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Field Naturalist, Inside the Outdoors - Educational Services Division at Orange County Department of Education

Application Deadline

Until Filled

Date Posted
11/14/2021
Contact
Olivia Dayton
714-966-4497
Number of Openings
10

Add'l Salary Info

$18.50 per hour
Length of Work Year
2021/2022
Employment Type
Full and Part Time

Budget Status:

Substitute

About the Employer

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) serves some of Orange County’s most vulnerable student populations and provides support and mandated fiscal oversight to 28 school districts serving more than 600 schools and approximately 475,000 students. In addition to providing direct instruction to students through its own alternative and special education programs, OCDE administers an array of programs and services that are critical to the operations of local school districts and community colleges, facilitating professional development, legal guidance, payroll, career and technical education support, high-speed internet access, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval, resources for families, and student enrichment. OCDE’s vision is that “Orange County students will lead the nation in college and career readiness and success.” Department staff are working to achieve this goal in collaboration with educators at all levels of student development, from early childhood through higher education, and in partnership with families, businesses and community organizations.

Job Summary

Job Summary

As a leader in hands-on science and social science programs, our Inside the Outdoors program has three major goals: Encourage students’ and the communities’ awareness and appreciation of the environment. Broaden the students’ and the communities’ knowledge of science concepts. Foster students’ and the communities’ commitment to the protection of the natural environment. Students study tidepool, chaparral, riparian (stream), and estuary ecosystems. Information on Native American lifestyles, living history, and geology are also integrated into the program. Selected candidates will: Conduct natural science activities in a variety of ecosystems with students, classroom teachers, and/or adult chaperones. Prepare and effectively deliver instructional materials relative to the interpretive activities. Hike on trails for up to one mile, traverse stairs and uneven terrain while carrying equipment. Clean animal cages, feed, and handle a variety of animals, including rats and snakes. Field Naturalists may also work at promotional events and may teach community programs.

Requirements / Qualifications

Requirements / Qualifications

Prefered Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university with major course work in the natural sciences or related field. Three years of related experience, training, or equivalent combination. Experience working with school-age children in an organized educational environment is preferred. Experience teaching virtually and in-person. Experience in providing instruction in an outdoors environment is highly desirable. Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under OCDE’s vehicle insurance policy. Current CPR and First Aid Certificates are required within first two months of employment. In order for your application to be considered, your online application must be complete, including responses to the supplemental questions on the application. For your reference in preparing to complete the online application, the application’s supplemental questions requiring composition and thought are included below. Please note that your response to the supplemental question should be thoughtful and thorough, within the limit of 5,000 characters or less. 1. Please list any equipment you can operate that may be involved in the position for which you are applying. 2. Please describe any work or volunteer experience in an outdoor education program, camp, or youth group within the past five years. Please include name(s) and location of program(s). 3. If you have had experience instructing natural sciences to elementary school children, please describe your teaching style. Please include specific philosophy(s) and discipline procedure(s). 4.Please comment further on your employment history or to describe in greater detail any aspects of your experience.

The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is a public education organization based on fundamental human values of honesty, commitment, responsibility, respect, integrity and professional ethics. Our priority is service to students, districts, and the community who look to us for support and educational leadership. We hold each other and ourselves accountable for the highest level of service, performance, efficiency, resources management, and professionalism. As a leader in hands-on science and social science programs, our Inside the Outdoors School and Field Programs have three major goals: • Encourage students’ awareness and appreciation of the environment. • Broaden the students’ knowledge of science concepts. • Foster students’ commitment to the protection of the natural environment.


      Prefered Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university with major course work in the natural sciences or related field. Three years of related experience, training, or equivalent combination. Experience working with school-age children in an organized educational environment is preferred. Experience teaching virtually and in-person. Experience in providing instruction in an outdoors environment is highly desirable. Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under OCDE’s vehicle insurance policy. Current CPR and First Aid Certificates are required within first two months of employment. In order for your application to be considered, your online application must be complete, including responses to the supplemental questions on the application. For your reference in preparing to complete the online application, the application’s supplemental questions requiring composition and thought are included below. Please note that your response to the supplemental question should be thoughtful and thorough, within the limit of 5,000 characters or less. 1. Please list any equipment you can operate that may be involved in the position for which you are applying. 2. Please describe any work or volunteer experience in an outdoor education program, camp, or youth group within the past five years. Please include name(s) and location of program(s). 3. If you have had experience instructing natural sciences to elementary school children, please describe your teaching style. Please include specific philosophy(s) and discipline procedure(s). 4.Please comment further on your employment history or to describe in greater detail any aspects of your experience.

      The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is a public education organization based on fundamental human values of honesty, commitment, responsibility, respect, integrity and professional ethics. Our priority is service to students, districts, and the community who look to us for support and educational leadership. We hold each other and ourselves accountable for the highest level of service, performance, efficiency, resources management, and professionalism. As a leader in hands-on science and social science programs, our Inside the Outdoors School and Field Programs have three major goals: • Encourage students’ awareness and appreciation of the environment. • Broaden the students’ knowledge of science concepts. • Foster students’ commitment to the protection of the natural environment.

          Comments and Other Information

          ** This position does not offer health or dental insurance. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application. We are currently recruiting for energetic professionals to serve as Field Naturalists for the OCDE Inside the Outdoors (ITO) School and Field Programs. Our ITO School and Field Programs are a unique and hands-on science, social science, and environmental education program that provide science field trips for kindergarten through seventh grade students. The students spend the day at one of the various field sites, (Upper Newport Bay, Crystal Cove State Park, Modjeska Canyon Nature Preserve, George Key Ranch, Shipley Nature Center, Helena Modjeska House, Mt. San Antonio College, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Rancho Soñado, and Irvine Regional Park). Students will study tidepools, chaparrals, riparian (stream), and estuary ecosystems. Information on Native American lifestyles and geology are also integrated into the program. Our Field Naturalists begin work at 8:00 a.m. and range from 4 to 8 hours per day. Limited weekend and summer work may be available. This position is currently working virtually with the possibility of returning in person at the beginning of the year. For more information, please visit www.insidetheoutdoors.org. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving your application.

          Comments and Other Information


          ** This position does not offer health or dental insurance. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application. We are currently recruiting for energetic professionals to serve as Field Naturalists for the OCDE Inside the Outdoors (ITO) School and Field Programs. Our ITO School and Field Programs are a unique and hands-on science, social science, and environmental education program that provide science field trips for kindergarten through seventh grade students. The students spend the day at one of the various field sites, (Upper Newport Bay, Crystal Cove State Park, Modjeska Canyon Nature Preserve, George Key Ranch, Shipley Nature Center, Helena Modjeska House, Mt. San Antonio College, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Rancho Soñado, and Irvine Regional Park). Students will study tidepools, chaparrals, riparian (stream), and estuary ecosystems. Information on Native American lifestyles and geology are also integrated into the program. Our Field Naturalists begin work at 8:00 a.m. and range from 4 to 8 hours per day. Limited weekend and summer work may be available. This position is currently working virtually with the possibility of returning in person at the beginning of the year. For more information, please visit www.insidetheoutdoors.org. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving your application.