What are the responsibilities and job description for the (Temporary)Project EXPLORE Specialist position at northcarolina?
Inspire Curiosity, Spark Discovery, and Take Learning Outside the Classroom! Are you passionate about environmental education and love the idea of turning schoolyards into living classrooms? Join The North Carolina Arboretum’s Youth Education team as a Project EXPLORE Specialist and help ignite a love for science and nature in students across western North Carolina. Through Project EXPLORE, you’ll bring hands-on, outdoor learning experiences to life—empowering teachers and students to engage deeply with the natural world right outside their doors.
This position is considered temporary employment under State of North Carolina rules. The Specialist will generally work up to 40 hours each week, from approximately 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, with up to two Saturday's a month occasionally. The pay is $18 per hour.
The Project EXPLORE Specialist implements environmental education programs for The North Carolina Arboretum's Youth Education Department with a primary focus on delivering Project EXPLORE. This position will report to the Project EXPLORE Coordinator and plays a key role in communication with teachers, supporting program logistics, and providing high-quality outdoor education.
Project EXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is a school-based initiative that supports teachers in using outdoor spaces at their school as dynamic learning spaces to engage preK-12th grade students in curriculum based learning activities. This position involves traveling to school sties across western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary to lead engaging, hands-on, and project based community science programs in the schoolyard with teachers and their students. Learn more here: https://www.ncprojectexplore.org/
Typical Tasks:
Outreach Education Planning and Delivery
- Planning and leading outdoor, curriculum-aligned science programs on school campuses.
- Supporting students and teachers in schoolyard-based inquiry, nature exploration, curriculum support and community science projects.
- Coordinate directly with participating teachers via email and the Project EXPLORE online platform.
- Gather and share feedback from participants to support program evaluation, impact, reports and improvement.
- Help maintain program materials and assist with administrative logistics as needed.
- Discover Camps: Plan and lead the Arboretum's summer camp programming for grades Pre-K through 8 focused on outdoor education.
- Events: support and lead activities at Arboretum events, community events, and other outreach opportunities.
- Customer Service at the Education Center Desk: Serve periodically as a front-line customer service representative at the Education Center Information Desk, including occasional on-call weekend shifts.
- Other Job Tasks: Assist other team members and departments in their responsibilities when help is needed.
Support the other outreach programs (Project PEACE and ecoEXPLORE) with programming when time allows.
Animal Care
- Assist with the daily care, cleaning, and feeding of the Youth Education's captive animal collection.
Physical Requirements:
This position requires long hours of leading education programs outdoors in all seasons and a variety of weather conditions, including high temperatures, rain, snow and wind. The candidate must be comfortable walking on uneven terrains, often carrying a backpack with program equipment weighing up to 50 pounds and standing for extended periods of time while actively engaging youth in hands-on learning. The working environment often involves high levels of noise and crowded areas. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, and occasionally stoop, kneel, or crouch. The candidate must be willing and able to travel long distances to schools across western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary to deliver programming mileage reimbursement and a state vehicle is available.
Salary : $18