Seasonal- Community Programs Educator

The Urban Ecology Center hires nearly 30 people annually for our Green Career Pathways summer employment & internship experience. Our model of creating neighborhood-based environmental education centers energizes urban public natural areas. Located in vibrant public green spaces in Milwaukee, our fast-growing organization serves over 200,000 people of all ages annually.  Our Green Career Pathways efforts are providing people with an immersive green career experience while having a significant impact on our mission. 

The UEC’s Community Programs Department will be hiring (1) one Summer Community Program Educator for the summer of 2025.  Application review will begin on Monday, February 17th; candidates are encouraged to apply by that date.  The interview cycle should conclude no later than Monday,  March 10th 2025.

Position Summary:  As a Summer Community Program Educator you will be responsible for facilitating safe, environmentally conscious, nature-focused outdoor programs for participants of all ages. The Summer Community Program Facilitator will work as a team with fellow Community Program staff to engage audiences in urban outdoor recreation activities such as paddling, biking, hiking and fishing as well as informal environmental education programming.  Other non-teaching projects will be assigned as needed throughout the season to maintain programming gear, assist with department administrative tasks, and support the Education Department as a whole.  Must be able to work some evenings and Saturdays.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Facilitation & Delivery

• Co-lead and facilitate outdoor recreation programming such as paddling, biking, hiking and fishing. 
• Welcome, lead, and close experiences by speaking in front of large groups of diverse, multi-aged  audiences. 
• Prepare all activity materials, program spaces, and gear for experiences scheduled. 
• Lead programming along with the Community Programs Team at large UEC events.
• Work in collaboration with other educators to maintain an inventory of program supplies.
• Adapt program outlines to meet needs of program participants.
• Using program lesson plans, create program facilitation outlines for each program based on group size, needs, ages & location.

Maintain Safety Practices

• Complete first aid, CPR, and AED training certification- provided by Urban Ecology Center. 
• Adhere to all Urban Adventure program procedures as laid out by the Urban Ecology Center Community Programs Department and Safety Committee. 
• Anticipate, prevent, identify, and respond to safety issues. 

Department Support/General Tasks

• Maintain a detailed schedule of availability and work plans.
• Work with staff, teens, organization partners, and adult volunteers to plan and offer Special Events.
• Work closely with seasonal staff, fellow interns, and high school outdoor leaders to deliver programs and to help them grow in their abilities as programmatic staff. 
• Act as a representative of the Center through customer service by fostering a welcoming atmosphere and responding to questions and concerns.
• Regularly attend staff meetings including: quarterly All Staff meetings, weekly branch meetings, and Community Programs team meetings.
• Periodically contribute to Urban Ecology Center newsletters and marketing materials.
• Assist with other projects and tasks as needed, including program supply inventory, recreational equipment maintenance/care, and more. adventure equipment.
• Embrace and demonstrate Urban Ecology Center’s teaching philosophy, approach, and continuous learning.

OUR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

• Our summer employment term runs from April 28th, 2025 to August 30th, 2025.  Staff are paid $16.50-$17.50/hour on a bi-weekly basis and allotted 3 days (24 hours) of PTO for planned vacation or sick days.
• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. 
• You will have the ability to attend all UEC events or programs at a low or no cost. Children of employees attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

Recommended Skills and Abilities

• Instructional Abilities:  Demonstrated abilities to teach science and nature based programs with a grasp on group management, youth engagement strategies, positive risk-taking, and adventure education. 
• Adaptability: Ability to function both independently and collaborate well with others; you are motivated through change and by new opportunities.
• Effective Communicator: You articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. The ability to deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
• Collaboration: Ability to collaborate and share planning and teaching responsibilities with peers
• Problem Solving:  Ability to solve problems, think, reason and learn from experiences. May develop creative solutions or innovative future approaches. 
• Time Management: ability to distinguish priorities, focus on relevant issues, and set realistic time goals. 
• (preferred) Bilingual English/Spanish: The ability to develop and teach programs in both English and Spanish is recommended.
• (preferred)  Outdoor Recreation Skills: Paddling experience, trail biking and hiking, fishing and other outdoor recreation experience is strongly desired. Physical ability, with reasonable accommodation, required for various activities, such as carrying and paddling canoes or hiking for a full day. 

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• Minimum 6 months of experience working in an outdoor education program, camp, or nature based instruction setting
• Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or related coursework in adventure education, natural sciences, youth development or related area is recommended.
• (Certified Interpretive Guide, Project Wet and Project Wild/ Flying Wild Certified, Wisconsin Master Naturalist or Certified Park and Recreation Professional is preferred.
• Ability to effectively organize and manage instruction.
• Ability to work with a diverse range of people and groups, with experience tailoring instruction to meet audience needs.
• Ability to work within a timeframe and stay on schedule.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard Certification or ability to obtain.

WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Condition & Location: 

• Work is conducted in person at all 3 of UEC Locations (5 days/week onsite, 24-28 hours in a week)
• Open office workspace with an active team atmosphere. Using shared workspaces at all three UEC locations. 
• Time spent outdoors, in all types of seasonal weather.  Our community programs team spends at least 75% of their time outdoors, the work environment will be dependent on weather conditions.

Physical Requirements: 

• Lifting bikes 3 feet out of a bike rack or vehicle.
• Team-lifting canoes from storage racks to activity locations.
• Hiking, biking, walking, or paddling for a full day- up to 6 hours.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
• Ability to build and work near campfires, outdoor open flames in a contained fire ring.
• Ability to sit, stand, crouch, and bend on a regular basis.

Equipment Used: 

• Computer- Google Suite, Zoom telephone, & Slack.  
• Office specific: copy machine, paper cutters, AV Equipment. 
• Outdoor and recreational equipment, including but not limited to kayaks, canoes, canoe/kayak paddles, pedal boats, fishing poles and tackle, mountain bikes, bicycle helmets and bike locks. 
• Science education supplies, including but not limited to microscopes, insect nets, hand lenses, & campfire cooking supplies.

Schedule: 

• Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9am-3pm, Thursdays 12pm-5pm, Fridays 12pm-5pm, Saturdays 9am-3pm (24-28 hrs per week).   Must be able to work some evenings and Saturdays.
  

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.

Salary : $17 - $18