Permanent Substitute Educator: Prince William Forest Park

About the role

Are you looking for a flexible, part-time position where you can work with youth in National Parks? Are you a current or former educator who would like to keep their outdoor education skills sharp by teaching a few weeks a year? Become a permanent Sub for a NatureBridge Campus in your area! NatureBridge provides overnight environmental science education experiences for more than 30,000 students and their teachers every year in the world’s best classrooms: our National Parks. Our mission is to connect young people to the science and wonder of the natural world, igniting self-discovery, and inspiring stewardship of the planet. Through our programs, students explore the outdoors, connect with their peers, discover themselves and develop a lasting relationship with science and the environment around them.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-day, student-centered, experiential environmental science programs in outdoor settings.
• Facilitate inclusive, culturally relevant instruction that incorporates multiple perspectives and connects learning to students’ lives and communities.
• Engage students in scientific practices through hands-on investigations, while tailoring programming to meet the specific needs of each school group, align with teacher-defined outcomes, and reflect the NatureBridge Theory of Change.
• Follow NatureBridge risk management policies and procedures, and use sound judgment to make decisions and manage risk while managing students’ physical and emotional well-being when leading groups in outdoor settings.
• Administer and document first aid as necessary and appropriate, and document as required by NatureBridge.
• Foster a supportive, respectful learning environment and model responsible environmental behavior.
• Design and lead evening programs or assist guest presenters and partners, typically twice weekly following the field day.
• Serve as an educator on standby when scheduled.
• Assess and document student learning; contribute to program reflection, evaluation and improvement.
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, and program debriefs and complete all required paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Maintain gear and contribute to campus stewardship.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts by sharing stories from the field.
• For staff in NatureBridge Housing: follow all housing policies and co-created community agreements.
• Build respectful, supportive relationships with staff, volunteers, and participants and provide high-quality customer service.
• Support campus operations and organizational goals through additional duties as assigned, such as event support, special projects, and community stewardship.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of relevant formal or informal teaching experience.
• The social and emotional skills to build rapport and positive relationships with people from all backgrounds, abilities, cultures, orientations, identities and communities.
• A demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion within your teaching and workplace community.
• Lived experience as a member of (and/or extensive experience working with people from) communities impacted by historic and current systems of oppression that limit access to environmental education or the outdoors.
• Ability to communicate clearly to different groups, including students, coworkers, supervisors and educational partners.
• A desire to learn and grow, and an openness to feedback and coaching.
• Capacity to pivot quickly and manage logistical changes with composure.
• Valid Wilderness First Aid Certification or willingness to attain certification prior to start date.
• Ability and willingness to perform physically challenging work outdoors and in all weather conditions on uneven terrain; able to hike 5‑7 miles in uneven terrain.
• Ability to work flexible hours and split shifts, including evenings.
• Employment eligibility is contingent on successful completion of a background check.

Benefits

• Option for a 403b retirement plan with employer match after 1000 hours of work.
• Paid training days.
• All staff accrue paid sick leave.

Pay

$19.94/hour (daily and weekly work hours vary based on programming demand).