Naturalist Assistant (Beach Heroes)

Position Description: Naturalist Assistants work alongside ESC staff to increase awareness of marine intertidal diversity and stewardship through the Environmental Science Center’s Beach Heroes Program.

The Beach Heroes program introduces students to the local Puget Sound beach habitat and the organisms that live there.  During the 1-hour classroom visit, students will understand proper beach etiquette and stewardship while learning about marine invertebrates and their relationship to the beach habitat. The 2-hour field study features both naturalist-led beach exploration and structured activities, during which students will learn all about the habitat restoration of Seahurst Beach!

Responsibilities:

• Work alongside ESC naturalist during classroom presentation
  • Assist with creation of Beach Heroes field guides
  • Help answer marine invertebrate questions
• Work alongside ESC naturalists during field study
  • Assist with 2-hour field study programs from K-6^th grade about common intertidal marine organisms, the ecological importance of nearshore habitat, and marine stewardship. Curriculum and training provided.
  • Model appropriate stewardship behavior.
  • Work as a team with ESC naturalists and volunteers to guide a group of 10-15 students through the field study.

Qualifications:

• Interested in working with elementary-aged students in an outdoor setting.
• Experience working with youth (experience with babysitting, cousins/siblings counts as experience!).
• Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Competency in a second language and knowledge of Puget Sound marine ecosystems is helpful but not required.
• Must be able to pass a Washington State background check.

Timeline:

• March-June (field studies and classroom presentations run Monday-Friday 8:00-4pm)
• Must be able to attend at least 5 field studies or classroom presentations throughout the season.
• Must have reliable transportation to Seahurst Beach Seahurst Park (1600 SW Seahurst Drive, Burien, WA 98166) and surrounding Highline Schools.
• Must be able to attend ESC training in March

Compensation:

• Gain valuable naturalist experience volunteering for an non-profit organization that offers high quality environmental experiences to diverse youth.
• Meet like-minded environmental enthusiast, gain knowledge of Puget Sound flora and fauna, and make professional contacts within the environmental education community.
• This is an unpaid volunteer position although service hours could count toward school credit.

 

Naturalist Assistant (Salmon Heroes)

Position Description: Naturalist Assistants work alongside ESC staff to increase awareness of the challenges salmon face during their lifecycle and how we can help protect through the Environmental Science Center’s Salmon Heroes Program.

The 2015 Salmon Heroes Program includes a 1-hour classroom lesson, a 3-hour guided field study investigation, and a 1-hour post-field study classroom lesson.   During the 1-hour classroom lesson, students will engage in hands-on, NGSS-correlated activities that explore the habitat needs of salmon and the challenges they face during each phase of their life cycle.  During the 3-hour field study, students review the salmon life cycle, learn external and internal anatomy, explore a riparian habitat, and collect water quality data, and play a large-group game that mimics the challenges salmon face in making it back to their spawning grounds.  During the post-visit, students analyze the water quality data they collected in the field and compare it to previous year’s data, and to data collected from a different local creek. Students will then evaluate different actions that people can take in order to lessen their impact on salmon population health.

Responsibilities:

• Work alongside ESC naturalist during classroom presentations
  • Assist with creation of Salmon Wheels and water quality analysis sheets
  • Help answer salmon lifecycle and stewardship questions.
• Work alongside ESC naturalists during field study
  • Assist with stations during 3-hour field study programs at the Normandy Park Cove and along the Cedar River at the Renton Community Center.
  • Assist as “predators” in the large salmon lifecycle game.
  • Work as a team with ESC naturalists and volunteers to guide a group of 10-15 elementary and middle school students through the 3-hr field study.

Qualifications:

• Interested in working with elementary and middle school-aged students in an outdoor setting.
• Experience working with youth (experience with babysitting, cousins/siblings counts as experience!).
• Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Competency in a second language and knowledge of Pacific Northwest Salmon is helpful but not required.
• Must be able to pass a Washington State background check.

Timeline:

• August-November (field studies and classroom presentations run Monday-Friday 8:00-4pm)
• Must be able to attend at least 5 field studies or classroom presentations throughout the season.
• Must have reliable transportation to Nomandy Park Cove, Renton Community Center, and surrounding Highline Schools.
• Must be able to attend ESC training in August.

Compensation:

• Gain valuable naturalist experience and professional contacts within the environmental education community volunteering for an non-profit organization that offers high quality environmental experiences to diverse youth.
• Meet like-minded environmental enthusiast and gain vast knowledge of Puget Sound flora and fauna.
• This is an unpaid volunteer position although service hours could count toward school credit.

 

Naturalist Assistant (Out-of-School Programs)

Position Description: The Environmental Science Center partners with several schools and recreation facilities to provide hands-on science experiences for youth.  Naturalist Assistants work alongside ESC staff to increase awareness of environmental awareness and stewardship through before and after school hands-on science activities.

Responsibilities:

• Work alongside ESC naturalist during one-hour science programs:
  • Assist students carrying out science experiments and nature crafts.
  • Help with set-up/clean-up of activities.

Qualifications:

• Interested in helping teach science and working with diverse elementary and middle school-aged students.
• Experience working with youth (experience with babysitting, cousins/siblings counts as experience!).
• Competency in a second language and knowledge of Pacific Northwest flora and fauna is helpful but not required.
• Must be able to pass a Washington State background check.

Timeline:

• Must be able to commit to one eight-week session (fall, winter, or spring)
• Must have reliable transportation to the site of your choosing.

Compensation:

• Gain valuable naturalist experience and professional contacts within the environmental education community volunteering for a non-profit organization that offers high quality environmental experiences to diverse youth.
• Meet like-minded environmental enthusiast and gain vast knowledge of Puget Sound flora and fauna.
• This is an unpaid volunteer position although service hours could count toward school credit.

 

Site Specifics Subject to Change:

Roxhill Garden Club

• Roxhill Elementary 9430 30th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126
• Wednesdays before school 8:15-9:15
• Eight Week Sessions each quarter (fall, winter, and spring)

Spring is a great time to be in the garden and explore the outdoors! With the help of the Environmental Science Center, learn how to plant seeds, care for the soil, and taste some of the delicious vegetables from the Roxhill Garden. Sing songs, play games, and discover what all live needs by building homes for our friends that slime and crawl through the garden.  We will also explore the critters that hop and fly through the Roxhill Wetlands and create our own animal track to take home. This club is for the inquisitive, creative child (K-2 only) who loves to get their hands dirty!

City of Burien After School Science Club

• Cedarhurst Elementary 611 S 132nd St, Burien, WA 98168
• Wednesdays after school 4-6pm
• Program runs all school year long

Camp Craze Summer Programming

• City of Burien Parks and Rec 14700 6th Ave SW, Burien, WA 98166
• Tuesdays 1-3pm
• June-August

Gym Jams

Evening/weekend programs for families

 

Program Supplies HERO!

The Environmental Science Center serves thousands of students each year to promote environmental stewardship and academic achievement through science-based education.  As the Program Hero, you would work alongside ESC staff to maintain materials that are integral to the operations of all of our programs.  Your responsibilities would include but are not limited to:

• Grading student assessments
• Repair/maintain/build program materials for after school science clubs and in-school field studies.
• Creating field guide packets for field studies

Qualifications:

• Interest in environmental education. Experience delivering informal science/outdoor education is helpful but not required.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must have reliable transportation to the Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Beach in Burien (1600 SW Seahurst Drive, Burien, WA 98166)
• Must be able to commit to two six-hour days/month

Compensation:

• Gain valuable experience with curricula development and materials management volunteering for an non-profit organization that offers high quality environmental education to diverse youth.
• Meet like-minded environmental enthusiast and make professional contacts with the Environmental Science Center and within the environmental education community.
• This is an unpaid volunteer position although service hours could count toward school credit.