Educator, Community Programs

Summary:  

Serves as the instructor by assisting with the development, delivery, and instruction of the Outdoor Youth Corps (OYC) and Outdoor Leadership Corps (OLC) programs as well as other community/youth education programs. Facilitates hands-on stewardship projects, outdoor experiences, and career readiness while supporting program operations, logistics, and community partnerships and other needs as they arise. Participates in the Garden’s mission by connecting program participants to expand their knowledge on plants, conservation, and sustainability while making a positive impact in the St. Louis community.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Participates in creating, preparing and implementing all aspects of Outdoor Youth Corps and Outdoor Leadership Corps including instruction, field work, communicating and collaborating with community partners and program funders.  

• Develops and delivers environmental education lessons, activities, and stewardship projects.  

• Assists the Community Programs team through the preparation and delivery of community programs as directed by the supervisor. 

• Participates in team planning sessions with staff and program partners to ensure well-coordinated and effective delivery of instruction to meet learning goals and objectives. 

• Creates a positive, healthy, and safe learning environment for participants that is developmentally and culturally appropriate. 

• Implements programs primarily at designated off-site locations (field trips, outreach, Outdoor Youth Corps extended outdoor experiences and community events), Main Garden campus, community project sites, and may deliver programs at any of the other Garden’s sites (The Butterfly House, Litzsinger Road Ecology Center and Shaw Nature Reserve). 

• Facilitates formal and informal discussions with program participants that directly connect to environmental and plant science and sustainability. 

• Mentors program participants in building understanding of horticulture, plant science/botany, sustainability, conservation, and community engagement topics. Builds participant understanding of career readiness skills. 

• Facilitates stewardship building activities that connect youth participants to the environment through nature-based, outdoor experiences (such as canoeing, hiking, , field trips).  

• Acts as liaison with community partners; collaborates and communicates to develop hands-on works projects that support OYC and OLC participant skill development and partner needs. 

• Collaborates with Sustainability Division colleagues, Garden staff and area educators to develop, evaluate or review best practices, program development, and teaching methods.  

• Purchases, prepares, organizes, and maintains teaching, stewardship tools, field trip and extended trip supplies. 

• Instructs and utilizes various tools to carry out restoration projects at various sites across the region including but not limited to: hand tools, power tools, herbicide equipment. 

• Holds a valid Missouri Commercial Pesticide Applicator license for use in controlling invasive plant species and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations when storing, mixing, and applying herbicide for invasive plant species control. 

• Oversees program participants and the volunteers in the control and removal of invasive plant species through the use of manual, mechanical, and/or chemical methods under a valid Commercial Pesticide Applicator license. 

• Transports participants to field sites in trucks, cars, and 15-passenger vans. 

• Maintains databases and files of current and past participant information, metrics data, and program photos. Assists in collecting data and reporting for OYC and OLC annual program summaries and grant reporting. 

• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed (i.e., informs participants/ volunteers of safety guidelines and safe working practices and routinely monitors to enforce them). 

• Meets expected attendance guidelines.  

• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies. 

• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Competencies: 

• Communication – Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations. 

• Collaboration – Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.  

• Accountability – Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues’ concerns. 

• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions. 

• Stewardship – Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.    

Qualifications/Experience:  

• Minimum of (2) two-years experience working in student teaching, teaching, naturalist, outdoor recreation leadership, camp counselor or similar instructional experience. Experience working with high-school students preferred.   

• Minimum of (1) one-year experience working in conservation field including with invasive species removals, tree and native species planting, etc.,  

• Knowledge of principles and processes of environmental education, outdoor adventures and conservation techniques required. 

• Knowledge of native plants, plant materials, and landscape maintenance techniques and tools required. 

• Experience with group leadership and educational background preferred.  

• Experience in Outdoor Youth Corps, or similar program, preferred.  

• Ability to work with diverse high school aged students, young adults, and emerging professionals. 

• Knowledge of and adherence to all health and safety guidelines. 

• Must have an interest in outdoors, ecology, and environmental issues. 

• Demonstrated ability to work well with a team in preparing materials or lessons and in sharing expertise in science and teaching. 

• Use of personal car may be required to purchase supplies and food; occasionally travel to schools and community worksites within Missouri and Illinois surrounding areas. Travel required <25%.  

• Scheduling flexibility and the ability to work overtime as needed to work some overnights, evenings, and weekends. 

• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required. 

• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skills and / abilities required 

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree required with an emphasis on Science, Education, Science Education, Ecology, Recreation, and outdoor education required. 

• An equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience may be considered. 

Computer Skills: 

• Proficiency in navigating through the Internet and other PC applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite 2010, (i.e Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Publisher).  

Language Skills: 

• Ability to effectively communicate in English (oral and written). 

Mathematical Skills: 

• Proficient basic math aptitude; requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, calculate percentages and decimals, etc.  

Reasoning Ability:  

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution. 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: 

• Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification. 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license with class E certification. 

• Must have the ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwriting criteria. 
• Able to acquire Commercial Pesticide Applicator License in Missouri upon hiring. 

Physical Demands:  

• Ability to walk up to three miles on uneven terrain, on and off trails. 

• Ability to work outdoors; with unavoidable variations in temperature and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. wet, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc). 

• Flexible scheduling and overtime as needed to work overnights during the week, on weekends, and evening hours. 

• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e. step stools, etc.). 

• Able to lift up to (50) pounds (i.e., load, unload and move supplies and equipment). 

• Must be able to drive a 15-passenger van and a heavy-duty truck to and from worksites. 

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing). 
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, etc.). 

Work Environment:  

• Inside classroom and outside at various garden sites and off-site locations. 

• Classroom and outside instruction at schools, fieldwork, or informal institution sites. 

• Quiet indoor office setting, shared office space with the Community Programs Supervisor.  
• Work outdoors, with unavoidable variations in temperature (100F or more and less than 32F) and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. humidity, rain, snow, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc). 

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:  

• Sustainability Division colleagues and volunteers. 

• Employees throughout the Garden. 

• High school and college students,, , and parents. 

• Local environmental/green professionals and community partner organizations. 
• Local partners including Outdoor Leadership Corps partner Great Rivers Greenway. 

Supervisor (title not person):          

• Supervisor, Community Programs