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Environmental Educator/Naturalist
No positions currently available.
Project Length: Full-time, permanent position preferably to begin early to mid-summer of 2008
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Prairie Ecology Bus Center (PEBC) staff teaches a wide range of programs while working in a variety of environments and locations throughout southern and western Minnesota. The naturalist position encompasses a diversity of hands-on applications of teaching strategies, program development & maintenance. Programs taught range from pre-K through adults and include both indoor and outdoor programs. Naturalists will teach current programs and also have the opportunity to help develop new programs.
Naturalist must be willing and able to obtain a commercial drivers license to drive the Ecology Bus. Naturalist will be required to obtain their CDL license within 60 days of employment. Training will be provided by PEBC.
QUALIFICATIONS:
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BA/BS in natural resources, environmental studies, or closely related field
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Minimum 2 years teaching experience, preference for outdoor teaching experience
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Very self-motivated and high energy team player with a love of the out-of-doors
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Must be comfortable working independently and team-teaching
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Excellent written, verbal skills, ability to communicate well with youth and adults in a professional manner
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Must be enthusiastic about teaching all ages, flexible, good sense of humor, willingness to learn and work long hours when needed including occasional weekend & evening programs, enjoy traveling and driving
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CDL (commercial drivers license for school bus) preferred, will train new hires
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Experience with website design and professional desktop publishing software is favorable
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Must have own, reliable vehicle for transportation to do non-Ecology Bus programming
LOCATION: PEBC facility is based in Spark’s County Park, Lakefield, Minnesota.
ABOUT THE PRAIRIE ECOLOGY BUS CENTER:
The Prairie Ecology Bus Center (PEBC) is a non-profit environmental learning center whose mission is to be a vehicle for appreciating and understanding the natural wonders in our own backyards. The PEBC is a program unlike any other in the United States! This environmental learning center travels to the participants and helps them understand their local environments through outdoor learning experiences nearby. We do this with the help of a custom designed, transit bus called the Prairie Schooler Ecology Bus.
The Ecology Bus is equipped to be both a laboratory and classroom on wheels! Participants are picked up at their school and transported to a nearby study site for half-day sessions on a topic of their teacher’s choosing. Topics can range from prairie plants to wetland wildlife, ecosystems inventory to soil science, forest ecology to nature interpretation through art, water quality testing to birding and more. During the trip to the outdoor location, students are prepared for their studies and spend the remainder of the class participating in outdoor explorations, using the equipment on the Bus as needed.
The PEBC also presents indoor, large group Assembly and Naturalist-In-Residence In School programs, as well as, community education classes, public programs, teacher training workshops, various adult tours and other educational programs.
Volunteer Assistance
All not-for-profit organizations
depend a great deal on the time and energy of volunteers who contribute their
time, energy, and expertise. PEBC is no different. One of our goals is to substantially
increase volunteer participation. We can use help for office chores, in running
our programs (especially in the summer), in doing outreach and public relations,
for
fund-raising, participating in committees, and more. We are always interested
in talking to volunteers who can spend the time and who have the passion and
belief in this program to join our board. The Ecology Bus is the Pride of Southwest
Minnesota. Your generous participation as a volunteer will be of great help
as this exciting year unfolds. Please contact us for
more information on becoming a volunteer. For a listing of volunteer opportunities, click here.
If you wish to volunteer with us, please fill out our online volunteer form.
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Internship Program
The mission of the internship program is to assist college students interested
in a career of teaching about the environment to learn how to develop and teach
outdoor environmental education programs. Act as a teaching assistant to PEBC
staff naturalists. Learn the basics of working with a non-profit organization.
Responsible for development of new program and revisions of existing education
programs.
Interns will be able to:
o Develop awareness of outdoor environmental education
teaching techniques,
o Gain experience in program development,
o Expand natural resources understanding and application
of knowledge,
o Acquire experience working with a wide range
of age groups in a variety of
environments and teaching situations throughout
southern and western Minnesota.
Location: PEBC facility is located at Spark's County Park, Lakefield,
MN
Project Length: Can vary by project - prefer a six to twelve-month commitment
Job Description:
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to enhance your teaching
skills and apply your scientific and natural resource knowledge, you won't want
to miss this internship potential!! The PEBC offers a fantastic experience allowing
interns to explore their interest in teaching science and natural resources
and fine-tune their teaching skills by working in a wide variety of environments
and locations throughout southern and western Minnesota. The internship will
encompass a wide variety of hands-on applications of teaching strategies, program
development & maintenance. Interns will also have the chance to improve/increase
their writing skills through the publication of a weekly naturalist column in
a local paper and development of program descriptions, advertisements and press
releases for upcoming programs. In addition, there will be the opportunity to
engage in and learn about digital media production - video, web and multimedia-
in producing science education programs.
After the first month of intern program, interns will begin developing a project
that meets their interests and PEBC's needs. Projects can range from the development
of a new Ecology Bus or In School program, summer daycamp programs, community
education offerings or other type of project.
Internships are non paying. Off-site housing will be provided by PEBC in
Lakefield. Interns are encouraged to seek intern program stipends through their
college or university to supplement their stay. Interns must be willing and
able to obtain a commercial drivers license to drive the Ecology Bus.
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