As an Encounter Educator - Nature Play, you will lead nature-based children's play within San Antonio Zoo's Kronkosky's Tiny Tot Nature Spot. This exhibit engages young children (ages birth to five) in the natural world. Nature Play Encounter Educators are responsible for performing a variety of functions, including facilitating exhibit/nature exploration, leading outdoor play, developing, coordinating, and leading nature-based activities, presenting animals to the public, storytelling, and much, much more. The Encounter Educator: Nature Play may also engage zoo guests throughout the zoo by supporting special events, exhibit encounters, and leading tours. The Encounter Educator - Nature Play works in the Education Department and reports to the Guest Encounters Interpretation Manager.
Essential Duties
- Lead nature-based, age-appropriate educational experiences. Utilizing play create an environment that encourages curiosity, creative thinking, exploration, and experimentation.
- Model appropriate practices for teaching young children: support/incorporate caregiver participation in nature-based activities.
- Ready the Kronkosky's Tiny Tot Nature Spot play areas each morning, monitor children's appropriate use of the exhibit, conduct safety audits and close downplay areas at the end of the day. Apply all standards, regulations, and guidelines that address health, safety, and developmentally appropriate practices with young children and their families.
- Support the zoo's LEAP (Love, Engage, Act, Protect) mission by implementing a comprehensive strategy for appropriate conservation education opportunities relevant to young children and their families.
- Collaborate with zoo staff to ensure accurate dissemination of information and maximize the zoo's resources to support conservation education with developmentally appropriate practices.
- Deliver a wide variety of interpretative encounters incorporating exhibit spaces, program animals, and/or biofacts, that empower guests to adopt conservation behaviors that secure a future for wildlife.
- Provide support for volunteers and other members of the Education Department as needed.
- Upholds all company policies as outlined in the Zoo Standard Operating Procedures, Team Member Handbook, and Code of Business Conduct.
- Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned.
- Consistently exhibit an attitude of service inside and outside of the zoo, showing hospitality to all.
- Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and animals we protect.
Skills/Qualifications
- Designs to plan, create, implement, promote, and evaluate early childhood education activities reflecting environmental themes
- Effective written and verbal communication skills preferred.
- Desire to work outdoors with small children and their families in varying weather conditions, with multiple distractions
- Ability to relate effectively with the public, especially very young children as well as older adults
- Completed 48 college-level units/or two years of college-level coursework in Education, Zoology, Biology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience), Bachelor's degree preferred
- Willingness to work with animals: reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, and insects
- Experience working with children under 5; understand developmental stages and special needs of children in an informal learning environment
- A strong desire to share the wonders of the natural world with all audiences is required. Prefer individuals with experience in informal environmental education
- Energy, enthusiasm, and patience, along with a strong commitment to the importance of play in early childhood education
- Ability to communicate effectively on a microphone in English, presenting biological, historical, and conservation information in a professional and engaging manner
- Proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and related programs
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- Responsible for the completion of all online Training Curriculum by assigned deadlines.
- Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment drug screening and background check.
- Must be able to work in varying climate and weather conditions (rain, snow, hot, or cold).
