Environmental Education – Nature Day Camp Series (CSA II, Ages 18+) – Open Continuous

Here are the Nature Day Camp jobs you can apply to on this application:

Educator II Team Leads Junior Educator Leads Activities Leads Wellness Lead Site Leads

Summary: Portland Parks & Recreation’s Nature Day Camp offers eight weeks of outdoor summer camps at two urban parks in Portland. Weekly camps have a nature theme and offer an opportunity for educators to lead groups of children ages 5-12 and mentor teens ages 13-17.

Campers and educators spend the entire day outside in small groups exploring the park. Each day at camp may be different: some days are spent sharing stories, hiking, singing songs, and playing games in nature. Other days may include group rotations, making crafts, meeting guest speakers, and other hands-on activities.

For these jobs, you must be able to work outside in parks and natural areas all day, no matter the weather. You need to be able to walk, hike, stand, balance, bend, reach, and carry things up to 25 pounds. Sometimes, you’ll hike up to three miles on bumpy or hilly trails. You’ll also need to handle loud noises, like planes or leaf blowers, and deal with excited kids. You will meet other people and park users, and you may encounter off-leash animals. You must be okay using public bathrooms or portable toilets. You’ll help keep things safe during the day and know what to do in emergencies. Because you’ll be outside all day, you’ll need to drink more water, eat enough, and rest more to stay healthy.

Studies have shown that women and People of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences and qualifications for the role. Representation matters!

Daily Schedules: 
For Educator II’s, Team Leads, Junior Educator Lead, Activities Lead, and Wellness Leads: 

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, includes a 30-minute paid lunch. 

For Site Leads:

• AM Site Lead: Monday – Friday, 7:45 am – 4:15 pm, includes a 30-minute unpaid lunch. 
• PM Site Lead: Monday - Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00pm, includes a 30-minute paid lunch. 

Dates of Employment: 
For Educator II’s: June 16 – August 15, 2025 
For Team Leads, Site Leads, Wellness Leads, Junior Educator Leads: Approximately June 10 – August 20, 2025* 
*Please note: dates before and after Staff Training and the Summer Camp Session are flexible. 

Camp Locations and Times Each week, camp takes place at one outdoor location from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. Extended drop-off is from 8:30 – 9:00 am, and optional After-Care is from 3:30 – 5:30 pm. Over the eight weeks of camp, staff will travel to both of these outdoor locations and will need to find their own transportation to get there. Each of these parks can be reached by public transportation.

• Mt. Tabor Park (SE Portland)
• Sellwood Park/Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (SE Portland)
• Pier Park (N Portland)
• Powell Butte Nature Park (Outer SE Portland)
• Hoyt Arboretum (SW Portland)

About Us: Portland Parks & Recreation is dedicated to making sure everyone can enjoy our parks and services, no matter their background. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage people who speak other languages to apply.



Contact Information:

Loan Tran Polanco, Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Loan.Tran@portlandoregon.gov

Educator II's
$19.00 - $20.00 per hour

• Create safe spaces for campers to explore and observe the natural world.
• Plan the daily group schedule and lead activities that promote nature play. 
• Check in and check out participants daily. 
• Work with Team Leads and other Support Staff to plan and lead an engaging and interactive day for participants. 
• Communicate with parents/guardians and work together to solve logistical and behavioral problems as needed. 
• Teach and lead groups using various teaching methods. 
• Use creative techniques to help campers transition between activities. 

Team Leads
$21.00 - $22.00per hour

• Prepare and mentor fellow camp staff to plan, organize, and lead nature-themed activities, crafts, and rotations. 
• Mentor a small team of educators and their camp groups. This includes, but is not limited to: leading meetings, providing physical or emotional support, role modeling games or activities, and giving feedback. 
• Help educators with camper check-in and check-out process each day. 
• Lead and assist with daily staff meetings and conduct staff performance evaluations. 
• Communicate any logistical and behavioral issues to staff, campers, and families as needed each day. 
• Coordinate, plan, and implement staff break schedules for your assigned team.
• Fill in for educators who are unable to work because of illness or injury.  

Activities Leads
$21.00 - $22.00 per hour

• Plan and lead weekly crafts and rotations for all participants. 
• Work with Educators to co-create age specific, nature-themed activities for camper groups. 
• Oversee planning and weekly flow of activities for all of camp. This includes but is not limited to: weekly talent shows, skit days, all group games and songs. 
• Lead daily all camp opening and closing circles. 
• Obtain supplies for camp groups, transport camp supplies and equipment to and from work locations. You may need access to a personal vehicle, you may need to take some supplies home each day. There is reimbursement for mileage.  

