Employment Opportunities
Field Educator
Introduction
Yosemite Institute (YI), one of the nation’s leading non-profit environmental education organizations, is seeking qualified candidates for field educator positions for our school-year programs
What you will do in this job
YI enjoys a long history and a solid reputation of being one the of the leading field science schools in California. Our field educators are one key to that success. The work at YI is extremely rewarding on many levels. Often, our educators reflect on their experience at YI as one of the pinnacles of their work experience.
While rewarding, the work at YI is also very demanding. Our program operates in the vast classroom of Yosemite National Park. Instruction takes place in remote and rugged areas with complex logistics in all kinds of weather. In this setting educators manage and teach small field groups of 10 to 15 students of varying ages, backgrounds, and interests. Educators must master vast content that varies week to week. Field educators design and deliver the curriculum presented each week, integrating the classroom teacher’s goals, the California state learning standards, and YI ’s educational framework. Leading groups on backpacking and overnight trips takes place several times a semester. In addition, you are a member of a large educational team, living in close proximity with coworkers. You will manifest professionalism in all that you do. A flexible positive attitude is a must. We are looking for tomorrow’s leaders in the field of science education.
Typical day and week expectations
A field educator is typically on site from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. One or two evenings per week, educators present evening programs that may consist of night hikes, slide or PowerPoint presentations, campfires, or large group activities. These evening programs typically run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The only meal or residential responsibility an educator has is the daily managing of lunches with their small group of students while out in the field.
Our students range in age from kindergarten through adults; the majority are 7th and 8th graders. Each week educators develop daily activities, lessons, and hikes that bring together the meeting of the students’ and schools’ objectives with YI’s Core Educational Framework. Programs vary greatly, from schools seeking serious academic instruction to those requiring an emphasis on cooperative learning or broader environmental ethics. Most groups opt to participate in a service-learning stewardship project.
What qualifications you will need
Successful candidates are enthusiastic, self-directed, innovative team players who have:
- 1-2 years experience teaching school-aged students in an outdoor setting
- Experience leading educational, experiential, or interpretive outdoor programs
- A working knowledge of natural sciences
- Ability to implement, manage, and model excellent risk management
- Experience working with children of diverse ages and cultures
- A working understanding of basic pedagogy, especially as it applies to an outdoor setting
- Familiarity creating lesson plans and delivering individualized curricula and programs
- Effective communication, problem solving, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to perform physical work, including hiking 3-7 miles daily in the outdoors, under challenging weather conditions, on uneven terrain, and at elevations between 4000 and 9000 feet
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings
- A 4-year degree or equivalent life experience
- Current Wilderness First Responder certification and CPR certification or the ability to get certification by employment start date
Compensation
Full time compensation ranges from $76-$98 per day, plus additional compensation for evening and weekend work. Housing, consisting of individual rooms within a shared house, partial board, medical/dental benefits, a retirement plan, vacation benefits and paid training are included. We follow a traditional school year calendar, with program starting in late August and ending early June. Summer programming constitutes a possibility of year round employment.
Application Process
We accept applications on an on-going basis. We are currently accepting applications for positions starting in August 2008. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2008. Applicants should make it clear in their applications which positions they wish to be considered for.
A completed application consists of the following:
- A letter describing why you want to work for Yosemite Institute
- Your resume
- Contact information for 3 references
- Copies of your most recent first aid and CPR certifications
Note: Certifications are not required to apply for a position. However, current Wilderness First Responder (80-hour course) and CPR certification are required prior to hire date if an applicant is offered a position.
Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at Yosemite Institute.
Because of our work with children, all applicants that reach the interview stage must authorize a background check.
We strongly encourage completed application materials to be sent electronically to YIeducatorposition@yni.org. For those applicants with limited computer access, mail completed applications to:
Adam Burns, Mentor Teacher
Yosemite Institute
P.O. Box 487
Yosemite, CA 95389
