Lead Nature Educator

Our mission is to inspire a life-long connection to nature and community through creative exploration of the outdoors.

Wild Bear Nature Center is seeking a year-round Lead Nature Educator to join our education team and help lead our children’s Nature Education programs. This individual must have at least 600 hours of experience delivering well planned half and full day educational programs for children. We are seeking experienced, creative, and child centered educators who love nature and are looking to work in a positive, hard-working environment.

The variety of our offered programs are a great mix of learning, creativity, nature exploration all held outdoors wherever and whenever possible!  Wild Bear’s education team develops the theme and then educators create a structure of the day which encompasses science, music, games, story, crafts and hands-on outdoor exploration! See below requirements which apply directly to these programs.

Job Description:

• Plan and implement creative, age-appropriate, hands-on nature programs. Including full day summer and school day off programs, after-school, in-school and field trip programs, and occasional family and adult programs.
• Orient into Wild Bear’s materials, programs, policies, philosophy when planning and working with children
• Work with our education team to plan fun and hands-on nature programs for early childhood and school age children
• Ensure that all children are safe and accounted for at all times
• Take pride in diligently organizing and maintaining Wild Bear’s education materials
• Integrate new ideas into Wild Bear’s existing programs and materials
• Drive a 12-15-passenger van to outlying areas for exploration opportunities
• Create a fun and engaging plan each day and adhere to a schedule but be flexible in response to children and nature.
• Work with our education team to keep materials and lesson plans organized and up to date.
• Support with educational evaluations and tracking for grant purposes.
• Support in onboarding of seasonal summer educators and interns.
• Be a proactive member of the Wild Bear team and support with general operations and other organizational activities and goals.

** We are in support of candidates with Early Childhood Education, Waldorf and creative, non-traditional learning model mindsets and experience.

Job Qualification Requirements:

• Completed degree in the field of education, environmental studies, natural science or related field and/or 2-3 years and/or 600 hours of experience in leading groups of school-age children in nature.
• Clear background check from the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
• Three positive professional references
• Experience and/or education in innovative nature education program full day planning with children.
• First AID/CPR Current Certification

Nature Educator Profile:

• Child focused in teaching techniques
• Skills and experience in nontraditional, experiential, and creative teaching models and programs
• Natural History knowledge, skills, interest, and experience
• Creativity and art focus for program planning and implementation
• Adaptive problem solving and educational mindset
• Strong work ethic
• Ability to self-start and work as a member of a team
• Strong presentation skills
• Fun, creative, and project oriented
• Thinks outside the box
• People with musical and creative strengths, a sense of humor, a kind and gentle demeanor, who enjoy spending time with children, and love the outdoors!

Tentative Schedule: (subject to change) Approximately 40 hrs/week

• 5 days a week: Monday-Friday, hours vary depending on programs, occasional weekends.

Compensation: $30,000 annual salary, plus benefits (PTO, sick days, paid holidays and Health Care Stipend)

How to apply:

Send a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references to Nature Education Director, Michelle Witte, michelle@wildbear.org

No phone calls please. www.wildbear.org