What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer Camp Educator position at Tennessee Aquarium?
At the Tennessee Aquarium, we strive to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife. We are passionate about our values, which include respect for conservation, a mindset of lifelong learning, and a collaborative, learning-based, respectful work environment.
The goal of our summer camps is to instill and foster a love for animals and nature through animal encounters, being outdoors, crafts, games, and play. Camp Educators take on the role of counselor in environmental education for children ages 4-16 in the Aquarium's summer day camps. Camp Educators will help campers engage in activities and make connections with the world around them. Camp Educators will maintain professional standards, demonstrate positive behavior management of campers, exhibit superior customer service skills, and ensure safety by following organizational policies, procedures, and standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Co-lead 8 weeks of summer camp that will follow a curriculum developed by the Aquarium Education staff.
- Ensure that campers have basic needs met such as lunch, snacks, and restroom breaks.
- Use suitable research-based education methods, such as techniques for engagement, inquiry based learning, and interactive experiences, while facilitating camp programming.
- Encourage campers to actively discover, question, and participate in science. Make impromptu changes to programs to meet the needs of campers of different ages and needs.
- Supervise campers during all camp experiences such as tours, activities, before care, after care, and animal encounters, which may include insects, amphibians, reptiles, arachnids, mammals, birds, and marine invertebrates.
- Ability to keep track of all campers throughout the day as well as maintaining the highest level of safety.
- Actively demonstrate positive behavior management by providing alternatives, giving choices, redirecting, and logical consequences in response to inappropriate behaviors.
- Providing guidance for Counselors in Training (CITs), who are between the ages 14-17 hired to support the Camp Educators.
- Adhere to the camp dress code policy, which includes black or khaki shorts/pants, camp t-shirt (provided), and closed toed shoes.
Key Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years of age when applying.
- Day camp experience or experience with classroom management with a group size between 15-20 children preferred.
- Some college experience preferred, science and education classes a plus.
- Passion for teaching environmental science in a hands-on play setting, and for working with children to encourage them to engage with activities.
- High level of organization, ability to multi-task, act calmly under pressure, contribute to problem solving, and work well as part of a team.
- Superior customer service and communication skills.
- Ensure discretion with confidential information.
- First Aid and CPR (provided paid training if needed)
Seasonal, hourly (up to 40 hours/week, $15/hour); Monday-Friday (shift start/end times will rotate), May 28 - August 1
All submissions must be received by April 23, 2025.
Salary : $15
