Outdoor Education Naturalist

~ The Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies (BCWS) is the mountain campus of the Burgundy Farm Country Day School, where the priorities are progressive education, diversity, and the natural world. Grades 1-8 attend 3-day overnight programs. ~

Outdoor classroom and everyday curricula are mutually integrated, so BCWS programs interweave hands-on nature and science with language arts, math, and social studies topics. Students study field biology and earth science topics, with increasing challenges and skills.

BCWS comprises a 506-acre wildlife sanctuary in eastern WV: Activities take place among the ridges, field, thicket and forest, a spring, stream and pond.

Buildings -- pole-barn structures with electricity -- are clustered in one area. The canopy walkway is about 10 minutes away. Main lodge has free wi-fi, medium quality. Staff share small screened sleeping cabins nearby.

Position Overview

Outdoor Education Naturalists teach classes in small groups, lead hikes, facilitate traditional camp activities, assist with some daily operations and facility upkeep, as well as guiding student work-teams in some kitchen tasks, and advising chaperones.

32 students are accompanied by their teachers and parent chaperones, who support kitchen, free time and bedtime needs.

Dates: May 3, 2019 - June 7, 2019 OR May 3 - August 25 OR May 3 - Oct 28 -- these latter two include a summer nature camp -- with 2 weeks off between spring and summer and fall.

Note: While on the job you'll be working full-time! 

Responsibilities

• Staff participate in program design, and each school trip requires a day of preparation and a half-day of break-down.
• A workweek is 5 days: weeks vary. With classes, workdays are ~ 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. (with breaks).
• Nighttime duties may include nightwalks and sleep-outs.
• Most nights, the staff gather over a cup of tea to review details for the coming day.
• There are half and full-days of time off between trips.

Qualifications

• Individuals with proven interests in education, field biology and conservation, age 18+.
• Experience working with children ages 6-13 is ideal, and comfort working alongside adults is helpful.
• Must be physically able to lead hikes and a few sleep-outs. 
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR are required.
• Lifeguard certification and/or experience with institutional kitchen operations are a plus.

Compensation

• $375 / week + room and board, assuming certifications, and including paid staff training.
• Insurance is workmen’s compensation.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter and resume to Lavinia Schoene