AmeriCorps Wildlife Educator

Service Location:  Las Vegas, NV

Timeline for Service: September 2024 – August 2025

Member Position Summary:

The Wildlife Educator — an AmeriCorps member — is an essential member of the Conservation Education team. Based out of Las Vegas, this person assists and educates visitors at the Lake Mead Hatchery Visitor Center and supports both classroom and community programming in the agency’s Southern Region. They help develop and facilitate regional Outdoor Education events including such activities as field trips, archery, fishing and hunting related activities for families. Duties also include developing new programs, training volunteers and assisting with volunteer projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Facilitate and evaluate Wildlife Education programming.
• Develop and conduct diverse community programs that include activities connecting people to wildlife.
• Assist with ‘Trout in the Classroom’ programming at participating schools.
• Develop and assist in facilitating Angler Education, Boating Education, Hunter Education and Archery Education events.
• Assist with the regional Urban Wildlife Program by responding to reports of human-wildlife concerns.
• Assist and educate visitors at the Lake Mead Hatchery Visitor Center.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Recruit, train and coordinate volunteers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• High degree of initiative and spirit of service – a self-starter.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer service oriented.
• Ability and a willingness to talk with people in-person, via telephone or using digital media.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability and a willingness to work a non-traditional work week, including nights and weekends.

Required Academic and Experience Qualifications:

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent or agree to earn a high school diploma or equivalent before using an educational award. A bachelor’s degree in education, science, outdoor recreation or a related field is preferred. Must be a US citizen.

Host Site Agency Mission:

The Nevada Department of Wildlife offers Wildlife Education and Aquatic Education programming in classrooms and communities across the state, as well as Hunter Education, Archery Education, Boating Education and Urban Wildlife Education. The Department’s educational programming helps to foster NDOW’s mission: “Connecting people to wildlife in a positive way.”  The Nevada Department of Wildlife Conservation Education Program reaches thousands of participants each year through a variety of programs at diverse venues in the region. 

Additional Guidelines or Expectations:

AmeriCorps members are required to wear at least one piece of AmeriCorps gear (AmeriCorps button), provided by the Parks Foundation, every day during their term of service. When the member is facilitating a program, they should wear the t-shirt their site supervisor provides them with the AmeriCorps button pinned on this shirt. AmeriCorps members must participate in a minimum of three National Days of Service during their term of service and may participate in additional service projects. 

AmeriCorps members can expect to camp and work outdoors, sometimes during periods of extreme heat or cold. They also should provide their own laptop computer if possible.

Member Benefits:

AmeriCorps members receive a stipend of $25,000, healthcare, childcare coverage (for eligible members), and professional development opportunities throughout their term of service. Members who complete their term of service will also receive a $7,395 education award. Completion of service requires a minimum of 1700 hours over the course of the term.

Evaluation and Reporting:

Members will receive a mid-year and end-of-term performance evaluation from their site-supervisor and the AmeriCorps Program Director. Members will submit their biweekly Member Service Logs (timesheets) to their supervisor to be approved. Members are also responsible for reporting performance measures to their site supervisor and AmeriCorps Program Director every month during their term of service.

Physical Demands:

• Lift up to 50-70 pounds of material or equipment
• Bend, lift, pull, and push
• Sit for long periods of time
• Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend
• Walk for long periods of time on uneven surfaces
• Work outside in extreme heat or cold (depending on season)