Part-Time Environmental Educator
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Compensation: $43000/year
Benefits: Medical health insurance Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Dental insurance Vision insurance Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Health Savings Account (HSA) Life insurance Long-term disability insurance 403(b) retirement plan Employee assistance plan Paid time off Paid holidays Jury duty leave Bereavement leave Facility rental discount T-shirt benefit and other perks.
Intended start date: August 25 2025
Location: All 3 branches UEC Milwaukee WI (in-person)
Position Summary
As the Early Childhood Environmental Educator you will engage early learners in nature and environmental science. The early childhood environmental educator aligns teaching with partner organization and classroom curricula requirements. Creative design passion for working with young children and enthusiastic implementation of innovative inquiry-based programs for children from infant to 6 years old is compulsory. The educator will support developing and lead child-centered and nature-based activities with a focus on outdoor recreation and ecological sustainability.
Duties and Responisibilities
Preschool Environmental Education Project (PEEP)
- Teach outdoor nature-based environmental science programs for groups of early learners.
- Communicate with partner organizations and teachers about scheduling and program logistics.
- Collaborate with colleagues to design and implement innovative new programming for the Center including workshops for teachers and caregivers.
- Support developing and facilitating evaluation materials alongside programs.
- Drive 14 and 28 passenger buses to transport students.
Summer Programs
- Support developing and co-teach child-centered inquiry-based experiences for summer camp and PEEP students including potential overnight experiences and adult-accompanied experiences.
- Mentor college and high school interns and summer staff during the summer term
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to prepare materials for summer educational activities.
Other Activities
- Collaborate with the education team to organize and maintain educational equipment and classroom spaces.
- Assist with conducting special weekend events 1-2 times a year.
To be successful in this position you will demonstrate the following competencies:
We know that hardly anyone checks ALL the boxes on job requirements and thats okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences were excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.
- Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral written visual and non-verbal communication skills as well as listening skills to gain understanding. You have the ability to deliver information in person in writing and in a digital world.
- Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers while providing guidance on organizational processes.
- Growth Mindset: You have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and incorporating feedback; you are optimistic about future opportunities.
- Relationship Development: you have the ability to identify and initiate working relationships and to develop and maintain them in a way that is of mutual benefit to both yourself and others.
- Conflict Management: you can navigate interpersonal challenges with a high degree of empathy and a commitment to resolution.
- Resilient under pressure: you have the ability to handle crisis or high-stress immediate response situations in a calm direct manner.
- You have the ability to teach science and nature-based programs with an exceptional grasp on group management and youth engagement strategies; the ability to develop and teach programs in both English and Spanish is preferred.
Required Qualifications:
- At least two years of teaching/education experience with a broad range of ages in a formal or non-formal setting.
- Lifeguard certification or the ability to gain certification.
- You must have a valid drivers license and the ability to meet the requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Centers commercial vehicle insurance policy.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A degree in early childhood education natural sciences environmental education or related fields are preferred. Other experiences will be considered.
- Experience teaching urban youth from infants to school-age is preferred.
What does a typical workday look like
- Condition & Location:The majority of your time will be spent outdoors in all weather conditions on land and water throughout the year.
- Weekly hours:This position is full time 40 hours per week.
- Schedule:Standard school and business hours with occasional evening and weekend events.
- Equipment Used:
14 and 28 passenger buses trailers canoes kayaks bikes snow gear various rock climbing equipment computer equipment and Google software.
Physical Requirements
- You should be able to lift bikes 3 feet out of the bike rack; team-lift canoes from storage racks to activity locations; hike bike walk or paddle for a full day and lift up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
Team and Supervision
- As a member of the Environmental Education team you will be managed by the Environmental Education Manager.
- Though all of our teams work together in some capacity you will most frequently collaborate with NEEP educators.
- In this role you may participate in other circles and committees as your work requires or as your schedule and interests allow.
- All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers members and youth participants.
Organizational Support
- All full-time team members of the Urban Ecology Center work at least 2 weekend or evening events each year. Our events are a great way to engage with our communities and see our mission in action; examples include Urban Candlelight Hike Autumn Celebration and HKE MKE. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.
- During school break and holiday periods staff will be invited to support broader community engagement efforts outside of their standard role responsibilities. As a community-centered organization getting cross-departmental engagement and support in these efforts is key to building our culture and advancing our mission!
The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race color creed religion sex physical disability mental disability age marital status sexual orientation citizenship status national or ethnic origin and any other protected status.