A NatureBridg educator teachers her students in Prince William Forest
Prince William Forest

Educator Development Program

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Location
Prince William Forest
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Dates
-

The Educator Development Program (EDP) is a multi-week, paid program for educators seeking to increase their experience with outdoor teaching and risk management. The program encourages and aims to increase representation of those who have had historical and systemic barriers to the field of outdoor education and consequently the workforce.
 
Participants in the Educator Development Program share their knowledge, gain new perspectives and further develop their teaching strategies throughout the program, which incorporates observation, training, collaborative teaching, coaching and evaluation. 

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Get an

Overview

The Educator Development Program is a six-week program for educators who are seeking to increase their experience with outdoor teaching and risk management. Four applicants will be selected to participate in the Prince William Forest program which includes training, collaborative teaching, coaching and evaluation.

We are recruiting staff who can effectively connect with our regional student communities, which include Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latinx communities, English Language Learners, low-income and immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities and people with special needs.

Therefore we seek applicants who both reflect our student populations and other groups that are under-represented in the field of environmental education, and those who have experience and skills working with the above populations.

The core training session takes place in Prince William, Virginia, over the first week of the program. In the following weeks, participants travel and experience collaborative teaching opportunities at our Golden Gate campus, before returning to Virginia to join our educator staff for spring training. Upon successful completion of the program, EDP participants will be offered a position as an Environmental Science Educator for the remainder of the spring season, which runs through June 5, 2020. Continuing work with NatureBridge beyond June as an Environmental Science Educator is available if desired.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

  • Actively participate in all training sessions
  • Collaboratively plan and teach three-day outdoor education programs following the NatureBridge Theory of Change
  • Co-lead night walks, reflective activities and campfires
  • Debrief teaching experiences and observations with collaborating educators/supervisors and use the knowledge gained to enhance teaching techniques
  • Develop and maintain a safe, inclusive learning environment for all participants at all times

Experience, Competencies & Education

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required:

  • Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent experience
  • Eligibility to work in the United States
  • At least one year experience working with diverse ages and cultures in schools, camps, parks, community programs, etc.
  • Current Wilderness First Aid Certification (minimum) and Adult and Child CPR + AED Certification, or willingness to obtain shortly after being hired; a stipend is provided to cover the cost of the WFA course and the CPR course, provided at completion of the EDP Program
  • Commitment to equity and inclusion within your teaching and our  NatureBridge community
  • Sound decision making skills
  • Effective communication, problem solving and interpersonal skills
  • Willingness to be coached and openness to feedback
  • Ability to hike three to seven miles a day carrying a 20 pound pack on varied terrain in all sorts of weather
  • Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings

Desirable Qualifications

  • Experience working with Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latinx communities, English Language Learners, low-income and immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, people with special needs
  • Involvement in community service projects, leadership, social and environmental justice and activism
  • Experience working with youth in environmental education, science education or residential outdoor education programs
  • Ability to speak and teach in a language other than English relevant to our student populations such as Spanish, Mandarin, French, Amhraic/Ethiopian or German

Compensation

  • EDP Participants earn $74/day; this will increase to $96/ day when hired as an Environmental Science Educator at the successful completion of the program.
  • Full-time Environmental Science Educator hires can elect to receive a comprehensive benefit plan, including: medical, dental, and vision; retirement; and paid vacation.
  • Shared housing, transportation between campuses, and many meals are provided throughout the course of the program.
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How to

Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, contact information for three references and an essay describing your life experiences that have inspired you to help connect youth to the natural world. Essays should be no longer than three pages, single-spaced.

Specify in your cover letter which student populations you have the most experience working with and are most comfortable teaching.

Email application materials or any questions to Sonia Veiga at midatlanticsearch@naturebridge.org and indicate EDP 2020 in the subject line.