to achieve compliance with health regulations and obtain a camp operating license.
  • Provide behavioral support and parent communication insights to counselors alongside the Assistant Director, stepping in when necessary.
  • Fill in for absent camp counselors when substitutes cannot be secured.
  • Monitor and evaluate camp staff with the Assistant Director, providing feedback, program ideas, and guidance.
  • Oversee site safety in collaboration with the Office Manager.
• Lead Afterschool Educator
  • Plan and carry out 1-2 weekly Nature Play Afterschool programs for children ages 5-9.
  • Ensure safety in an immersive nature environment while encouraging healthy risk-taking.
  • Mentor and direct 1-3 program assistants.
  • Participate in and help lead afterschool teacher meetings and assistant trainings.
• School Residency Educator
  • Teach the Hitchcock Center’s outdoor schoolyard Take It Outside program for children and teachers in grades K-3 across varying schools and weather conditions.
  • Coordinate and schedule 30-45 one-hour programs with teachers and their classes throughout the school year.
  • Collaborate with the Hitchcock education team to reflect on and improve curriculum relevance and quality.