Advanced Internship: Community Programs Educator

Advanced Internship:  Community Programs Educator 

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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 Educator 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 regularly on Saturdays.

Our Summer Employment and Internship Experience

• The Community Programs Educator is paid $18/hour on a bi-weekly basis.
• This role is allotted approximately 5 days (46.53 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.

Application Review Date: Begins Monday, January 26th

• It is strongly recommended that all interested applicants submit their applications by this date.

Employment term: May 4th, 2026 to September 11th, 2026

Location and Schedule: Work is conducted in person at all 3 of UEC Locations, 5 days/week onsite, and will work between 24 and 28 hours per week.

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DUTIES AND 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

• 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.
• 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.

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To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate the following competencies:

We know that hardly anyone ‘checks ALL the boxes’ on job requirements, and that’s okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences, we’re excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.

• 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.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred): The ability to develop and teach programs in both English and Spanish is recommended.
• Outdoor Recreation Skills (preferred): 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.

Required Qualifications: 

• A minimum 6 months of experience working in an outdoor education program, camp, or nature based instruction setting
• 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 with UEC support.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or related coursework in adventure education, natural sciences, youth development or related area.
• Certified Interpretive Guide, Project Wet and Project Wild/ Flying Wild Certified, Wisconsin Master Naturalist or Certified Park and Recreation Professional.

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.

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What does a typical workday look like?

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.

Weekly hours:

• 24 to 28 hours/week

Schedule: 

• This position will work Tuesday through Saturday.

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.

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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.