Recreation Specialty Instructor (Summer Environmental Educator)

Department: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation 

Division: Environmental Education 

Title: Recreation Specialty Instructor (RSI) 

Type: Seasonal, Summer 

Timeframe:  May-August 2024 

Salary/Hours: $15.00/hour, 35 hours/week (Some evening and weekend hours required.) 

Location: Pennypack Environmental Center (Northeast Philadelphia) 

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is seeking nature enthusiasts who are passionate about education to assist with summer programming at Pennypack Environmental Center in Fairmount Park. These centers are situated in expansive, lush natural spaces that provide idyllic locations for nature exploration with more than 1,600 acres of woodland, meadow, and stream-side habitat. Summer educators work alongside year-round education staff to facilitate immersive environmental programs for children and adults on streams, forest ecology, watersheds, native wildlife and plants. This position provides an invaluable opportunity to practice hands-on outdoor teaching techniques and learn more about the inner workings of an environmental center.  

The Summer Educator/RSI position requires an energetic, self-motivated and organized person who can work independently as well as collaboratively with the rest of the center’s team. Summer educators report directly to the Environmental Education Program Specialist but is supervised and supported by the entire full-time team. This position will have an irregular schedule that includes early mornings, evening and weekend work. Mandatory work during the full weeks of summer camp, which are tentatively June 25-27, July 8-12, and August 5-9. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Assume responsibility of educator and counselor at summer nature camp (ages 3-17, varies by center), leading and structuring activities throughout the day. 
• Assist and lead environmental education programming in the park for visiting recreation centers and school field trips. 
• Assist and lead environmental education programming for the public. 
• Assist staff with administrative functions such as program scheduling, office management, exhibit maintenance, and other day-to-day operations. 
• Create and sustain self-guided projects to expand upon or support the environmental center in unstructured time.  
• Develop informational material about relevant seasonal educational topics at the center. 
• Additional duties may be added as needed by team.   

Skills & Requirements   

• Strong work ethic; able to prioritize and accomplish necessary tasks without supervision 
• Independent and self sufficient 
• Proclivity for self-management; ability to figure out on one’s own what needs to be done 
• Experience working with children and/or teenagers; energy, patience, and excitement around working with youth   
• Confidence in problem solving abilities 
• Effective communication skills  
• Developed teamwork skills  
• Creativity in lesson planning, creating fun & educational activities for kids  
• Improvisational skills as new challenges or questions arise during programming  

Requirements 

• Resident of the City of Philadelphia 
• At least two years of study at an accredited college or university 
• Course work or knowledge in biology, education, forestry, or similar environmental field 
• Physical ability to hike, lift, and climb stairs and work outside in adverse conditions 
• Preferred experience teaching kids and/or teenagers 
• Criminal background check, FBI Clearance and Child Abuse clearances will be required.