Hudson Valley Corps - Educator

Position Summary 

Educator

Grafton Lakes State Park (GLSP), along with its sister sites Cherry Plain State Park and Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, serves around 500,000 visitors a year. Our audience comes from surrounding rural communities as well as the Capital Region urban/suburban populations in and around Troy, Albany, and Schenectady, New York. Visitors range in age from preschoolers to retirees.

The park is located on the Rensselaer Plateau, which contains the fifth largest forest in New York State and is home to a variety of wildlife, including porcupine, turkey, fishers, bear, and deer. We strive to connect all our visitors, young and old, with the natural world.

Exhibits and displays at GLSP include live reptiles, a live barred owl, a bird observation area, and seasonal activities. GLSP provides a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including a weeklong service project for high schoolers in the summer. This program is held in partnership with the Forest Conservation Corps (FCC) and Hudson Taconic Lands (HTL). The Educator will assist the education team at GLSP with educational programming in all stages including lesson plan development, preparation, and instruction. They will also assist with citizen science initiatives, like NestWatch, to educate about and promote conservation in the park.

The Educator’s duties include, but are not limited to: educational programming, both for the general public, and school groups; event planning; live animal care; invasive species monitoring and control; citizen science initiatives. Grafton Lakes State Park provides educational and interpretive programming for a diverse population, including local rural communities and nearby urban communities in New York’s capital district. School programs provide valuable experiential learning for students who may have little experience interacting with the natural environment. Public programs provide educational and recreational opportunities to help connect people with their environment and foster stewardship and conservation values.

Location 

Grafton, NY

Schedule 

March 2, 2026 - October 16, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

The Educator will support the Park’s mission to connect visitors, children, and families with the environment through educational programs, events, and fostering stewardship and conservation values. The Educator will present programs for school groups and public programs for all ages and abilities. As a staff person at the Park, the member will be friendly and approachable, greeting and interacting with visitors, answering questions, and providing information. The member will be trained to perform stewardship and conservation projects, including nest box monitoring, trail camera wildlife surveys, invasive species ID and removal, and more. Member will support and assist with our annual Bark n Brew event, Trout Day, Trick or Treat Trail, and I Love My Park Day. Projects involve working both independently and on a team and may involve recruiting and supervising volunteers. Members will assist with live animal care from feeding, cleaning, and designing upgraded enclosures.

Goals in mind for the candidate:

Goal 1: Present educational programs to school groups and the public; interact with visitors to the park, offering informational interpretation, answering questions and providing information on a wide range of topics.

Goal 2: Accomplish stewardship projects including: citizen science research, trail camera monitoring, monitoring of invasive species, and invasive species removal.

Goal 3: Expand skills and gain experience in program development and presentation.

Marginal Duties:

Members are encouraged to pursue the development of programs and projects in their area of interest.

Required Qualifications 

• Coursework, experience, and baseline knowledge of natural sciences.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently or with a partner.
• A genuine desire to work with children, and some prior experience.
• Passion and commitment for environmental conservation.
• Interest in teaching and learning about the natural world.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Artistic skills in graphic design or other visual arts are a plus.
• Computer and technology skills are a plus.
• Training in Educational program development and presentation will be provided.
• Training in invasive plant ID will be provided.
• Training in local flora and fauna ID will be provided.

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

• Housing Provided

Compensation  

• Amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award being offered for successful completion of the member’s term of service: $5,176.50
• Living Allowance member will receive: $440/week 

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

• Required

Additional Benefits 

• AmeriCorps and SCA Training
• SCA Risk Management
• Sexual Harassment/Drug Abuse in the Workplace
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• Wilderness First Aid & CPR
• Project WILD/Aquatic Curriculum
• Environmental Leadership Institute
• New York State Outdoor Educator Association Conferences/Events
• Hudson River Ecology
• Leave No Trace Level I Certification
• Professional Development & Job Readiness
• AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

Salary : $440