Atlanta’s Outdoor Classroom Environmental Educator

Summary

Make Atlanta your new outdoor classroom at Fortson 4-H Center! A quiet environment surrounded by nature, history, and the big lights of Atlanta in your backyard; this opportunity is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast looking for living and working in a close knit community! As part of University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Georgia 4-H, Fortson 4-H Center’s Environmental Education Program provides high-quality day and residential (overnight) learning experiences and is a partner in education to serve public, private, and homeschool groups across the Southeast. In our outdoor classroom, our research-based curriculum correlates to the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE), providing hands-on learning opportunities and connections in the context of the real world.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Fortson 4-H Center is accepting applications until filled for 2-3 seasonal educators. Staff training for the Fall 2024 Environmental Education Season begins (tentative start date) August 26, 2024. Residential environmental education programs resume September 13, 2024-May 22, 2024. Please note, a successful pre-employment background will be required prior to start date (4-8 weeks processing estimate).

PRIMARY EDUCATOR RESPONSIBILITIES (60%)

Environmental Educators will teach hands-on day classes and evening classes most frequently to 3rd-8th grade students and chaperoning adults attending residential (overnight) environmental education programs. Classes at Fortson 4-H Center cover material on pond ecology, herpetology (reptiles), ichthyology (fishing), climbing wall, zip line, dissections, local history, and more! Please click to view a full listing of our classes:

https://georgia4h.org/wp-content/uploads/Updated-EE-CLass-Descriptions-rev-August2024.pdf

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES (40%)

Additional duties include, but are not limited to, student and adult group management while teaching programs, dorm cleaning 2-3 times a week, assisting with meal service in the dining hall, maintaining teaching facilities and supplies, providing animal husbandry for residential education animals, operating UGA vehicles for outreach programs, and various maintenance projects on center as needed. Educators must be able to work outside in buggy environments, extreme heat / cold and be flexible as schedules will adjust and shift with changing weather conditions and late guests arrivals.

WORK SCHEDULE

Workdays are consistently Monday-Friday with weekly hours/schedule depending on reservations. Mondays and Wednesdays are longer days due to teaching arrival day evening classes, accommodating Sunday arrivals, and/or Wednesday turn-over between sessions. Throughout the year, there are potential opportunities of working at other UGA Georgia 4-H facilities including Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Wahsega 4-H Center, Burton 4-H Center and Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll. Working at other 4-H Centers is dependent of facility staffing needs and availability to support our overall shared mission and goals of the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education Program. Weekend work is limited due to attempt of balancing hours. Opportunities may arise for weekend work (i.e. community outreach and tabling, weekend groups, etc.), in which staff coverage is based on educator willingness and commitment. Time off is allowed, supported and flexible with advanced and professional notification (and approval) from direct supervisor.

ELIGIBILITLY REQUIREMENTS 

Seasonal applicants committed to the Environmental Education Season (August-June), are required to have a bachelor’s degree (education or science preferred). Ideal applicants are recommended, but not required to have a minimum of 1-2 years of experience working with students in a summer camp, traditional, nontraditional and/or outdoor education setting.

RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates have a commitment, genuine interest in youth development, strong passion for education, enthusiasm for life-long learning and seek opportunities for connecting students with meaningful experiences in science and the natural world. Applicants with customer service and hospitality/food industry experience are strongly encouraged. Ideal candidates also have dynamic personality, group management skills, leadership abilities, teamwork mindset, self-confidence, effective communication skills, a positive attitude and flexibility. Qualities fitting for the job include adaptability, integrity, willingness to connect and build relationships, and the desire to grow and be challenged.

WAGE & EMPLOYEMENT TYPE

$13.25 per hour (plus overtime over 40 hours per week) – increase tentative but unknown with next fiscal year. The position is considered “temporary” with eligibility to work maximum of 1-year and/or by accruing 1300 hours within the University Systems of Georgia (USG) System, whichever comes first. Employees can be considered for re-hire after a 6-month break.

BENEFITS

Benefits include compensation per hour (hours per week will depend on reservations and will vary from week to week). Professional development benefits include paid CPR/First-aid training, ServSafe Food Handler training, on the job training, opportunities to network with other UGA 4-H centers and organizations within Georgia and the environmental education field. Lodging benefits are available if applying for a seasonal educator position (detailed in specific position). Other benefits include very limited health insurance and qualification for “pro-deals” with name brand outdoor gear. Not to mention, the experience of living under the big city lights of Atlanta!

ACCOMMODATION / HOUSING

Benefits include the ability to live on-site within a one-minute walking distance to work for $40/per pay period (utilities included). Housing is a spacious home with attached sun room and on site parking. The home accommodates up to five seasonal educator staff featuring five private bedrooms (with private sink, bathroom, and shower). Housing also includes laundry room (washer and dryer included), and kitchen with provided appliances and amenities (shared between seasonal staff). Please note, housing on-site is optional, not required and no pets allowed; Hourly rate does not change if opting to commute. Reservations provide adult supervision in dorms, educator staff do not.