Outdoor Environmental Educator

2024-2025 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR POSITIONS

Make the lake your new outdoor classroom at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Ga! Nestled in the pines of the Oconee National Forest, with nearly 1,500 acres of forested land and a 110-acre lake, this opportunity is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast looking to live and work at a natural meeting site away from everyday life. As part of The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences/Georgia 4-H, Rock Eagle 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

4-H ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR        *UGA Posting # G/R25116P

• Hiring Process: Rock Eagle 4-H Center is accepting applications until filled for 8-14 seasonal educators.
• Season Commitment: Flexibility for staff move-in August 26, 2024. Staff training for the 2024 Fall Environmental Education Season begins (tentative start date) August 28, 2024-September 13, 2024. Residential environmental education fall programs resume September 16, 2024-December 13, 2024, with the season concluding on December 13. There will be an opportunity for a second season of employment based on job performance with a short-term 6-week Christmas/winter break.
• Wage: $13.75 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 Fall Season (August-December), must have a Bachelor’s degree (education, natural science, environmental education, biology, forestry, outdoor education, or related fields 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 are strongly encouraged. Ideal candidates also have dynamic personality, group management skills, leadership abilities, teamwork mindset, self-confidence, effective communication skills, a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, 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 (70%): 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. Rock Eagle classes cover material on lake ecology, watershed studies, herpetology (reptiles), ornithology (birds), dissections, Pioneer history, team building, outdoor skills, and more! Please click to view a full listing of our  Rock Eagle EE Class Descriptions and videos of classes in action for select classes: Lake Ecology, Watershed Studies, Ornithology (Birds), Herpetology (Reptiles), and Pioneer Life.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES (30%): Additional duties include, but are not limited to, student and adult group management while teaching programs, maintaining teaching facilities and supplies, providing animal husbandry for residential education animals, lead staff rotations, and various maintenance projects on center as needed. There may be times when asked to help flip cabins, serve meals and help provide programming to third party groups. 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 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM with weekly hours/schedule depending on reservations. When Lead Staff with a school, days will be longer as you will take your school into their meals and organize students prior to classes. You can expect to work 2-4 nights each week teaching evening classes from 7:00-9:15 PM. Occasional weekend work occurs with third party groups and community outreach, with a weekend schedule available after staff training. 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 cabins, educator staff do not.
• House Description: Housing is provided in one of four fully furnished homes with a private bedroom, semi-private bathroom with a suite mate, kitchen, and washer/dryer with parking and an outside back porch overlooking a shared, wooded yard.
• Private/Shared Spaces: Each home lodges up to four seasonal educator staff featuring four private bedrooms, 2 suite-mate bathrooms (shared toilet, sink, and shower between two staff), a laundry closet (shared between four staff) and a full kitchen with sink, stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator (shared between four staff).
• Proximity: Homes are on-site within our gated property and within a 10-minute walking-distance to our office. Rock Eagle is a large center, so most folks enjoy having a car to get around. Rock Eagle is located in Eatonton, GA between Madison, Ga and Milledgeville, Ga. We are just an hour south of Athens, GA, home of the University of Georgia where you can find local eats, live music, and free experiences such as Bear Hollow Zoo and the Botanical Gardens of Georgia in Athens.
• Considerations: Housing on-site is optional, not required; Hourly rate does not change if opting to commute. No pets allowed.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

• Professional Development & Networking: 3-week paid training in ecology, living history, team building and outdoor skills and environmental education. Opportunities to visit and work with our associated UGA 4-H centers across Georgia.
• Paid Certifications: CPR/First-aid training. Additional opportunities may arise pending funding and availability of trainers.
• Staff Sharing: Throughout the year, there will be opportunities of working at other UGA Georgia 4-H facilities including Wahsega 4-H Center, Fortson 4-H Center, Burton 4-H Center, and Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll. Opportunities may also arise for working with Educators coming to the Rock Eagle 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 individual qualification for “pro-deals” with name brand outdoor gear.