Environmental Educator

Hitchcock Center for the Environment; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst seeks an experienced Environmental Educator to serve as Summer and Vacation Camp Director, Lead Afterschool Educator, and School Residency Educator. The role blends hands-on science education with staff mentoring and program leadership.

You will develop mission-aligned curriculums, supervise a team of counselors, coordinate schedules with schools and families, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance while fostering an inclusive,

Qualifications

• Experience leading summer camps and vacation programs.
• Strong ability to mentor a team of staff and supervise 6–15 counselors.
• Commitment to building an inclusive, collaborative learning community.
• Demonstrated skill in developing hands-on, science-based education.

Responsibilities

• Lead Summer Camp and Vacation Days programs and directors.
• Oversee curriculum development, marketing, and registration.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise Camp Counselors.
• Plan budgets for camps and manage purchasing and logistics.
• Coordinate with Assistant Director, Registrar, and Office Manager.
• Ensure health and safety compliance with local regulations.
• Deliver After School and Residency programs as assigned.
• Schedule 30–45 one-hour programs with teachers throughout the year.

Job description

AMHERST Environmental Educator, Summer and Vacation Camp Director (Full Time) The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is looking for an experienced educator to be Summer and Vacation Camp Director, Lead Afterschool Educator, and School Residency Educator. We are looking for someone who is highly skilled working with youth, mentoring a team of staff, developing and leading hands-on science-based education programs, is passionate about fostering an inclusive and supportive community, and is interested in being a part of a collaborative team of environmental educators.

Responsibilities

• Summer Camp and Vacation Days Director
• Serve as Director for February and April Vacation programs
• Serve as Director for Summer Camp
• Oversee and implement all aspects of camp programs including mission-aligned curriculum development, marketing and registration in collaboration with the staff team
• Work with staff to recruit, hire, train and lead a team of 6 Vacation Camp Counselors and approximately 15 Summer Camp Counselors and Counselors in Training in collaboration with the staff team
• Collaboratively plan and oversee the budgets for vacation week programs (Feb. and April) and summer camp; ensure appropriate spending on all aspects of camps including staff, materials, van rentals, etc.
• Plan, lead and delegate responsibilities for staff training and weekly summer camp meetings.
• Help organize materials for camp sessions
• Collaborate with Assistant Director, Registrar and Office Manager before, during and after vacation camp and summer camp programs
• Communicate regularly with camp families and caregivers, especially responding to concerns and mediating conflicts with professionalism
• Provide support, energy, motivation, and a fun and inclusive community for the camp staff
• Work with the Amherst Board of Health to achieve compliance with health regulations and obtain a license to operate the camp
• Along with the assistant director, provide insight and perspective to counselors in regards to behavioral support and parent communication, and stepping in when necessary
• Fill in for sick and absent camp counselors when a substitute cannot be secured
• Collaborate with assistant director to monitor and evaluate camp staff; provide feedback, program ideas, and guidance to camp staff
• Oversee site safety in collaboration with Office Manager
• Lead Afterschool Educator
• Plan and carry out 1-2 weekly Nature Play Afterschool programs for children ages 5-9
• Ensure safety within an immersive nature environment while encouraging healthy risk-taking
• Mentor and direct 1-3 program assistants
• Participate and help lead afterschool teacher meetings and assistant trainings
• Serve as a school Residency Educator
• Learn and teach the Hitchcock Center\'s outdoor schoolyard Take It Outside program for children and their teachers in grades K-3 in varying schools and weather conditions
• Coordinate and schedule 30-45 one-hour long programs with teachers and their classes throughout the school year
• Collaborate with Hitchcock education team to reflect upon and improve (if necessary) curriculum relevance and quality
• For more details and full job description please see website.