About the position:

Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Atlanta, GA seeks a Director of Education Programs with a passion for place-based environmental education, leadership skills and experience to champion its educational programming, dedication to advance conservation initiatives, and the ability to strengthen support among diverse stakeholders for one of the most impressive parks in Atlanta and the region.

With resourcefulness and resolve, this nonprofit organization connects children and adults to nature through innovative education, conservation, and arts initiatives at its thirty-acre greenspace. Completion of the Blueway Trail has boosted public access to four ecosystems, increased the number of park visitors, and amplified our commitment for high-quality programming at the Preserve.

The Director of Education Programs will be responsible for the successful management of Blue Heron day camps, after-school programs, outreach programs, and field trip programs. This position is supported with an Administrative Assistant. Embracing Reggio Emilia curriculum as a core value for the organization, the Director shall be dedicated to fulfilling the Preserve’s vision as a respected Atlanta Urban Ecology Center and a conservation leader in the Southeast. Benefits for this full-time position include paid sick time and vacation.

Job Duties:

Grow the quality, sustainability, and influence of Reggio-Emilia based educational programming

1. Organize, schedule, and serve as summer camp and school break camp director responsible for safe and inspiring camp experiences for youth.
2. Recruit, train, evaluate, and direct a small staff of contract environmental educators for onsite and outreach education programming, including camps, after school programming, outreach programs, field trips, scout programs, homeschool programs, and our Youth Conservation Leadership Program.
3. Teach after school programs, school field trip programs, and other education programs, as needed, to establish familiarity with our community and to grow an understanding of how our programs benefit the community.
4. Manage the education programs budget.
5. Ensure that education programming reflects the organization’s commitment to excellence with place-based environmental education, reinforces the principles of Reggio Emilia, and follows local and state guidelines.

Enhance the local and regional impact and influence of the organization in the educational and conservation community

1. Strengthen partnerships with schools, teachers, the educational community, and conservation organizations.
2. Maintain Blue Heron’s membership in selected organizations, including the Environmental Education
3. Alliance of Georgia and the North American Association for Environmental Education.

Work closely with Blue Heron staff and committee members onsite and remotely for the development, management, and advancement of programming

1. Develop content for marketing, promotional, and fundraising uses.
2. Research and assist, as needed, with applications for grants.

The ideal candidate will have:

1. Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, biology or another life science, or equivalent.
2. Current Adult, child and infant CPR/First Aid.
3. Familiarity with values and principles of Reggio Emilia, place-based environmental education, and the implementation of an emergent curriculum.
4. Experience with conservation. 2+ years in a leadership position, 3-5 years of experience as a non-formal educator, and 3+ years of experience working in a non-profit organization.
5. Master’s degree in environmental education, environmental management, education, or equivalent. Ability to speak Spanish, WFA or WFR certification, Lifeguard certification.
6. Salary is dependent upon experience and qualifications.

Location
Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30342

Expected Start Date:
We are seeking candidates able to start on or near December 15th. We do have some flexibility on the start date. Please note that this position does not include housing, and any person hired must be able to live locally and provide their own transportation to and from Blue Heron.

To Apply:

1. Email a resume and a cover letter describing your relevant experience to admin@bhnp.org.
2. Interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants at the convenience of Blue Heron and the applicant.
3. Hiring is ongoing until positions are filled.
4. All candidates should explore our website to familiarize themselves with the organization prior to applying.

About the position: 

The Education Programs Coordinator will, under the direction of the Director of Education Programs, assist with managing all the details of coordinating education programs at Blue Heron Nature Preserve, including responding professionally and promptly to all program requests, scheduling programs and taking program deposits, coordinating with the Education Director to assign contract educators to scheduled programs, sending all program confirmation and reminder emails, ensuring all groups and individuals attending programs have enough information to be prepared for their program, accepting final payments, sending program follow-up emails, assisting with the organization and upkeep of supplies and materials at the Blue Heron office, and assisting, on an as-needed basis, with other administrative tasks required by the organization. The position requires excellent organizational skills, familiarity with the Blue Heron mission and values and approach to environmental education, and an exceptional ability to communicate with the public. The Education Programs Coordinator will report to the Director of Education Programs. The position is an independent contractor position and will start at 15 hours per week. The start date for this position is flexible, but ideally, this position will start in Dec 2021.

