Naturalist and Environmental Educator

Job Details

Job Location: Reno, NV 89511Position Type: AmeriCorpsSalary Range: $0.01 - $0.01 HourlyJob Category: Visitor Services

Join the Great Basin Institute (GBI) as a key team member at the Galena Creek Visitor Center (GCVC), serving the Reno/Tahoe community and tourists globally. This role focuses on providing STEM education and outdoor experiences for local youth. Responsibilities include planning and teaching environmental science programs, managing educational camps and field trips, and overseeing visitor center operations. 

 

Schedule:

The schedule for this position is variable, contingent on camp activities and programming needs. Typical day and overnight camps operate Monday through Friday, requiring a minimum of 9 hours of service per day. Additionally, members are expected to serve at the Galena Creek Visitor Center 1 to 3 days per week, which may include weekends. During the overnight summer camp sessions, a minimum of two nights per week will be spent with campers.

 

Description of Duties 

• Program Development and Instruction: Assist with planning and teaching at the Great Basin Institute, focusing on the Galena Environmental Science Education Programs. These theme-based activities highlight the unique ecology of the Galena Creek Park and Sierra Nevada region.
• Program Implementation: Support the execution of various programs including camps, school field trips (Field Studies), and public events to ensure their success and safety. This encompasses day and overnight camps, public fundraising events, outreach events, and extended field studies. Required; implementation of at least 2hrs of Fire Ecology Lessons once a week.
• Camps and Field Studies: Manage Spring, Summer, and Winter Exploration Camps, along with 3-hour standard and 6-hour extended field trips. Day camps operate Monday through Friday with 9-hour days, and overnight camps also run Monday to Friday, with campers staying at WeChMe Lodge.
• Facilities Management: Oversee and maintain the facilities at Galena Creek Park used during camps and field studies. Responsibilities include staying overnight at Camp WeChMe Lodge with summer camp counselors for at least two nights per week.
• Educational Programming: Assist with all aspects of the Summer Exploration Camp for children ages 8-17, including curriculum planning, marketing, scheduling, conducting activities, and evaluating program effectiveness. Engage in extensive communication with parents/guardians, campers, community partners, and staff.
• Training and Support: Provide training and support to counselors and volunteers, ensuring they are adequately prepared and offering additional training as needed.
• Administrative Tasks: Manage the registration and logistics for all educational programs, maintaining essential data for reporting purposes. Utilize survey tools and interviews to collect feedback and improve future programming.
• Driving Responsibilities: Operate various company vehicles, including automatic 4-wheel drive trucks and potentially an 11-passenger van or a 5-passenger hybrid. Driver's training is provided, and a driver's license is required.
• Safety and Customer Service: Lead in maintaining safety standards and high-quality camp experiences. Assist with staffing the GCVC information desk up to three days a week, which may include weekends, providing customer service and maintaining the facility in coordination with the Education Coordinator and Program Manager.

 

Site Location 

Location:

Members will serve in the Galena Creek Recreation Area, based out of the Galena Creek Visitor Center located at 18250 Mt Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511. 

 

Location:

This position includes a mix of outdoor and indoor activities. The majority of camp activities will be conducted outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. High desert, forest, river, wetland, mountain, and rangeland ecosystems can all be found within the recreation area. Curriculum planning, fundraising, scheduling, and other related support activities will be conducted indoors in an office setting

 

Vulnerable Populations:

This position involve