Youth Educator

The Youth Educator will lead educational programs and trips for school and youth groups in grades K through 12. They will also lead occasional trips for families and adults. The Youth Educator is a responsible, energetic individual who is excited to share their knowledge and love of the outdoors with young people. Academic lessons on climate change, forest and watershed ecology, map and compass, geology, weather and climate, outdoor skills, community building, and leadership development are integrated and taught in a nature- and student-centered hiking-based program.

The Educator-Guide will lead trips, manage risk, facilitate learning, and act as an interpretive and informational resource to participants and guests, providing high-quality, joyous experiences outdoors. They will work closely with the AMC Maine education staff to deliver the Maine Woods Explorer program through the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) providing quality hands-on, nature-based activities to participants ages 8-12 years old around Greenville, Maine. The educator will be responsible for planning and teaching programs in the field and at schools.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and facilitate single day and multiday programs for youth and families, including: backpacking, hiking, paddling, XC skiing and snowshoeing trips.
• Implement thematic, place-based environmental education, leadership, and community-building lesson plans that meet the needs of diverse participant populations.
• Create and foster an inclusive group culture and learning environment among participants and co-workers.
• Prioritize safety and manage risk of participants in backcountry settings, assessing both environmental and human risk and making decisions that benefit both the group and individual experience.
• Provide wilderness medical care.
• Model responsible behavior in the outdoors and Leave No Trace ethics.
• Work independently or collaboratively on projects including, but not limited to, curriculum development, the creation of teaching tools, and other logistical tasks.
• Work collaboratively across departments at AMC.
• Perform logistics functions for the program including issuing, collecting, cleaning, and maintaining gear, preparing teaching supplies, ordering and organizing food, and assisting with gear and supplies inventories.
• Travel to and be familiar with operations of AMC lodges.
• Drive 12-passenger vans carrying participant