NATURE BUDS CAMP EDUCATOR

Part Time Summer Camp "Nature Buds" Educator 

Position Description

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt, Seasonal, PART TIME

Reports to:   Camp Manager

Position Summary: 

Blandford Nature Center’s Summer Camp Nature Buds Educator will run with, play with, teach, hike with, and care for the health, happiness and safety of Blandford Nature Center’s 10 youngest campers, ages 4 and 5 - the “Nature Buds” group - each weekday morning throughout the summer camp season. 

The Nature Buds camps are half-day camps. Therefore, the working hours for the Nature Buds Educator are Monday-Friday, approximately 8:00 am - 1:00 pm. The camp season starts with mandatory training June 1-5, 2026 from 9 am - 5 pm (hours negotiable for part-time position). The regular camp season runs 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) from June 8-August 14, with the exception of 1 “mini camp week” June 29-July 1, followed by a 4-day weekend from July 2-5. The schedule includes working one evening on August 6, 2026.

To be the Nature Buds Educator you must possess, or be willing to learn, the following qualities: flexibility, patience, playfulness, willingness to participate and get silly, compassion, and excellent listening skills. The Nature Buds Educator can have a lifelong impact on the campers that they lead. This position demands major responsibility and commitment, but when you invest in the experience of your campers, this position will be an investment in yourself.

"Working with the youngest campers at BNC is so rewarding because you literally get to watch them grow over a summer. Though the 4- and 5-year-olds have big feelings, they also have big hearts, big imaginations, and even bigger smiles that make the half-day so much fun!" - Previous Nature Buds Educator

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Deliver, enhance, and evaluate lesson plans that correspond to thematic camp programs to youth ages 4 and 5

• Attend mandatory training June 1-5, 2026

• Lead children through Blandford Nature Center’s trails and grounds

• Maintain high standards of safety and well-being of program participants

• Assist in the evaluation and support of middle and high school camp aide volunteers 

• Assist in the maintenance and storage of program equipment, supplies and facilities

• Provide excellent customer service to camp families, reporting camp inquiries and concerns to the Camp Admin team

• Assist with other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Previous experience working with children

• Excellent judgment, reliability, flexibility, independence, energy, and the ability to demonstrate positive role modeling, attitude, and behavior 

• Ability to lead camp participants effectively in the outdoors, in all types of weather and over uneven terrain

• Ability to work and communicate effectively and efficiently with all staff, volunteers, and campers

• Competency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace

• Ability to be certified in Adult and Child CPR/First Aid (provided by Blandford Nature Center during mandatory training)

• Clearance from criminal and required state licensing background checks, according to Blandford Nature Center policy prior to start of employment

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience in camp or outdoor education settings 

• Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and cultures

• Coursework in the field of education, environmental sciences, natural sciences, biology, parks and recreation management or related field

Studies have shown that women, non-binary folks, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are much less likely to apply for a position unless they feel they meet every qualification as described. We are committed to finding the best overall candidate. If you meet all the required qualifications, please consider the breadth of your life experiences when reviewing the list of additional preferred qualifications. 

Physical Responsibilities:

While performing the duties of this job, the staff member is regularly required to sit, stand and bend for extended periods of time. The staff member occasionally must be able to move up to 50 pounds and must also be able to work outdoors in a variety of conditions; including extreme temperatures and maneuver over wet, brushy, muddy, steep trail surfaces and uneven terrain.

Compensation: 

The schedule for the Nature Buds Educator is 25 hours per week, Monday - Friday, generally 8:00 am - 1:00 pm. The position pays $15.00 per hour.

To Apply: 

Please visit blandfordnaturecenter.org/employment-opportunities/ and click on the Job Board to complete your application. Your application should include:

• Letter of interest describing why you are interested in this position

• Resume 

• List of three (3) professional (not personal) references

Interviews will begin as qualified application packages are received. Interviewing will include an initial phone screening followed by an in-person interview for those applicants selected. The interview process may take several weeks. 

Blandford Nature Center’s Mission: 

To engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature.

Blandford Nature Center’s Vision:

A thriving, diverse community that supports a healthy, natural world.

Blandford Nature Center’s Values: 

• Inclusion: Intentionally welcoming and embracing everyone.

• Stewardship: Responsibly using and caring for all our resources.

• Integrity: Demonstrating honesty, authenticity, and transparency within our organization and community.

• Experiential: Providing direct opportunities to enjoy, explore, and learn in nature.

• Partnership: Connecting and collaborating to effectively serve our community.

• Innovation: Using creativity and curiosity to continuously improve.

The policy of the Blandford Nature Center is to ensure that diversity, inclusiveness, and respect are integral parts of our day-to-day management and work. Blandford staff, board and volunteers commit to ensure equal access to Blandford and all of its educational opportunities by all people. 

In essence, diversity includes all the characteristics, experiences, and cultural influences that make each of us unique individuals. All individuals are welcome at Blandford Nature Center, and all individuals, regardless of race, color, age, national origin, sex (including transgender status, gender identity, and pregnancy), religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, status as a parent, will be treated with respect and dignity. By fostering an atmosphere of inclusion and respect, we can continue to value and appreciate the strengths afforded by differences in the styles, ideas, and organizational contributions of each person. We all share the responsibility to ensure diversity and inclusion throughout Blandford, and seek to recruit, engage, and retain a leadership composed of volunteers and staff that equitably and fairly represent our constituency.