Eco-Leadership Teacher Naturalist

Position Summary:

Each summer The Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, Connecticut hosts the Eco Leadership Corps, a paid internship program for high school students working on our property. Eco Leaders complete large scale habitat restoration projects, design lessons for summer campers across 4 weeks of camp and participate in multiple professional development sessions. The individual in this role will be able to support high school students in the research and development of lesson plans, while also providing both positive and constructive feedback to the teens. In addition, the Eco Leadership Corps Teacher Naturalist will be lead the group in their land stewardship project. At the end of the summer, the Eco Leaders will also create a capstone presentation held at the Greenwich Audubon Center. The Teacher Naturalist is expected to guide the interns through the process of creating and presenting their capstone project.

The Eco Leader Teacher Naturalist will be recording the day to day activities and keeping notes of progress for each intern. By the end of the program, the individual in this role will produce a binder of each lesson designed, an overview of each week’s progress on goals, and an overview of the land stewardship project.

Eco Leadership Corps Teacher Naturalists must be comfortable leading interns during their land stewardship project, which will involve spending up to five hours each day outdoors. Eco Leadership Corps Teacher Naturalists are expected to motivate and and encourage Eco Leaders, while also participating themselves.

This position begins on June 23, 2025, ends on August 22, 2025. The daily work hours are 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Each Tuesday all seasonal summer staff will be required to attend a staff meeting from 3:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (day subject to change).

This position is on-site at The Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT.

Compensation:

$16.50 - $18.00 / hour

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

• Attend half of a week-long training led by Greenwich Audubon staff for working with youth in camp and internship settings.

• Create a weekly schedule for the Eco Leaders including group and individual check-ins.

• Develop workshops and lead trainings on a variety of topics including instructional practices and tool use.

• Develop and implement four weeks of ecology/nature-based curriculum.

• Co-lead a land stewardship project in conjunction with our land steward and camp director, which includes physical activity. Must be able to lift 50 lbs and be comfortable working outdoors in potentially adverse conditions.

• Guide interns through the research and development of conservation-focused lessons for elementary school children

• Guide interns through creating a capstone presentation to clearly communicate the successes and lessons learned over the course of the summer to our community.

• Maintain the safety and well-being of all youth participants.

• Maintain a respectful and collegial team environment with fellow staff.

• Must be comfortable leading hikes through our property, teaching high school students about various aspects of our local ecology.

Qualifications and Experience

• College coursework in biology, ecology, or related field preferred.

• Knowledge of local ecology and natural history.

• Ability to teach natural history concepts, as well as the desire to work outdoors and lead hikes.

• Experience working with children preferred.

• Strong oral communication skills, especially when speaking with camp parents and/or guardians.

• Ability to work well as part of a team.

• Must be able to commit to the entire period of work.

• Must have current immunizations/medical forms; CPR and First Aid certification are a plus.

• Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates