Coastal 4-H Environmental Educator: Fall 2024-Spring 2025

CLICK HERE: PDF Job Description for Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Burton 4-H EE

Make the beach and salt marsh your new outdoor classroom at the Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island! A Georgia barrier island surrounded by nature, history and beach town vibes; this opportunity is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast looking to live and work on a coastal community! As part of University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Georgia 4-H, Burton 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 & DETAILS

UGA Posting # G/R21312P

• Hiring Process: Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island is accepting applications until filled for 8-10 seasonal educators.
• Season Commitment: Flexibility for staff move-in August 12-16, 2024. Staff training for the 2024-2025 Environmental Education Season begins (tentative start date) August 19, 2024-September 20, 2024. Residential environmental education programs resume September 10, 2024-June 1, 2025. Depending on reservations and impacts of hurricane season, there will be a tentative short-term 4 to 6 week Christmas/winter break determined by November 1, 2042.
• Wage: $13.25 per hour (plus overtime over 40 hours per week).
• Employment Type: 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. A successful pre-employment background will be required prior to the start date (4-8 weeks processing estimate).
• Eligibility Requirements: Seasonal applicants committed to the Environmental Education Season (August-May school year), are required to have a bachelor’s degree (education or science preferred). Ideal applicants are recommended to have a minimum of 1-2 years of experience working with students in a summer camp, traditional, nontraditional and/or outdoor education setting.

EXPECTATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS: Ideal candidates are committed, have a 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.

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. Coastal classes cover material on barrier island ecology, herpetology (reptiles), marine invertebrates, ornithology (birds), dissections, local history, and more! Please click to view a full listing of our  Burton 4-H Center EE Class Descriptions and videos of classes in action for select classes: Beach Ecology, Salt Marsh Ecology, Ornithology (Birds), Herpetology (Reptiles), and Fort Pulaski.

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 and 14-passenger mini-buses to transport guests, lead staff rotations, 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 guest arrivals.

WORK SCHEDULE: Workdays are consistently Monday-Friday with weekly hours/schedule depending on reservations (spring season being more demanding than fall season). Mondays and Wednesdays are longer days due to teaching arrival day evening classes, accommodating Sunday arrivals, and/or Wednesday turn-over between sessions. Weekend work is limited due to an attempt to balance 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.

BENEFITS & ADVANTAGES

Housing Accommodation

• Rent: $20/per week (all utilities included). Reservations provide adult supervision in dorms, educator staff do not.
• House Description: Housing is a spacious coastal style home on stilts with covered parking and an outside back porch overlooking the surrounding salt marsh.
• Private/Shared Spaces: The home lodges up to eight seasonal educator staff featuring eight private bedrooms (with private sink), four suite-mate bathrooms (shared toilet and shower between two staff), a double laundry room (shared between four staff) and double kitchen with provided appliances and amenities (shared between four staff).
• Proximity: Home is on-site within our gated property and two-minute walking distance to work. Conveniently, located middle of Tybee Island where everything “on island” is walking or biking accessible. Not to mention, the experience of living surrounded by salt marsh, a ½ mile stroll to the beach, and 18 miles away to Historic downtown Savannah, Georgia!
• Considerations: Housing on-site is optional, not required and no pets allowed; Hourly rate does not change if opting to commute.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

• Professional Development & Networking: 3-4 week paid training in coastal barrier island ecology and environmental education. Opportunities to visit and work with our associated UGA 4-H centers across Georgia and organizations along the Georgia coast.
• Paid Certifications: CPR/First-aid training, ServSafe Food Handler training, Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PNM) Volunteer Training. Additional opportunities may arise pending funding and availability of trainers.
• Staff Sharing: 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, Fortson 4-H Center and Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll. Opportunities may also arise for working with Educators coming to the Burton 4-H Center. Working at other 4-H Centers and/or borrowing staff is dependent of facility staffing needs and availability to support our overall shared mission and goals of the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education Program.

OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Compensation: Position is paid per hour and overtime at time and a half when over 40 hours a week
• Health Insurance: Limited health insurance for personal use and worker’s compensation coverage for incidents.
• Pro-Deals: Access to Burton 4-H work accounts and individual qualification for “pro-deals” with name brand outdoor gear.
• Snacks: During meal shifts, remaining food after meal service may be available for staff. Coffee and canteen snacks also offered.