The Environmental Educator/Butterfly House Coordinator is a member of the Education team reporting directly to the Director of Education. The overall purpose of this position is to help promote Ladew Gardens’ mission-driven programming to attract and serve multi-cultural and multi-generational audiences providing all participants an opportunity to learn, create memories, and connect with nature. The Environmental Educator/Butterfly House Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations of a butterfly exhibit, including volunteer staff supervision, insect husbandry, and plant care. This position also responsible for developing, planning and directly teaching hands-on environmental education to our audiences focused on quality experiences related to our butterfly house, topiary gardens, historical house and contained collections. Educating the public through interactive programs, lead guided tours, and oversee educational initiatives regarding lepidopteran life cycles, botany, and ecological conservation throughout our Nature Walk trail and other areas of display at our Topiary Gardens.

Animal Husbandry & Exhibit Care: Oversee the breeding, rearing, and care of butterflies and caterpillars, as well as the maintenance of host and nectar plants within the butterfly house.

Educational Programming: Design and deliver engaging presentations, field trips, and workshops for visitors, school groups, and summer camps.

Visitor Experience & Interpretation: Act as a docent, providing information to visitors about butterfly behavior and ecology, ensuring safety, and enhancing the interactive experience.

Operations & Coordination: Manage, schedule, and train interns and volunteers, maintain records, and manage the facility's climate and cleanliness.

Ladew’s Native Butterfly House: (open July through September w/planning taking place year-round)

Coordinate the operations and maintenance of Ladew’s native butterfly house to include inventory, budgeting, programming, staffing and appearance.

Manage large quantities of butterflies and caterpillars, including but not limited to catching butterflies, removing caterpillars, tidying exhibit spaces, logging inventory of species.
Interview, hire, train, and schedule butterfly house interns.
Schedule, train, and communicate regularly with over 50 butterfly house volunteers and staff.
Stay up to date on latest news and trends in butterfly/caterpillar management and sustainable gardening.
Maintain butterfly house gardens. Make design changes as needed for aesthetics and the health of the gardens as well as needs of butterflies/caterpillars
Collaborate with the Director of Horticulture to purchase plants and coordinate delivery or pick-up
Organize and maintain equipment needed for Butterfly House and oversee the maintenance of the physical structure of the Butterfly House
Plant and maintain gardens inside the Butterfly House, as well as gardens and meadow surrounding the Butterfly House
Build and maintain relationships with other butterfly house-related, partner organizations

Children’s Education:

Develop and deliver programming applicable for school age groups spanning from preschool to high school
Develop and deliver summer nature camps ensuring age-appropriate materials and engaging hands-on experiences

Family Education:

Participate in coordinating, planning and teaching weekend and evening family programs and events including Maple Magic, Family Nature Explorers, Garden Glow, Christmas Open House and new programs

Adult Education:

Participate in the delivery of training for college interns and volunteer program leaders
Participate in the operation of audio-visual equipment for Ladew’s virtual/hybrid lecture presentations
Participate in volunteer events, Garden Festival, Wild Walks, etc.

General Education Support:

Develop and propose recommendations to enhance, expand, or otherwise continuously improve the educational programs to ensure relevant and engaging content and experiences
Provide support to the education and administrative staff with appropriate social media posts, answering phones, marketing programs, program registration, and other tasks, as needed
Perform functions that include periodic trail and garden hands-on maintenance & direct care of animal ambassadors
Participate in occasional outreach programs throughout the community

Benefits

Medical benefits available, including an HRA plan, Dental, Vision, Life insurance
Matching 401K program
Life Insurance provided by Ladew
Paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time

Requirements

Competencies

Leadership and direct staff management expertise
Organization, planning, and educational skills in the area of environmental education and insects/ wildlife
Effective Communication & Relationship Management
Exemplary Customer service
Ethical Conduct
Technical Capacity

Working Conditions

This job primarily operates in a public gardens environment that has both indoor and outdoor serving facilities for visitors and may be subject to a variety of weather conditions. This position requires a working knowledge of a full range of industry related equipment and service vehicles to include golf carts. This includes, but is not limited to, operation of manual, gas, and/ or battery powered gardening tools, trowels, shovels, pitchforks, rakes, computer, printer, photocopier, phones, walkie talkies, and calculator. This job is also required to be within gardens, on the grounds of the property, and in areas that the public may not frequent.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The position is required to stand, walk, or transport oneself for up to two consecutive hours at a time; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms, use a computer, bend and perform gardening tasks, as well as lift objects frequently up to 50 pounds.

Direct Reports

None

EEO Statement

See EEO Statement in Employee Handbook

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary Description

$40,000/year

Ladew Topiary Gardens

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Environmental Educator / Butterfly House Coordinator