Outdoor Educator, Mobile Engagement

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $20.00 - $23.00 per hour

Hours per week: 10 - 20 hours per week

Job Classification: Nonexempt, Part-Time, Limited Term

Job Type: Onsite

Duration: February - September, hours vary by season with the option to work limited hours in the off season

Location: New Bedford and Fall River, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

Do you have a personal passion for getting people connected to nature and the outdoors? As an Outdoor Educator, you will work with the Mobile Engagement team to support the Trustees' mission to increase conservation awareness and engagement with the southeastern Massachusetts communities of New Bedford and Fall River.

The Role:

As an Outdoor Educator, you will support the Mobile Engagement Unit, an initiative focused on connecting urban youth with urban green space. You will develop and implement pop up style nature-based play, recreational, educational, and public programming with a focus on connecting people to nature. Employing a “food truck” model and leveraging the unique natural resources of a variety of Trustees properties on the south coast, you will engage and inspire children to play outdoors, understand their connection to nature, develop connection to place, and foster a life-long love of the outdoors.  

You will be responsible for aiding in the planning, marketing, managing and execution of a robust seasonal schedule of community-based events targeted to children and families. These events may occur both indoors and outdoors depending on weather and time of year. Programming will occur at a variety of places including but not limited to partner sites, city parks, gardens, community events and festivals, and Trustees properties. All programming occurs outdoors or at rain sites during the Summer. The educator will help increase visitor awareness of select properties and the Trustees in the targeted area and achieve engagement goals. 

Specifically, you’ll:

• Develop and deliver quality pop-up style nature-based play and recreational activities 
• Manage content development, logistics, and safety while providing an excellent learning experience for families, children, and adults 
• Ability to drive commercial van to events  
• Assist with the recruitment and training of volunteers 
• Assist in the marketing and publicizing of all programs  
• Coordinate with community partners 
• Maintain program equipment 
• Manage unit metrics and data collection for programs 
• Represent The Trustees in a variety of forums 
• Passion for working with children and families 
• Other duties as required 

This is a part-time, limited term, nonexempt position, working 10 - 20 hours per week, reporting directly to the Mobile Engagement Unit Manager.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• A passion for the outdoors and a desire to work with children 
• Excellent visitor experience/customer service skills  
• Experience or an interest working within natural or reactional spaces, nature education, ecology, and conservation 
• The position requires a strong comfort level driving of a commercial vehicle and access to a motor vehicle is necessary
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking 
• A strong commitment to the mission of The Trustees of Reservations 
• Availability to work nights and weekends 
• Must be willing to work outside during all weather conditions, the posit