Outdoor Educator

Tentative start date: April 28th, 2025

End Date: October 31st, 2025

Position Title: Outdoor Educator

Department: Cooperative Extension

Location: Bryant Pond 4-H Camp

Your Direct Supervisor: Assistant Director, Mary Proulx

Position Type: Full- Time, Temporary (April to November)

Salary Range: $475-550 a week, for 7 months

Work Environment / Dynamics:

This position will be based at Bryant Pond 4-H Camp in Bryant Pond, Maine. This position would be working with a team to develop and implement the program curriculum, schedules, and new projects.

Your Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position from late April to early November in conjunction with a team of other educators.

We look for staff to join us for the entire program season late April - early November, but we are open to discussing shorter one-season options or seasonal combinations.

Spring and Fall Appointments: This position is roughly based on a five-day work week starting Monday morning and ending before 6:00 pm on Friday. Field Teachers may be asked to work occasional weekends on a rotating basis for specialty programs and will be compensated for extra days. Most weeks will consist of two or three overnight or day programs.

Summer Appointment: You will reside on-site with campers in shared housing throughout the season, with structured time off each week.

Spring Appointment: Late April through early June 2025; educators focus on our Lakeside Classroom programs with school, working primarily with 5th-8th grade students in day and overnight programming at the Bryant Pond 4-H Camp or for in-school programs.

Summer Appointment: Mid-June through mid-August 2025; educators serve in roles during summer programs, either as program coordinators or camp counselors.

Fall Appointment: Mid-September through early November 2025; programs run similarly to the Spring season.

Job Overview:

You will provide hands-on nature-based and group-building lessons for students as part of our Lakeside Classroom programming. All school programming is customized and incorporates different curriculum standards with students across grades K-12. Although the main responsibility of an Outdoor Educator is to work directly with participants teaching lessons, work in other areas may be required. Staff may be asked to help with facility upkeep and maintenance, office work, building projects, gardening, outreach, and lesson planning. Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center is dedicated to providing support and high-quality training to its Field Teachers. Staff training happens three times within a seven-month season. Training consists of in-depth teambuilding, low/high challenge course, and climbing wall facilitation skills, concepts of ecology, engineering lessons, outdoor skills such as canoeing, hiking, shooting sports, and survival. We also cover Bryant Pond’s policies, procedures, mission, and vision.

Responsibilities:

Spring and Fall Appointments:

• Teach and lead groups of 8-15 students independently once comfortable with lessons and schedule for the day and overnight groups
• Care for the health, safety, and well-being of all campers/students/chaperones and manage the risk associated with experiential learning opportunities
• You will help develop and teach hands-on, ecology, group building, and outdoor skills-based lessons to grades K-12 for the day, overnight, and after-school programs
• You will need to work independently and with staff to develop and maintain teaching resources
• You will need to participate actively in staff training, ongoing professional development, and daily staff meetings to plan and evaluate programs
• You will take part in routine tasks of cleaning and kitchen duties, gardening, general camp chores, and upkeep of program spaces to support the staff community
• You can demonstrate responsible and safe decision-making skills in all aspects of outdoor programming
• You can foster interpersonal relationships that reflect courtesy, civility, and mutual respect
• You are responsible for assisting with some meal preparation and clean-up
• You may have additional duties that may be assigned or reassigned based on camp needs.

Additional Summer Responsibilities:

• You may live in a cabin with campers and, along with a co-counselor, create the necessary atmosphere for a safe and positive camp experience (staff/camper ratio = 1:4-8).
• You may plan lessons and schedules, implementing a leadership curriculum that covers a variety of skills such as listening, communication, team-building, low-impact camping, conflict resolution, canoe safety, canoeing skills, map and compass navigation, general ecology, personal health and safety, and knot-tying.

Knowledge and Skill Qualifications:

Required:

• You are 21 years of age or older
• You have a High school diploma or equivalent
• Commitment to working collectively as a part of a hard-working, supportive, and positive team
• Commitment to working long days with participants in a hands-on and high-energy setting
• You have a genuine motivation to work with children in a vibrant, high-energy outdoor setting where every day is an adventure.

Preferred:

• You hold a certification:
• Basic First Aid/CPR
• Wilderness First Aid/Wilderness First Responder
• Lifeguard
• Maine Trip Leader Permit
• You have experiential education experience with youth, preferably in an outdoor setting
• You have knowledge of ecological concepts and natural history
• With or without accommodation, you have the ability to lead groups outdoors over various terrain with 35 lbs. packs for extended days and the ability to assist in carrying canoes (85 lb.) with others in a variety of weather conditions
• Experience educating and managing children, kindergarten-12th grade in an outdoor setting as well as the confidence to lead adult groups
• You demonstrate responsible and safe decision-making skills, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience during programming

*

• Degree in environmental science, education, adventure education, childcare, or a willingness to learn and self-teach new skills
• Interests that include: Initiative Games/Challenges, High Ropes Courses, Archery, Wilderness Survival Skills, Fishing, Hiking, Canoeing, Hunting, Backpack/Canoe Expeditions, Indoor Rock Climbing, Forest Ecology, Geology, gardening, and Science in general.
• Experience facilitating teambuilding initiatives, as well as low and high challenge course activities
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions while managing the needs of all participants

Benefits:

• Housing
• Meals when overnight programs/day programs are in session
• Laundry
• Internet Access

Who We Are:

The 4-H Camp and Learning Centers provide environmentally focused programs for Maine youth and families in Bryant Pond. Our mission is to teach youth and adults to be effective and caring citizens of the earth through affordable environmental education and fun nature-based experiences. The camp is located in Bryant Pond, Maine is nestled on the shores of Lake Christopher with 160 acres of forest and mountain trails leading to remote campsites, streams, ponds, wetlands, and a mountain summit. A short drive from the camp you can be in the beautiful White Mountain National Forest and the Rangeley Lakes area. The local area provides many opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts including rock climbing, backpacking, hunting and fishing, canoeing, and a large winter ski and sport industry. Portland, Maine’s largest city is only an hour’s drive with live music, great food, and shopping.

To Apply:

To apply for the Outdoor Educator position, please submit the following to :

• A resume
• A cover letter describing why you’d be a great fit for the learning center

If your application moves forward you will be required to submit a name, email, and phone number for three references.

Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the final review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

These materials are reviewed on a weekly basis. The final date to apply for 2025 is 4:30 p.m. on September 1st, 2025.

For questions about the search, please contact Mary Proulx, mary.gorham@maine.edu

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report. If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.

Job Types: Temporary, Full-time

Pay: $475.00 - $550.00 per week

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $475 - $550