Nature Guide Info Session

Sign up here for the Info Session taking place Thursday, Jan. 8th,

10 AM - 2 PM (EDT): https://dash.pointapp.org/events/472473

This event is an info session to learn more about becoming a Nature Guide.

Nature Guides assist Teatown education staff by instructing students on field trips to Teatown. Nature Guides support Teatown’s education mission: to create lifelong environmental stewards by teaching programs that inspire, educate, and engage our students and community. Fondness for engaging today’s youth (any/ all ages) is inherent to this position.

What will volunteers do?

Nature Guide Overview

POSITION REQUIREMENTS • Instruct small groups of students (10-15) for 2 hours a week. September – June. • Learn background information on a variety of natural history, ecology, stewardship and conservation subjects. • Lead small groups through learning stations indoors and outdoors • Willingness to get down and dirty at times • Clear background check; Guide pays for background check ($25). Accommodations can be made on a case-by-case basis.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES • Assisting Teatown education staff • Teaching students for the duration of a given program • Learn materials: lesson plans and background information • Ask questions and communicate well with staff, students, and other volunteers • Reliable availability of 2 hours/week • Increase the number of programs observed and learned each season • Contribute your background knowledge to staff and other volunteers

SCHEDULE • Average 2 hours per week on Monday through Fridays, from September to June. • Attend monthly meeting; typically ~2hrs on the 3rd Thursday • Allow for flexibility and communicate with supervisor

TRAINING • Observation of each new program 2-3x; communicate about comfort level with material before teaching solo • Attend monthly meetings to understand upcoming schedule and review programs • Personal study time • Ask questions • Review teaching techniques

EVALUATION STANDARDS After training, guide proceeds at his/her own pace. Nature Guide receives feedback from a staff educators