Field Naturalist, Inside the Outdoors Program - Educational Services Division

Job Summary

As a leader in hands-on environmental science and cultural history programs, the Inside the Outdoors (ITO) program has three major goals:

• Support OCDE's 5-3-1 strategic plan by providing rigorous, hands-on environmental education programs to TK-12 students.
• Broaden participants' understanding of science ideas and environmental literacy related to the Next Generation Science Standards and California's Environmental Principles & Concepts.
• Foster student and community commitments to the protection of the natural environment.
• Inside the Outdoors field trip programs take place in parks and open spaces throughout Orange County. During our programs, Pre-K through 12th grade students step into the shoes of ecologists, geologists, and other scientists as they explore our local ecosystems and discover local cultural history. Selected candidates will:
• Deliver environmental education and cultural history field trip programs to pre-K through 12th grade students from schools across Orange County.
• Enforce safety rules for students, classroom teachers, and chaperones.
• Hike on trails for up to one mile and traverse stairs and uneven terrain while carrying equipment.
• Work as a team with other ITO staff to set up and take down programs.
• Handle a variety of animals, including rats, snakes and insects
• Promote Inside the Outdoors and deliver programming during public community programs and partner events.

Requirements

/ Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFCATIONS

• This is an entry-level position. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in a related subject such as biology, ecology, earth systems science, or education; and/or at least a year of related experience via volunteering, classes, or work experience.
• Experience working with school-age children, especially in an outdoors environment, is highly preferred.
• Experience working and collaborating with diverse communities is strongly desired.
• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under OCDE’s vehicle insurance policy.

COMPENSATION

• $19.50 per hour
• Positions range from 2-5 days per week from September through June.
• Daily hours typically begin at 8 am and range from 4-8 hours per day. Occasional late afternoon, evening, and weekend shifts will be required.
• Limited summer work may be available.
• Current CPR and First Aid Certificates are required within first two months of employment. Though regularly scheduled during a traditional school calendar, this position is considered a temporary classification with hourly pay and no medical benefits. In order for your application to be considered, your online application must be complete, including responses to the supplemental questions on the application. For your reference in preparing to complete the online application, the application’s supplemental questions requiring composition and thought are included below. Please note that your response to the supplemental question should be thoughtful and thorough, within the limit of 5,000 characters or less.

1. Please list any equipment you can operate that may be involved in the position for which you are applying.
2. Please describe any work or volunteer experience in an outdoor education program, camp, or youth group within the past five years. Please include name(s) and location of program(s).
3. Please describe your personal ideas about how people learn best. If you have had experience working with school-aged youth, describe your teaching style.
4. Please comment further on your employment history or to describe in greater detail any aspects of your experience. Comments and Other Information Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application. We are currently recruiting for energetic professionals to serve as Field Naturalists for the OCDE Inside the Outdoors (ITO) School and Field Programs. Our ITO School and Field Programs are a unique and hands-on science, social science, and environmental education program that provide science field trips for kindergarten through seventh grade students. The students spend the day at one of the various field sites. Students will study tidepools, chaparrals, riparian (stream), and estuary ecosystems. Information on Native American lifestyles and geology are also integrated into the program. Our Field Naturalists begin work at 8:00 a.m. and range from 4 to 8 hours per day. Limited weekend and summer work may be available. For more information, please visit www.insidetheoutdoors.org. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving your application.