Wellness Leads
$23.00 - $24.00 per hour

• Collect and fill out reports for camper behavioral incidents. Communicate incidents to Support Staff and guardians by the end of each day. 
• Review participant health forms each week using online health form system; communicate this information to Educators and  Support Staff. 
• Intake and process camper medication forms; check in and out camper medication each day. 
• Administer medications to campers, document all medication administration and accident reports. 
• Spend time with campers or groups who need additional support – behavioral, emotional, or by providing first aid.  

Junior Educator Leads
$23.00 - $24.00 per hour

• Lead and support teens who participate in Nature Day Camp’s Junior Educator program
• Mentor teens while they gain job skills as educators. 
• Plan and facilitate Junior Educator orientation and training days.
• Organize and lead nature-themed activities for the whole camp with other staff. 
• Ensure Junior Educators are checked in and out of camp and understand their role each day. 
• Provide written and verbal feedback to support growth and skill development.  

Site Leads: AM and PM 
$23.00 - $24.00 per hour

• Support and oversee camp flow: lead daily meetings, help plan activities, assist with staff breaks. Spend time each day shadowing, observing, mentoring staff. 
• Conduct, assign, and oversee staff performance evaluations. 
• Work with the Nature Day Camp Coordinator to plan and organize staff training and potential mid-summer staff enrichment days. 
• Coordinate onsite logistics: camper attendance, fill out staff timesheets, make announcements, or other administrative tasks. 
• Practice strong communication skills: communicates with fellow Site Leads and all other staff each day. Update teams on daily announcements and ongoing tasks that need to get done. 
• Oversee flow of camper check in and check out process each day. 
• Transport camp supplies and equipment to and from locations. You will need access to a personal vehicle and may need to take some supplies home each day. There is reimbursement for mileage.

Site Lead AM will also: 

• Lead morning and afternoon staff meetings.
• Oversee the flow of the camper check in and check out process each day. 
• Be responsible for camp set-up each morning. 
• Delegate tasks as need. 

Site Lead PM will also: 

• Assist and support with afternoon staff meetings. 
• Oversee all logistics and flow of After-care program (3:30 - 5:30pm each day). 
• Check campers in and out of After-care. 
• Ensure campers are provided with a snack that meets dietary or allergy needs. 
• Be responsible for camp tear-down each afternoon. Make sure items are locked up and stored away. 
• Delegate tasks as needed. 

Qualifications Needed for all jobs on this posting:

1. Experience working at an organization related to childcare, babysitting, summer camp, nature, science, or outdoor education
2. Experience teaching, mentoring, and leading with people from diverse backgrounds related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic situation, and religion.
3. Experience building relationships, solving conflicts, and collaborating with a team
4. Ability to get to work in different parts of the city throughout the summer by car, carpool, foot, bike, or public transit. (This year’s camps will be at Mt Tabor Park, Sellwood Park, Pier Park, Hoyt Arboretum, and Powell Butte Natural Area).
5. All applicants must be 18 years old by June 16th, 2025.

For Activities Lead, in addition to the qualifications listed for all positions:

• Experience independently planning and leading activities for children ages 12 and under.
• Possess a Valid Driver’s License with at least five years of driving experience, access to a car (due within 30 days of hire).

For Wellness Lead, in addition to qualifications listed for all positions:

• Experience providing emotional, behavioral, and basic first aid support to participants of a large program.
• Experience being responsible for the administration of medication, and medical documentation of a large program.

For Site Leads, in addition to qualifications listed for all positions:

• Experience leading logistics for a large program.
• Experience building relationships, solving conflicts, collaborating, and mentoring a team.
• Possess a Valid Driver’s License with at least five years of driving experience, access to a car, and a clean driving record (due within 30 days of hire) 

How to Apply: 

• Click "APPLY" to submit your application online. 
• You need to answer the supplemental questions and attach your resume.
• If you are a Veteran and want preference, attach your Veteran documents

Hiring Process:
Step 1: Apply online starting on January 6, 2025.
Step 2: We will review your application to see if you meet the minimum needs for this role.
Step 3: If you qualify, you will be placed on a list of eligible candidates.
Step 4: We will contact eligible candidates for interviews as positions become available. Interviews will happen from March to April.
Step 5: Job offers will be made after interviews, in April and May.
Step 6: The start date will be approximately June 16, 2025, once all hiring conditions are met.Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veterans Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

Salary : $18 - $24