Creature Camp Naturalist

Location: Pendola Center

Position: Creature Camp Naturalist

Classification: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Fall or Spring positions available

Reports to: Pendola Center Director

Job Summary: Provide an outdoor experience for all campers that increases appreciation and understanding of our role in the environment, improves our ability to be good stewards, and encourages us understand our moral obligation to protect all God’s creatures.

Essential Elements:

• Ability to communicate and work with campers and provide necessary instruction to campers.
• Ability to observe camp behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures and apply appropriate behavior management techniques.
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activities.
• Possess strength and endurance required to maintain strenuous mulitple week schedule.
• Ability to hike 5 miles of uneven terrain.

General Responsibilities:

• To teach multiple units within the Creature Camp curriculum.
  • Ability to identify hazards that could have an impact on an activity.
  • Use a variety of resources and outdoor education programs to provide a varied program.
  • Conduct an end of the season inventory, storing and keeping equipment in good condition.
  • Evaluate current season and make suggestions for the following season.
  • Follow a lesson plan that has been created to meet educational guidelines and requirements.
  • To be able to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of a particular group of students.

• To fulfill other staff administrative roles
  • Prepare for and actively participate in staff training, meetings, and supervisory conferences.
  • Set a good example for students and others, including cleanliness, punctuality, sharing clean-up chores, sportsmanship and table manners.
  • Follow all camp rules and regulations pertaining to smoking, use of alcoholic beverages and use of drugs.
  • Manage personal time off in accordance with camp policy.
  • Main good public relations with students, parents, chaperones and school faculty.
  • As a part of the program team, plan and carry out “all camp” activities, evening activities, campfires and afternoon scheduling.
  • Carry out/assist in leading additional activities as requested.
  • These are not the only duties to be performed. Some duties may be reassigned and other duties may be assigned as required.

• Desired  Qualifications:
  • Desire and ability to work with children outdoors
  • Ability to live and work in a team context.
  • Training or experience in outdoor or environmental education.
  • Good character, integrity, and adaptability
  • Enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control and self motivation
  • Lifeguard, First Aid and C.P.R. for the Professional Rescuer Certification, Wilderness First Aid
  • College graduate or equivalent, or at least 18 years of age.