Camp Director & Environmental Educator

Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut; Connecticut; On-site; USD 22,730 - 32,373; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit nature center is seeking a Camp Director and Environmental Educator to oversee camp operations, plan activities, and teach outdoor skills. This full-time position requires a degree in early childhood or environmental education. Responsibilities include managing staff and camper needs, engaging children in outdoor education, and ensuring safety. The ideal candidate will work varied hours in nature settings, promoting environmental awareness among young learners.

Qualifications

• Degree in relevant fields or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with children ages 3-15.
• CPR/First Aid certified or willing to obtain certification.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe, high-quality camp operations.
• Plan and schedule activities with the Education Director.
• Serve as a positive role model for campers and staff.

Skills

Early childhood education

Environmental education

Supervision and guidance

Behavior management

Communication skills

Outdoor education

Education

Degree in early childhood education, environmental education, or related field

Job description

Overview

Position Title: Camp Director & Environmental Educator. Reports to: Education Director.

DPNC is seeking a Summer Camp Director and environmental educator, with a focus on early childhood education. This is a full-time, year-round position, while the majority of work will be regular hours, Monday–Friday, occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.

Camp Director responsibilities

• Ensure safe, high quality, daily program oversight of the camp operation to carry out the camp mission and fit within the DPNC core values and culture.
• Work with the Education Director to plan and schedule appropriate activities for the duration of the camp program.
• Serve the campers and staff as a positive role model.
• Meet the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs of each child.
• Manage both camper and staff behavioral issues.
• Maintain open communication and communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, with a variety of stakeholders including children, parents, staff and supervisors.
• Recruit, organize, train, and supervise seasonal staff.
• Ongoing maintenance of records such as camper and staff attendance, schedule and time sheets.
• Coordinate field trips, ensuring appropriate supplies, activities, and communication with all relevant parties.
• Operate DPNC vehicles to transport staff and campers to and from field trips.
• Provide staff trainings and meetings.
• Perform duties in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, offices, classrooms, outdoor spaces, and field trips to different locations.
• Perform other related duties as required, directed, or as a situation dictates.
• Regular attendance on scheduled work days is required.

Educator responsibilities

• Teaching preschool skills, with a substantial amount of time outdoors, including in the woods, meadows, wetlands, ponds.
• Working with school aged students in a field trip or school setting.
• Handling education animals, including snakes, turtles, and birds of prey.
• Various other duties as assigned by the Education Director.

Qualifications

• Degree in the fields of early childhood education, environmental education, biology, natural resources, or a related field. Equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience working in an after school, camp, recreation, or school setting
• Experience providing supervision and guidance to members of staff
• Experience working with children ages 3-15
• Must be comfortable spending most of the time outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions.
• Willingness to work a varied schedule and sub occasionally in other programs
• Experience addressing camper behavioral issues with children, parents and staff
• CPR/ First Aid certified or willingness to become certified
• Demonstrate creativity, ability to motivate children, positive attitude
• Ability to safely operate DPNC vehicles
• Willingness to work with live animals
• Enthusiasm for interacting with children and teaching them about the natural world
• Comfortable managing small and large groups, both in a classroom setting and outside
• Basic knowledge of the area’s natural history
• A valid driver’s license

Compensation

Compensation: $20/hr

How to Apply

Please email resume and cover letter to:
Jess Morris, Education Director
[e-mail]

About DPNC

The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) is a nonprofit nature center in Mystic, CT that offers environmental education programs for all ages. Since 1946, DPNC has provided the community and visitors with opportunities to better understand and appreciate the natural world and our place in it. DPNC manages and stewards a 400-acre greenway with more than 10 miles of trails that features 17th century stonewalls, woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. At the DPNC’s main facility, the woodland campus, guests can discover nature through natural history exhibits and meeting rehabilitated wildlife. The creation of the Coogan Farm in 2013 has added additional layers of education, history, and a Giving Garden that donates thousands of pounds of bio-nutrient rich produce to the food insecure of New London County each year.

We encourage you to visit our social media channels to get a better idea of who we are and what we do: