Natural Science Educator

Natural Science Educator

Job Description

Job Title: Natural Science Educator

Supervisors: Education Director, Preserve Coordinator.

Classification: Part-Time (20-28 hours / week)

Hours: Weekends and some weekdays

 Occasional evenings/early mornings and “On Call” days

Pay: $18/hour

Location: Southwest Travis Country, approximately 45 minutes from downtown Austin. 

To Apply: Please submit cover letter and resume to meagan@westcave.org

A lifetime enjoying and protecting nature!

The mission of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is to inspire people to develop a lifelong practice of protecting and enjoying nature. We connect children and their families to the natural world through discovery, exploration, and conservation on our stunning 76- acre preserve, one of the most diverse properties in the Texas Hill Country. Protecting this beautiful land, which is home to hundreds of plant species, dozens of mammals, and to the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler has become more important than ever. 

Westcave has dedicated staff who provides natural history and ecological guided hikes to over 14,000 visitors from around the world and over 3,000 children annually. Our team has a commitment to natural science education and conservation for today and the future. Additional information on Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is available at www.westcave.org. 

Job Summary

This position is perfect for a curious and active person looking to further their experience in interpretation and informal education of the natural world. You will perform a wide variety of duties that support Westcave’s education work, including specialty programs, field trips, and guided public hikes into the preserve’s magnificent waterfall, grotto, and cave. 

Public guided hikes occur primarily on weekends, where you will lead two moderate-to-strenuous 1.5-hour educational hikes per day, navigating 126 steps into the canyon. During the week, you will lead age-appropriate experiential learning field trips to the grotto for students ranging from preschool to high school age (primarily elementary) using established natural science curricula. When not leading programs, you will support preserve operations by staffing the welcome desk, managing merchandise sales, assisting with volunteer/intern training, and providing facility maintenance. 

Position Responsibilities & Duites

General Responsibilities:

• Be able to work on weekends, weekdays, occasionally evening and early mornings.
• On Call: On weekends staff listed as on-call will lead tours if a scheduled staff member/intern calls in sick or has a personal emergency.
• Demonstrate consistent attendance and punctuality for all shifts to support daily operational success.
• Be able to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Support Westcaves culture of collaboration, respect, hard work, and transparency.
• Articulate and effectively communicate Westcave’s mission and values to others.
• Able to tolerate extreme weather conditions by working outside during hot summers and cold/freezing winters.
• Perform occasional repair and maintenance work for facilities and groups as needed.
• Help collect and possibly create media for Westcave’s social media and marketing initiatives.
• Assist with all other assigned tasks to support the operation of the preserve. 

Natural Science Educator Specific Duties:

• Help manage volunteers, and interns on weekends with the Education Director.
• Support Westcave operations during field trips and public guided hikes.
• Support setup and shutdown of the Preserve programs and operations
• Lead public guided hikes during the weekends and some weekdays, providing information on the Preserve’s natural history, geology, and biology.
• Lead field trips and provide age-appropriate education.
• Welcome visitors and check guests into our reservation system
• Process monetary transactions for merchandise, donations, and tour sales, and reconcile income
• Aid with curriculum development when needed.
• Assist with special events and weekend programing when needed.
• Assist with other duties, including cleaning of visitor center, cleaning restrooms, maintaining grounds, and mowing around parking lot and building areas
• Create a fun, educational environment for all guests.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in natural/environmental science, education, or outdoor recreation preferred 
  • (or equivalent experience).
• Transportation/Availability
  • Reliable transportation
  • Flexible schedule with the ability to work most weekends, occasional evenings and early mornings.
  • Consistent attendance is a core requirement for success in this role. Westcave relies on our team to be punctual and fully committed to their scheduled shifts to ensure our operations run smoothly.
  • On Call: On weekends staff listed as on-call will lead tours if a scheduled staff member/intern calls in sick or has a personal emergency.
• Natural Science Educator Skills:
  • Natural history knowledge preferred
  • Has proficiency in regional flora/fauna (can be part of training)
  • Experience working with groups of children, adults, and families
  • Passion for inspiring a love of nature in others
  • Interest in conservation, environmental research, health, and wellness
• Communication Skills: 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Skill in operating computer software programs
  • Can work independently and collaboratively with others as a team
• Physical Requirements: 
  • Physically able to lead multiple hikes into/out of the canyon daily.
  • Assist with land and facility maintenance projects
  • Able to handle inclement weather and lift up to 30 pounds.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Criminal background check required.
  • Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
  • CPR and First Aid Certification preferred (available as part of training).