Instructor/Volunteer Coord.

ORGANIZATIONS MISSION: The Rainshadow Institutes mission is to create life-long learning opportunities for people of all ages in ecosystems where they live.

Summary Of Programs:

School-Based Programs: The SECRETS program, the Rainshadow Institutes primary undertaking, is a ten-week ecology unit for upper elementary students that includes eight classroom lessons, a Family Night, and day-long field trip. The curriculum satisfies Oregon and Washington state academic standards, and uses the local forest or shrub-steppe ecosystems to illustrate life science concepts. Weekly lessons are outlined by the SECRETS acronym:
SENSE OF WONDER ECOSYSTEMS CYCLES RELATIONSHIPS ENERGY FLOW TIME=CHANGE STEWARDSHIP

Teams of four SECRETS instructorscomprised of teachers, program staff, AmeriCorps members, and community volunteersteach the lessons, ensuring a small group setting for hands-on learning that engages all students.

In the spring of 1997, the SECRETS science education program was piloted in five classrooms and reached approximately 100 students. Five years and more than 150 classrooms later, the school-based programs have reached more than 5000 upper-elementary students in thirteen rural communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge. We know of no other environmental education program in the region that offers such extensive support to classroom teachers, and we feel this level of support is essential in order for students grasp of ecology to become deep, durable, and applicable in their lives.

The Rainshadow Institute has also offered a high school internship program called the Cycles to Learning. The goal of this program has been to offer a comprehensive ecology course, while at the same time giving high-school students a realistic introduction to teaching and natural resource science careers. High-school interns use the SECRETS classroom curricula to mentor and instruct their upper-elementary peers. This program requires a high-degree of leadership and participation from high-school science teachers, and may or may not be available in future years.

Science Enrichment Programs: First piloted in the Summer of 2002, the OUR PLACES: Summer of Discovery program offers experiential outdoor activities designed to enhance observation skills, instill ecosystem awareness and understanding, and offer real-world lessons in stewardship. Similar in objectives to the summer program, the Rainshadow Institutes After-School Investigation program will begin providing science enrichment opportunities for local youth in a non-classroom environment beginning in the Spring of 2003. Like the summer program, the new after-school program will aim to provide hands-on outdoor activities with opportunities for fun, learning and exploration.

ESSENTIAL INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Teach SECRETS school programs in approximately nine local classrooms per term (fall, winter, and spring). One term includes (per classroom) eight one-hour classroom lessons, one Family Night event, and one all day field trip.
2. Teach the summer and after-school enrichment programs as needed.
3. Collaborate with two other Classroom Instructors, Program Director and individual board members to implement the classroom program and other projects.
4. Assist with development of supplemental curricula and programs.
5. Recruit, train, coordinate and supervise community volunteers as SECRETS instructors.
6. Build, maintain and update curriculum materials, costumes, and equipment.
7. Attend monthly board meetings and weekly staff meetings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR INTERNS:

1. Interest in science and respect for nature
2. Desire to inspire interest in the natural world in others
3. Experience working with children and adults in the classroom or outdoors
4. A natural sciences, environmental or education background
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
6. Ability to work in a group or on your own
7. Physical fitness for outdoor work, and
8. A valid drivers license AND a reliable vehicle.
9. Other useful skills or experience: conversational Spanish, curriculum development, marketing, and volunteer supervision.

POSITION DETAILS:

Supervisor: The Rainshadow Institute is a project sponsor for the Northwest Service Academy AmeriCorps program. The Institute Program Director is the primary supervisor, and some individual board members will provide guidance and mentorship for each AmeriCorps member. The Northwest Service Academy also supervises AmeriCorps members and provides training opportunities throughout the year.

Duration: October 6, 2003 August 2004 (1700 hours of service).

Compensation: Classroom Instructors will receive an AmeriCorps stipend (~$775/month, after taxes) and an education award of $4,250 upon completion of 1700 hours of service, loan deferment, and a health insurance package. The position will also offer extensive opportunities for professional development and training in ecology, natural history, teaching methods and more! Classroom Instructors will also have opportunities to develop and implement independent projects as well as to receive direction from supervisors about how to pursue personal goals and/or interests while serving at the Institute.

Location: The Rainshadow Institute office is located in downtown Hood River. The office serves as a meeting and workspace, however, all instruction takes place at local schools, generally within a 30 minute drive of Hood River. A personal vehicle is required for the position and the Institute will provide reimbursement for travel. Instructors have access to a computer, the Internet, and a phone/fax for project-related work at the Institute office.

Accommodations: Classroom instructors for the Rainshadow Institute are responsible for finding their own housing in the local area (Hood River, Oregon or other nearby communities in Oregon and Washington.)

Application Instructions:

Each position is funded through the Northwest Service Academy (NWSA) AmeriCorps program in Trout Lake, Washington, and requires candidates to complete a separate application. Contact the NWSA at (509) 395-3469 for an application.

In addition, please send a separate cover letter and resume to:

Rainshadow Institute,
Classroom Instructor Position c/o Ella Hamilton,
P.O. Box 1104,
Hood River, OR 97031,
or via email to info@rainshadow.org.

Deadline: We will begin reviewing applications immediately, and will continue until the positions are filled.