Job Duties:

1. Manage all program correspondence, including via phone, email, and in-person program requests for all Blue Heron Education Programming (day camp programs, school programs, after-school programs, scout programs, community and public programs, birthday party programs, etc.)
2. Coordinate with the appropriate Education team member to book programs on the calendar and assign contract education staff.
3. Follow, and improve as needed, a standard protocol for booking programs, taking deposits, providing pre-trip information, and post-trip follow-up.
4. Track education program attendance numbers and other demographic factors.
5. Provide invoices upon request to program attendees.
6. Assist with the creation and upkeep of Neon program event pages. Coordinate with the Education Director to ensure a standard protocol is followed.
7. Track program registrations and advise the Education Director on which programs need advertising. Assist with the promotion of programs as needed through the creation and/ or editing of social media posts, newsletters, and website pages.
8. Serve as the Assistant Camp Director and as the Camp Director On-Site when the Education Director is not available.
9. Provide organizational assistance around the Blue Heron office as needed: returning program supplies to designated areas, tidying rooms, keeping an inventory of supplies, and communicating with the Education Director when they need restocking.
10. Provide administrative assistance as needed for tasks including logging donations in Neon and preparing donation letters.
11. Be the professional face of Blue Heron Nature Preserve Education Programs, ensuring a positive experience from program request to post-program follow-up.
12. Fill in as an educator to lead and facilitate Blue Heron Nature Preserve’s environmental education programs.
13. Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 2+ years of experience leading or coordinating informal education programs, preferably in the environmental education field.
• A strong interest in conservation, urban ecology, and informal education.
• Experience managing and/or using event reservation systems and online payment processing systems.
• Experience sending, receiving, and tracking invoices for multiple programs at a time.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience providing excellent customer service over the phone, through email, and/or through face-to-face interactions.
• Experience working with Google Suites and Google Workspace.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work.
• Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask.

Location

Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30342

Expected Start Date:

We are seeking candidates able to start in Dec 2021. We do have some flexibility on the start date. Please note that this position does not include housing, and any person hired must be able to live locally and provide their own transportation to and from Blue Heron.

To Apply:

• Email a resume and a cover letter describing your relevant experience to educationprograms@bhnp.org.
• Interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants at the convenience of Blue Heron and the applicant.
• Hiring is ongoing until positions are filled.
• All candidates should explore our website to familiarize themselves with the organization prior to applying.

Blue Heron Nature Preserve is seeking contract educators with experience teaching programs on wildlife and ecology, environmental stewardship, gardening, nature arts, and outdoor adventure.

Our educational programs include school field trips for PK-8th grade, after school programs, school break camps, Girl and Boy Scout programs, birthday parties, and weekend public programs. Hours range from 0-25 hours per week, depending on program demand and educator availability.

• Candidates must have prior experience teaching and working with children, and a college degree in education, ecology, biology, art or a related field.
• Candidates should be familiar with, or willing to become familiar with, the Reggio Emilia philosophy and an emergent curriculum.
• Candidates must provide their own transportation to off-site programs. Two or more years of environmental education experience is preferred.
• CPR and First Aid Certification (or ability to get certified in the first 30 days) is required.
• Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.
• All candidates must pass a background check prior to employment.

Job Description

Blue Heron Environmental Educators plan and teach nature based programs for students in grades K-8. The primary purpose of our programs is to give children a chance to explore and learn about science, nature, and the urban environment in a fun and engaging manner. We are guided and inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, and use an emergent curriculum. Educators will lead groups of 5-25 children in activities at the Preserve or at local schools. Educators are responsible for planning and running activities, coordinating with other staff, behavior management, daily prep and clean-up, and any other tasks necessary to run a fun, safe youth program. Training is provided, however staff should have experience in developing and leading activities.

Job Schedule

• Blue Heron schedules field trips and off-site school programs weekday mornings on an as-demand basis.
• Boy and Girl Scout programs and after school programming typically run weekday afternoons from 3-5 p.m.
• Some weekend scout programming is scheduled, based on educator availability.
• School Break camps run during Atlanta Public School holidays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Summer Camp runs weekdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., for 11 weeks during May-August.
• Birthday parties are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays based on educator availability.
• Educators are expected to arrive 30 minutes prior to scheduled on-site programs and remain 30 minutes after a program’s conclusion. Educators must allow sufficient time to gather supplies and teaching materials for on-time arrival to off-site school programs.
• All programs include additional hours for staff meetings and trainings as scheduled.
• Hours per week: Between 0-25 hours per week depending on availability.

Minimum Qualifications

• College degree in education, science, ecology, art or related field. Ability to speak Spanish is preferred, but not required.
• Experience with teaching formal or informal education programs for children.
• Excellent group dynamic and behavior management skills, ability to engage children and direct them in an active teaching environment.
• Ability to represent Blue Heron in a positive and professional manner.
• Genuine desire to teach about nature in an urban environment.
• CPR and First Aid Certification. Lifeguard certification a plus.

Salary: $15 – $18 per hour based on experience and qualifications.

Location
Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30342

Expected Start Date:
We are seeking candidates able to start in January 2022. We do have some flexibility on the start date. Please note that this position does not include housing, and any educator hired must be able to live locally and provide their own transportation to and from Blue Heron.

To Apply:

• Email a resume and a cover letter describing your relevant experience to educationprograms@bhnp.org.
• Interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants at the convenience of Blue Heron and the applicant.
• Hiring is ongoing until positions are filled.
• All candidates should explore our website to familiarize themselves with the organization prior to applying.