Job Title:Summer Topaz Farm Camp Environmental Educator (6 positions to fill)
Department: Education
Reports to: Assistant Director of Youth Learning & Engagement
Classification: Seasonal Contract
Employment Dates: June 9, 2025- July 25th. Possible extension through August 8th.
Salary range: $152-$176 per day based on experience. Exempt, $75 per night stipend for overnight programs
About Bird Alliance of Oregon
Bird Alliance of Oregon has been a leading voice in conservation for over a century. Through conservation advocacy, environmental education, and wildlife rehabilitation, we promote the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife and their habitats. We are located in a 172-acre wildlife sanctuary next to Forest Park, just minutes from downtown Portland.
The goal of Bird Alliance of Oregon Education is to build inclusive flyways between joy, learning and advocacy in nature. Through school programs camps, adult classes, trips, youth leadership, free events and deep collaborations, we expand access to the outdoors; amplify connections between birds, people and place; and create opportunities for all people to love and care for the natural world in ways that are meaningful for them. In partnership, we strive to nurture just communities working together to make a difference.
Just as birds connect landscapes across an ecosystem, we understand our work in a rich context of cultural communities, neighborhoods and networks across our region. We seek to build connectivity, common purpose and collective impact through collaboration. We value the profound legacy of stewardship that people who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color have brought to this work for generations, and we see partnership and mutual aid as essential to everything we do. We’re grateful to spend our days exploring, laughing, and looking up in wonder, and we believe joy is a powerful driver of change, both personal and collective. Together, we hope to foster a lasting, resonant sense of place in the outdoors, and invite everyone to take action for conservation in their own community and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Position Summary
Bird Alliance of Oregon ’s Summer Topaz Farm Environmental Educators are passionate nature enthusiasts and relationship builders excited to help us lead a summer of Sliding Scale camp at a brand new location at Topaz Farm. With a brand new east side location pick up and drop off we hope to expand access to our camps. Together, we’ll lead joyful, curious and collaborative camps outside for children from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Topaz Farm Educators work together in small, diverse teams of 2-4 staff per camp who bring a wide range of professional and lived experience to our work. Through nature explorations, activities around the farm, science experiments, music and art, quiet reflection and big belly laughs we encourage children to bring their whole selves to camp, find their growing edge and deepen their connection to nature and one another.
As a Topaz Environmental Educator, You’re someone with experience in outdoor education or teaching in an informal setting (e.g. camps, parks, museums, community centers or comparable spaces), especially in socioeconomically and racially diverse environments. You love nature, and have some knowledge of ecology or natural history, ideally in the Pacific Northwest. It’s essential that all educators have a strong comfort working in multiracial teams, a dedication to creating an anti-racist learning environment, and a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through their practice. Candidates with lived experience working with youth of color, immigrants, and people from working class families are highly encouraged to apply.
Camps will take place at Topaz Farm on Sauvies Island and campers will be bussed from an east side pick up and drop off location. This program will run for 4 weeks with the potential to extend employment to assist on some highschool and overnight programs. Bird Alliance of Oregon has made a strong commitment to protect summer staff time - the regular schedule is designed to ensure an eight hour work day with early release on Fridays.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Work in consistent teams of 2-5 educators to lead 4 weeks of farm camp with the potential to extend employment to assist with overnight and expedition camps.
- Learn and teach 2, week-long camps (repeated 2 times) for a total of 4 weeks. Curriculum will be provided and you will be responsible for learning and implementing that curriculum.
- Be ready to give and receive feedback in an open and growth oriented mindset
- Lead culturally responsive camps that build an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children
- Be responsive to various emotional and physical needs of the campers with age-appropriate behavior management interventions
- Celebrate the work of communities of color, LGBTQIA practitioners, and other historically marginalized voices in science and conservation throughout our programs
- Facilitate circle times and creative expression throughout the camp week
- Assist with logistics around camp transportation, materials, food, and equipment
- Ability to be certified in Basic First Aid and CPR
Working Conditions
- May require constant bending at times and sitting on the ground
- Ability to hike 1.5 miles on uneven terrain
- Some positions, but not all, will require the ability to lift up to 40 pounds to waist level, lead programs in remote settings and/or overnight experiences
- Ability to be outside all day and be exposed to all weather conditions with limited cover.
How to Apply
ONLINE SUBMISSIONS PREFERRED
APPLY ONLINE at bit.ly/BirdAllianceOregon_Application
In addition to your application, please complete the questionnaire LINKED HERE
To submit via US Postal Service:
Please send your resume, cover letter and this application to:
Human Resources
Bird Alliance of Oregon
REF: Summer Topaz Farm Camp Environmental Educator
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210
Application Deadline: Monday, January 6th, 2025at midnight.
Interviews will be held Wednesday, January 15th, Thursday, January 16th and Tuesday, January 21st.
Diversity Statement:
Bird Alliance of Oregon believes that inspiring all people to love and protect nature is best achieved when we embrace diversity as a value and practice. In the same way an ecosystem needs many types of plants and wildlife, an organization thrives when it includes a diversity of people and perspectives. We recognize that inequities are widespread and create gaps between our present reality and our aspirations. Audubon is committed to:
- Reflecting the diversity of the community in our board, staff, volunteers, and members.
- Ensuring our internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and advance our diversity goals.
- Empowering people to make positive changes in their community and environment.
A core priority moving forward is to infuse equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) into all of the goals and work of the organization. This position will play an important role in achieving the organization’s EID goals through engagement with staff, board members, donors, volunteers and the public. We recognize that in order to serve diverse communities we must also have diversity represented in our staff.
