Position Summary:
Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia, NH seeks a fun and affable leader to join our leadership team and advance our mission of connecting youth to the natural world through hands-on learning.
The Camp & School-Age Programs Director is responsible for implementing a wide-range of Prescott Farm programs that provide nature-based educational experiences for school-aged children ages five to sixteen years-old. Programs include WildQuest day camps offered during winter, spring, and summer school vacation weeks; the Naturalist in the Classroom program, which fulfills educational contracts in local schools during the school year; school field trips at Prescott Farm; and Community Connections programs designed to appeal to kids and their families year-round.
The successful candidate will be a seasoned environmental educator with experience working in a camp environment and demonstrated enthusiasm for nature, program administration, and elementary education.
Organization Overview:
Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center is an independent non-profit that is committed to environmental education and preservation. Prescott Farm is dedicated to providing year-round environmental education programs for all ages and a place in the Lakes Region community that encourages curiosity, discovery, fun and connection to the natural world. We welcome visitor year-round to explore over 160-acres of farmland, gardens, forests, and pastures.
Our year-round programming schedule includes our environmentally-themed WildQuest Camps have offered children ages 5-14 the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow in nature since 1997. Since 2015 our nature-based Fledglings Preschool has offered children ages 3 to 5 the educational foundation they need to succeed in school while awakening in each child a natural curiosity and respect for nature which is at the core of every preschool lesson. Our Naturalist in the Classroom program supports teachers in local schools to provide place-based, hands-on lessons that incorporate the natural world to satisfy curriculum requirements and help keep children engaged and excited about learning throughout the school year. Prescott Farm is also an ideal destination for school field trips from around New Hampshire, with innovative topics and programs available year-round, from winter animal tracking to Maple Sugaring in March to cooking in our 5-station teaching kitchen to our magnificent trees and more! Our Community Connections Programs provide workshops on a wide-range of topics including nature & wildlife, food & gardening and NH crafts & customs.
Responsibilities:
WildQuest Camp Programs
· Plan and facilitate February, April, and nine summer WildQuest camp sessions.
· Recruit, hire, train and supervise 10-12 seasonal camp staff and volunteer junior counselors.
· Collaborate on and maintain accountability to the annual camp budget.
· Enforce camp safety rules and regulations according to state camp licensing requirements and that meet or exceed industry best practices.
· Apply for annual camp license renewal and meet with state camp inspector during a random visit during the summer to go over the license compliance checklist.
· Work with marketing staff to promote camp and drive enrollment.
· Coordinate online camp-registration.
· Facilitate communications with camp families before, during, and after the camp season.
· Update camp family and staff handbooks annually.
· Manage camp scholarship program. Work with community partners to reach new campers who would utilize existing funds.
· Collaborate with Executive Director on grant applications related to camp programs.
· Coordinate camp supply needs & ordering.
· Conduct evaluations at the end of camp sessions and summer camp season.
· Participate in meetings and trainings provided by professional associations, such as the American Camping Association and NH Camp Directors’ Association, to ensure that Prescott Farm is following best practices.
School-Age Programs
· Train and supervise environmental educators who work with the Naturalist in the Classroom program, providing hands-on, nature-based programs to elementary and middle school-aged children throughout the school year.
· Meet with school administrators to finalize contracts and establish a teaching schedule.
· Track curriculum activity, solicit feedback from teachers, and provide written reports to school administrators.
· Work with the Communications & Events Director to publish a Naturalist in the Classroom newsletter twice per year to be distributed to participating families as well as for promotional use.
· Coordinate and lead school field trips at Prescott Farm and occasionally at other sites.
· Evaluate field trip program and develop programs to meet the interests and needs of area schools and other area youth groups.
· Train and coordinate staff schedules for leading field trips, including full time educators, per diem field teachers, and interns.
· Coordinate and lead Community Connections programs at Prescott Farm designed to appeal to school-aged youth and their families.
Other Responsibilities
· As a member of the Prescott Farm leadership team, look for ways to continually improve and grow programs that are mission-relevant, enticing to participants, and considerate of the budget.
· Develop new or adapt existing programs to address current and changing needs within our community.
· Represent Prescott Farm and our programs at events and other activities both at Prescott Farm and in the larger community throughout the year.
Qualifications:
· Minimum of five to seven years of experience in camps, environmental, wilderness, adventure, or outdoor education.
· Bachelor’s degree minimum, Master’s Degree preferred – in a related field.
· 2 or more years’ experience as a camp director or coordinator in a similar setting.
· High-level first aid training (Wilderness First Responder Certification preferred).
· Ability to do moderate level hiking and snowshoeing on uneven terrain while carrying up to 40 pounds of equipment.
· Must pass criminal background checks as required by camp licensing requirements.
· Strong naturalists’ skills and demonstrated understanding of New England natural history.
· Creative and enthusiastic program development and presentation skills.
· Solid organizational skills with regard to coordinating and scheduling programs, projects, maintaining files, reports and databases.
· Experience and comfort in working with computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Google Suite, registration software, CRMs, etc.
· Demonstrated ability to coordinate, supervise, and motivate staff.
· Strong customer service skills.
· Other experiences and abilities that would enhance the quality of Prescott Farm programming and organization’s culture.
Benefits:
· $50,000 annual salary, paid weekly
· 35-hour work week
· Health insurance
· Retirement plan, up to 3% match
· Life insurance
· Cafeteria plan (health, dependent care FSAs)
· Long-term disability insurance
· 12 paid holidays
· Paid vacations, starting at 10 days per year
· Paid sick leave, 12 days per year
· Paid professional development
Additional benefit details available upon request.
To Apply:
Submit a resume and cover letter to Chris Wellens at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Flexible start date as early as mid-September.