Part-Time, Bilingual Environmental Educator II

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary: $20/hour

Part Time Bilingual Environmental Educator II

Want to know what the UEC is all about? Check out our mission, vision, and values. Or, visit our Instagram to see us find fun and share it!

Compensation: starting at $20/hour

Benefits: Our part-time employees receive 12 PTO days annually (14+ following Year 1 of employment) plus 7 paid organizational holidays, a 3% match on our 403(b) retirement plan, program registration and facility rental discounts, plus a strong commitment to work/life balance and great organizational culture. Additional benefits will be outlined in the hiring process.

Intended start date:October 5th

Location:Menomonee Valley branch, Milwaukee, WI (in-person)

Weekly schedule: Monday-Wednesday, a typical week consists of admin work on Mondays (professional development, meetings, coordination of field trips) and teaching on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Position Summary:

As an Environmental Educator you will engage school age children in learning about nature and environmental science. During the school year, you will align teaching with school district and classroom curriculum requirements. This program requires creative design, a passion for working with kids, and implementation of innovative, inquiry-based programs about natural history, science, ecology and environmental issues to school children K-12. During the summer, the educator will support developing and leading camper-centered and nature-based activities for summer day camps with a focus on outdoor recreation and ecological sustainability.

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROJECT (NEEP)

• Present programs on natural history, natural science, ecology, STEM, and environmental issues to urban youth in grades kindergarten through 12th
• Communicate with school liaisons and teachers about scheduling and program logistics
• Support colleagues to design and implement innovative new programming for the Center

SUMMER PROGRAMS

• Adapt and update pre-existing summer camp outlines
• Support the development of and co-teach camper-centered, inquiry-based experiences for summer camp students, including potential overnight experiences
• Mentor college and high school interns serving as camp counselors
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to prepare all materials for summer educational activities

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Work in collaboration with other educators to organize and maintain all educational equipment and classroom spaces
• Prepare and maintain program materials

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To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate the following competencies:

We know that hardly anyone checks ALL the boxes on job requirements, and thats okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences, were excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.

• Collaborates: You build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates effectively: You develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Reliability/action-oriented: Deliver on commitments and act with a clear sense of ownership.
• Interpersonal savvy: Relate openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people while recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Adaptability: You recognize individual control of self and actions; you rebound from setbacks and adversity.
• Addresses conflict: You courageously address conflict by caring personally and challenging directly (radical candor).
• Growth mindset: You demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development and are willing to incorporate feedback into the ways you approach work.
• Values differences: You recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Instructional ability: You can demonstrate an ability to teach science and nature-based programs with an exceptional grasp of youth engagement strategies, positive risk-taking, and adventure education. You understand the phases of child development and appropriately adapt content to different ages and stages.
• Group management: You create engaging and positive environments where participants feel comfortable being their whole, genuine selves, for children and adults alike; you can redirect distracting behaviors to active, productive engagement.
• Ecological knowledge: you have an understanding of and recognize the cycles of nature, animal behavior, and the nuances of phenology, incorporating them into programming as able and adapting content to participant needs.
• Personal accountability: you have systems or processes in place to manage tasks, need minimal supervision or reminders to complete work and motivate yourself to accomplish tasks/goals. You have a sense of trust in your personal abilities and take ownership of work.
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.

Required Qualifications:

• Bilingual in both English and Spanish.
• At least two years of teaching experience with a broad range of ages in a formal or non-formal setting.
• Must have a valid drivers license and ability to meet requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Centers commercial vehicle insurance policy.
• Lifeguard certification or the ability to gain certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS or BA in natural sciences, environmental education or related fields.
• Experience teaching urban youth in grades kindergarten through 12th.
• Canoe training and/or water safety certification or the ability to gain certification.

Physical Requirements

• Lifting bikes 3 feet out of bike rack; belaying people on the rock wall; team-lifting canoes from storage racks to activity locations; hiking, biking, walking or paddling for a full day, lifting up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.

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What does a typical workday look like?

• Condition & Location: The majoriy of time is spent outdoors in all weather conditions on land and water throughout the year.
• Weekly hours: 20 hours/week
• Schedule: Monday- Wednesday; a typical week consists of admin work on Mondays (professional development, meetings, coordination of field trips) and teaching on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• Equipment used: 14 and 28 passenger buses, canoes, kayaks, bikes, snow gear, computer equipment and Google Software

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Team and Supervision

• You will be a member of the Environmental Education team and will be managed by the Menomonee Valley Environmental Education Manager. You will be responsible for the safety and well-being of students, interns, and volunteers and also coach/mentor our interns, students, and volunteers.
• In this role, you may participate in UEC circles and committees as your work or as your schedule and interests allow.
• Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with the Educators and Branch leadership team.
• All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, and youth participants.

Organizational Support

• All team members of the Urban Ecology Center work a minimum of 1-2 weekend or evening events each year. Our events are a great way to engage with our communities and see our mission in action; examples include Urban Candlelight Hike, Autumn Celebration, and HKE MKE. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.