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:

1. BA/BS in natural resources, environmental studies, or closely related field

2. Minimum 2 years teaching experience, preference for outdoor teaching experience

3. Very self-motivated and high energy team player with a love of the out-of-doors

4. Must be comfortable working independently and team-teaching

5. Excellent written, verbal skills, ability to communicate well with youth and adults in a professional manner

6. 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

7. CDL (commercial drivers license for school bus) preferred, will train new hires

8. Experience with website design and professional desktop publishing software is favorable

9. 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.

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.