Naturalist Educator

Organization Description:

EcoElsa LLC was started in 2018 with the mission of connecting people to nature by “teaching anything outdoors.” Natural spaces provide many opportunities for people whether it is as a place to stay physically active, to rest and relax, to be curious and explore, and so much more! Therefore, EcoElsa curriculum and programs are developed to show how nature can be a space for teaching different subjects and topics, and for different learning styles. Our three goals are,

1) Helping people get outdoors to learn and have fun

2) Creating resources so that anything can be taught outdoors

3) Making the outdoors more accessible for more people

EcoElsa began as a blog and YouTube channel in January of 2018 to share topics and skills with people to help make the outdoors more accessible to more people, especially parents and teachers. As we have grown, we have continued to look for more ways to expand meaningfully and meet the needs of the EcoElsa Community and the community organizations we partner with. We look forward to continuing to help people form lasting connections to their outdoor spaces while teaching anything outdoor!

Job Title: Naturalist Educator

Job Type: Full-Time & Part-Time; Seasonal

Duration:
Start Date: Monday, May 26th, 2026
Initial Term End Date – September 4th, 2026
*Looking to potentially extend the position part-time into Fall of 2026. The position may also bump up to full-time hours summer of 2026 depending on scheduling and availability!

Hours:
Summer: Classes vary we run classes Monday-Saturday so depends on availability

Part-Time 10-30 hrs/wk; hours may vary based on class needs & availability
– Typical Summer Hours are as follows
Monday-Thursday: Summer Camp Availability 7:00 am to 5:00 pm; occasional evening classes that end by 8 pm
Saturday & Friday: occasional half day class usually in the morning

Full-Time Up to 40 hrs/wk; guaranteed minimum of 20 hours; based on class needs & availability, hours and work week may vary
– Typical Summer Hours are as follows
Monday-Thursday: Summer Camp Availability 7:00 am to 5:00 pm; occasional evening classes that end by 8 pm
Saturday & Friday: occasional half day class usually in the morning

Position Overview: Naturalist Educators are responsible for facilitating environmental education experiences at local parks, community education locations, childcare centers, libraries, schools, and homeschool groups around the metro area. Classes seek to help participants develop a connection to nature and their local parks through fun activities that also help teach other subjects and skills.

Classes 80-90%

• Lead summer programs from lesson plans curating activities that help participants learn the topic while having fun; Freedom to pick from previously created activities and some time available to develop new ones
• Effectively manage participants and follow safety guidelines to provide a safe and fun environment for participants physically, mentally, and emotionally
• Drive to different sites to prepare, set up, and tear down class activities
• Capture photos and videos during programs to send to guardians
• Navigate unexpected situations professionally while prioritizing safety
• Coordinate with partner organizations to make sure programs run smoothly
• Interact with participants, guardians, other staff, partner organizations, and the public in a safe and professional manner
• Maintain sites and class materials to keep workspaces clean and safe

Education Team Member 10-20%

• Participate in team meetings and regular check-ins with Supervisor
• Communicate with class participants through reminder and follow up emails
• Assist with planning and preparing class materials for upcoming classes; cleaning and organizing materials from previous classes
• Conduct and follow training activities to help team members grow and learn more
• Develop new class activities and materials for current and future programs
• Conduct regular reflections/evaluations of programs and experiences to improve for the future

Additional Duties:

• Create marketing and social media posts; promoting upcoming classes and EcoElsa LLC
• Assist with the creation of newsletters, blog posts, and videos
• Assist with marketing and sales of programs and services to partner organizations
• Market EcoElsa Classes at tabling events and other outreach opportunities
• Complete other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• BA or BS in science or education and 1 year of education experience; or 4-5 years related environmental and educational experience
• CPR & First Aid Certification up to date; or be willing to obtain it by the start date
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable vehicle; position travels between different sites and organizations around the metro
• High level of self-motivation & enthusiasm
• Knowledge of a variety of environmental topics
• Experience foraging for plants and mushrooms or a strong interest in learning how to do so; we are looking for a second staff member to help back up foraging classes
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication and time management skills
• Able to lift and carry 50 pounds and hike on uneven rugged terrain often off main trails in all kinds of weather
• Successfully passing a background check is a requirement for this position

Preferred Qualifications:

• Work experience with Nature Centers, homeschool groups, summer camps, field research, preschool/childcare centers, schools, and other related groups
• Experience working with PreK-12 youth and adults for programs
• Knowledge of outdoor survival, wildlife biology, ichthyology, entomology, botany, ethnobotany & foraging, biomimicry, physical sciences, and or art and a passion for sharing that knowledge with others
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects
• Previous experience creating curriculum is a plus, but not required
• Solutions focused looking for ways to improve programs and stream-line processes
• Shared interest in growing the position into a permanent full-time year-round position

Benefits:

• Starting Salary $18.50/hour
• Sick Time & Paid Time Off
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Gift card to an outfitter company for completing position to the designated term end date
• 3 EcoElsa T-shirts: 1 Staff shirt that will need to be returned at the end of position and 2 other EcoElsa nature/naturalist themed shirts from the Etsy Shop to keep

For more information check out www.ecoelsa.com