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Summer Internship – Community Program Facilitator (@ Urban Ecology Center)

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Summer Internship – Community Program Facilitator at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, WI - shared by Jobs That Help as a third party

Job Type Details: Paid Internship - Full Time

The Urban Ecology Center hires nearly 30 people annually for our Green Career Pathways summer employment & internship experience. Our model of creating neighborhood-based environmental education centers energizes urban public natural areas. Located in vibrant public green spaces in Milwaukee, our fast-growing organization serves over 200,000 people of all ages annually. Our Green Career Pathways efforts are providing people with an immersive green career experience while having a significant impact on our mission. 
The UEC’s Community Programs Department will hire three (3) Summer Community Program Facilitators for the summer of 2023.  Application review will begin on February 17th; candidates are encouraged to apply by that date. The interview cycle should conclude no later than March 10th. 
Position Summary:  As a Summer Community Program Facilitator you will be responsible for facilitating safe, environmentally conscious, nature-focused outdoor programs for participants of all ages. The Summer Community Program Facilitator will work as a team with fellow Community Program staff to engage audiences in urban outdoor recreation activities such as paddling, biking, climbing, hiking and fishing as well as informal environmental education programming. Other non-teaching projects will be assigned as needed throughout the season to maintain programming gear, assist with department administrative tasks, and support the Education Department as a whole.  Must be able to work some evenings and Saturdays.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Plan and Create Program Outlines
  • Assist in the creation of lesson outlines for informal environmental education programs that serve families, teens, youth and adults. 
  • Assist in the creation of lesson outlines for urban adventure programs such as paddling, hiking, biking, climbing and fishing in alignment with our Urban Adventures Procedures Manual. 
  • Adapt provided Urban Ecology Center -Community Programs Curriculum/Lesson Outlines as needed for specific audiences or groups.
  • Plans are expected to be shared with Program Manager and Program Team 1 week prior to program delivery and are to be saved in the Department Shared Google Drive. 
Program Facilitation & Delivery
  • Prepare all activity materials, program spaces, and gear for experiences scheduled.  
  • Co-lead and facilitate outdoor recreation programming such as rock climbing, paddling, biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing.
  • Educate by facilitating informal environmental education programming to groups of youth, teens, adults and families. 
  • Welcome, lead, and close experiences by speaking in front of large groups of mixed audiences. 
  • Foster a sense of belonging and a positive connection with nature by providing fun, safe, and educational outdoor experiences.
Follow and uphold Safety Practices
  • Anticipate, prevent, identify, and respond to safety issues. 
  • Obtain a belay certification training and serve as a rock climbing belayer onsite at Riverside Park. (Training paid by UEC)
  • Complete first aid, CPR, and AED training certification- provided by Urban Ecology Center. 
  • Adhere to all Urban Adventure program procedures as laid out by the Urban Ecology Center Community Programs Department and Safety Committee. 
Department Support/General Tasks
  • Maintain a detailed schedule of availability and work plans.
  • Work with staff, teens, organization partners, and adult volunteers to plan and offer Special Events.
  • Act as a representative of the Center through customer service, in-person, by providing a welcoming atmosphere and responding to questions and concerns.
  • Regularly attend staff meetings including: quarterly All Staff meetings, and weekly Community Programs team meetings.
  • Secure facility at end of day, follow closing procedures and set the building alarm.
  • Assist with other projects and tasks as needed, including program supply inventory, recreational equipment maintenance/care, and more. 
OUR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
  • Our summer employment term runs from June 5 to August 25, 2023. Interns are paid $1,080 bi-weekly (pre-tax) for this full-time (up to 40 hours/week) opportunity, and allotted 3 days (24 hours) of PTO for planned vacation or sick days.
  • You will attend training for the first two weeks of your experience, with opportunities for further learning & development throughout the summer. We host both a Summer Kickoff event and an End of Summer Celebration.
  • As a member of the Community Programs team, You will be managed by the Community Programs Manager and work collaboratively with Community Program Educators, the Program & Data Coordinator, and the Education Department as a whole. . 
  • You may have the opportunity to earn additional income by working as an attendant at our events (weddings, rentals, other parties, etc). 
  • We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. 
  • You will receive an Urban Ecology Center membership and will have the ability to attend all events at a low or no cost. Children of employees attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 
Recommended Skills and Abilities
  • Instructional Abilities:  Demonstrated abilities to teach science and nature based programs with a grasp on group management, youth engagement strategies, positive risk-taking, and adventure education. 
  • Adaptability: Ability to function both independently and collaborate well with others; you are motivated through change and by new opportunities.
  • Effective Communicator: You articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. The ability to deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
  • Collaboration: Ability to collaborate and share planning and teaching responsibilities with peers
  • Problem Solving:  Ability to solve problems, think, reason and learn from experiences. May develop creative solutions or innovative future approaches. 
  • Time Management: ability to distinguish priorities, focus on relevant issues, and set realistic time goals. 
  • Driving a Motor Vehicle: Ability to meet requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Center’s vehicle policy. Willingness to drive a 14-passenger bus.
  • (preferred/required at MV) Bilingual English/Spanish: The ability to develop and teach programs in both English and Spanish is recommended.
  • (preferred)  Outdoor Recreation Skills: Paddling experience, belay experience and other outdoor recreation experience is strongly desired.Physical ability, with reasonable accommodation, required for various activities, such as carrying and paddling canoes or hiking for a full day. 
Experience, Education, and Certifications
  • High school diploma or equivalent education is required.
  • First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard Certification or ability to obtain
  • Belay Certification or ability to obtain(preferred) 
  • At least one year of work or learning experience beyond high school
  • (preferred) Background in environmental science, education, or related field
  • (preferred) Experience working in an outdoor education program
WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Condition & Location: 
  • Open office workspace with an active team atmosphere. Using shared workspaces at all three UEC locations. 
  • Time spent outdoors, in all types of seasonal weather. Our community programs team spends at least 75% of their time outdoors, the work environment will be dependent on weather conditions.
  • Time spent in a classroom, working with groups of people of all ages.  
Physical Requirements: 
  • Lifting bikes 3 feet out of a bike rack or vehicle.
  • Belaying people, up to 275 pounds, on the outdoor rock wall.
  • Team-lifting canoes from storage racks to activity locations.
  • Hiking, biking, walking, or paddling for a full day- up to 6 hours.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
  • Ability to build and work near campfires, outdoor open flames in a contained fire ring.
  • Ability to sit, stand, crouch, and bend on a regular basis.
Equipment Used: 
  • Computer- Google Suite, Zoom telephone, & Slack.  
  • Office specific: copy machine, paper cutters, AV Equipment. 
  • Outdoor and recreational equipment, including but not limited to kayaks, canoes, canoe/kayak paddles, pedal boats, climbing harnesses and helmets, fishing poles and tackle, mountain bikes, bicycle helmets and bike locks. 
  • Science education supplies, including but not limited to microscopes, insect nets, cooking supplies 
Schedule: 
  • Tues-Sat 10-6pm, with the expectation of at least one evening shift (12-8pm) per week.
The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.