Community Educator – AmeriCorps Position

The Wild Center (TWC) is seeking highly motivated AmeriCorps members for a 900 hour (~5.5 month) term at a natural history museum in the heart of New York State’s Adirondack region. Members are a key part of TWC’s visitor experience and will receive a broad range of interpretive experiences and opportunities, including development of local natural history knowledge, public programming skills, and best practices in customer service. Members will engage with visitors of all ages and backgrounds on our campus and throughout our community. We are looking for passionate, curious, and motivated people to join our team this year and help us celebrate our 20th anniversary!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate informal interpretive experiences for visitors, including tinkering studio activities, technology-based Science on a Sphere, and outdoor programs (i.e. community science programs, nature play activities).
• Help maintain our outdoor campus, including opening and closing duties, trail sweeps, and gardening tasks.
• Serve as co-guides on interpretive guided canoe and kayak trips on the Raquette River throughout the summer season, with potential to extend into the fall.
• Support seasonal exhibitions, including our upcoming traveling exhibit, TROLLS: Save the Humans, throughout the summer and fall seasons and Wild Lights installation in the fall.
• Assist with planning and implementing large-scale events such as festivals, conferences, and the Adirondack Youth Climate Summit.
• Attend and participate in outreach events to meet our community’s expressed needs, support events and programs run by the Tupper Lake Recreation Department, Tupper Lake Public Library, etc.

Qualifications:

• Ability to commit to the full term of 900 hours, ~5.5 months of AmeriCorps service.
• Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
• Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service.
• Interest in teaching science, natural history and working outdoors throughout the year.
• Flexibility and adaptability – we work in a dynamic team setting with shifting duties.
• Self-motivated – you seek opportunities to learn and grow and can thrive independently.
• Engaging and excited to teach – you will interact with our public audience on a daily basis.
• Positive attitude and a willingness to work with people – you must enjoy working and communicating with people, including members of our rural Adirondack community.
• Organization and time management skills – you will work on multiple tasks concurrently.
• Maturity and professionalism – you will represent The Wild Center and AmeriCorps New York.
• Policies – be prepared to adhere to all Wild Center policies including uniform policy, safety procedures and regulations.

Experience & Education:

• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent or have not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and must agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• A college degree is not required to apply for this position. We encourage current college students to apply, as well as non-traditional applicants not pursuing a degree.

Work Schedule:

• 5 days a week, including weekends, special events, occasional early mornings, and regular evenings, with two consecutive days off each week.
• Hours to be completed over the starting the week of May 19, 2026 until early November 2026
• Members will be required to attend AmeriCorps-specific service days throughout their term.
• Occasional off-site travel is required; course of 5 and a half months,  mileage reimbursement is provided for outreach events.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to traverse rolling trails and spend prolonged periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions
• Ability to maneuver canoes in and out of the water, haul tables and chairs, and move rocks and fort building materials.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Approximately $850 bi-monthly (twice per month) living allowance, based on a 24-week contract period.
• $3,697 Segal AmeriCorps Education award after 900 hours of service.
• Shared, fully equipped seasonal housing owned by The Wild Center, with all utilities included. Housing will be shared with up to 5 other AmeriCorps members.
• May be eligible for federal student loan forbearance during service term.
• Complementary family membership to The Wild Center
• Professional training: team building, informal teaching skills, questioning strategies, science content knowledge, health and safety, accessibility, customer service, etc.
• Canoe training, plus use of canoes, kayaks, and SUPs outside of service.
• The Wild Center strives to create an environment where our team thrives both personally and professionally. While life at the Center can move at a fast pace, we appreciate the times we can slow down. Whether it’s sharing stories over a staff potluck, being wowed by cool science facts, or taking a break during a meeting to view a cute animal, we make time to grow together as a community.