Naturalist

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Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters—more than half a million strong—driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities.

From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree.

We Are Penn State.

Position Overview

Penn State is currently seeking a Naturalist.

Responsibilities

• Naturalists for Discovery and Explorer Summer Camp programs are responsible for designing their individual day’s environmental education-based programs for a group of approximately 12 campers, ages 6-11, as well as three days of programming for a group of 10 campers, ages 4–5. Additionally, in each group you will have the opportunity to mentor two Leaders-In-Training (ages 14-17) and one Assistant Naturalist each week.
• Shaver’s Creek prides itself on its highly reputable and well-known program, focusing on the needs of your camper group, campers as individuals, LITs, Assistant Naturalist, staff development, and connections created between people and the natural world.
• The camp week runs Monday through Saturday morning. The camp day runs from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m., with required staff meetings before and after program each day. Friday night program runs through the evening (until about 10:00 p.m.) and then again on Saturday morning through a pancake breakfast and clean-up from the week.
• Program topics that you will design program around include Birds, Mammals and the Five Senses. Program will relate to the topic of the day, which will be one of the following: Awareness, Biodiversity, Adaptations, Cycles, and Interrelationships. Games, activities, camp magic, that day’s required activity, and guided unstructured time in nature should all be included in a day’s plan.

Qualifications

Designing Program:

• Naturalists are responsible for designing their program and any extra materials for their weeks of camp.

Present and Engaged:

• Throughout the entire day, from the 8:00 a.m. staff meeting through the entire day of program and the afternoon staff meeting until it wraps up around 5:30 p.m.
• On Friday’s this extend through the entire evening and into Saturday morning until clean-up is completed.

Physically Able:

• This position is working with children outdoors for up to 13 hours.
• We are outdoors regardless of rain, heat, mud and rough terrain.

Two-Adult Policy:

• Complies with remaining in eye shot and ear shot of another adult at all times.
• You will never be alone with a participant.

Taking Care of Yourself:

• Camp features rewarding experiences and long days.
• It is paramount to everyone around you that you are eating enough, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and decompressing appropriately in a way that works for you.

Additionally:

• A qualified candidate will have a passion for working with children, prior experience in a summer camp setting, patience, a plethora of flexibility, be enthusiastic, want to grow, want to work as a team, and foster a desire to make their program the best that it can be every single time.

Compensation

• This is a paid position.
• You will receive CPR and First Aid certification as part of training.
• The summer camp season runs from June 1 through August 7, 2020. Staff need to be able to commit at least through August 1, 2020.

Additional Information

• Investigator and Boats and Boots Naturalists (2 per summer). Naturalists for Investigators and Boats and Boots programs are responsible for designing their individual day’s environmental education-based programs for a group of 12 campers, ages 12-14. In each camp group you will have the opportunity to mentor one Leaders-In-Training (ages 14-17) and one Assistant Naturalist per week.
• Shaver’s Creek prides itself on its highly reputable and well-known program, focusing on the needs of your camper group, campers as individuals, LITs, Assistant Naturalist, staff development, and connections created between people and the natural world.
• This position requires the following clearances: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply on Company Website" below.