Camp Caldera Environmental Education Assistant

Caldera • Sisters, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This role will be a part of Camp Caldera’s Adventure Team. The goal of Caldera’s Environmental Education program is to inspire curiosity about nature and help students build lasting connections to the environment. We hope to increase student knowledge of the natural history of Caldera’s land in Central Oregon and to develop a sense of place through an emphasis on direct sensory exploration of the diverse habitats immediately surrounding the camp. Campers may learn about trout habitats while wading barefoot in the creek, make observational sketches of forest regrowth with charcoal from wildfire-charred trees, and taste wild mint during a field lesson in ethnobotany. Many of them are experiencing just being kids in the outdoors for the first time in their lives. Beyond lessons taught in the context of class, Caldera uses common daily practices to model environmental responsibility. Campers weigh the amount of food that is thrown away at the end of each meal and graph the reduction of waste over the course of their stay at camp. Fruit and vegetable matter are separated for compost to nourish our vegetable garden. It is our hope that when complemented by discussion, hands-on activities like these help students draw connections between environmental
The Environmental Education Assistant supports the Environmental Educator to implement environmental curriculum and incorporate program goals into daily sessions, inspire curiosity about nature, and build connections to the environment. This position will help facilitate discussions about environmental justice with a population that has historically been marginalized in the environmental movement.

Requirements

• 1+ year of experience working with youth
• A strong desire to learn and help foster a positive community experience
• Must be at least 18 years of age and have had at least one year away from Caldera as a camper
• Ability to understand our racially diverse student population’s perspective, either through lived experience, previous qualifications, or work experience
• Ability to navigate through potentially triggering and challenging conversations and situations while maintaining focus on the wellbeing of youth
• Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth strongly preferred
• Ability to set appropriate boundaries in a proactive and positive manner
• Excellent communication skills
• Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly desired
• Must pass a background check. Caldera considers systemic injustices when investigating findings
• Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular and long hours. Additionally, you must have the ability to deal with limited cell and internet service and daily exposure to outdoor factors such as sun, heat, bugs, bats, snakes, etc.
• Requires on-site living in shared staff quarters
• Alcohol and drugs are not permitted on campus, even in personal living quarters.
• Must be physically able to move around 116 acres of camp property with varied terrain
• Must have visual, perceptual, and cognitive ability to recognize and respond quickly to health and safety concerns of students and appropriately re-direct any behavior that is misaligned with Caldera agreements
• Moments of quiet and non-activity are few and spread out
• Creating a cohesive staff environment round the clock can be challenging. It is crucial that staff see youth and adults through a strengths-based lens and prioritize creating the best possible youth experience at all times, despite what challenges may arise at the staff level

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth strongly preferred
• Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly desired

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Environmental Educators to ensure effective delivery of fun, creative, and engaging environmental instruction.
• Help prep and organize materials, supplies, equipment, and classroom space
• Assist with evaluating Caldera’s youth and programs
• Help organize and set up for final exhibition of student work
• Help document, archive, and organize student work
• Assist with setup and breakdown of classroom and teaching spaces
• Conduct daily composting/food waste procedures
• Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues
• Promote program understanding and involvement through Caldera’s goals and agreements, participation agreement, and responsibility process
• Actively participate in all aspects of camp life including: camper orientation, community meetings, evening activities, campfire, free time, etc.
• Model appropriate camper behavior at all times
• Perform duties with consistency and integrity
• Set and respect personal boundaries while acting as mentors, guides, and allies to campers
• Oversee health and safety of charges in fire drills and emergency procedures
• Maintain cleanliness of living and common areas and help with clean-up at the end of each session
• Serve as mandatory reporter, working with Youth Impact Manager to report instances or suspicion of child abuse.
• Employees must carry out their duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include but is not limited to, heat, rain, wind, cold, and smoky or dusty conditions.

Benefits

• Room and board provided during days with programming; room only during non-programming days. A light dinner will be provided on staff arrival days. Brunch is served on the last day of each session.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed