Education Program Associate

About Accokeek Foundation

For 65 years, Accokeek Foundation has cultivated a passion for the natural and cultural heritage of Piscataway Park and commitment to stewardship and sustainability. In partnership with the National Park Service and affiliated communities, the Foundation stewards 200 acres of Piscataway Park while honoring the Indigenous people and values that shaped and continue to shape this land. Park visitors will experience the interconnectedness of all life as they come to know the historical and cultural significance and regenerative potential of the indigenous landscape that is Piscataway Park. The park is open daily to visitors of all ages who enjoy a quiet landscape for recreation and reflection. Annually, thousands of school youth visit for land-based education, learning about environmental stewardship through a historical lens.

Position Overview

Educators serve as an informed and friendly ambassador for Accokeek Foundation, providing engaging interpretive and educational experiences to school groups and the general public. Educators will lead programming on the cultural, historical, and environmental significance of Piscataway Park and its impact on the local community. In this role, educators are responsible for delivering peak in-person and virtual educational experiences that challenge and expand participants’ perspectives and personal experiences with history, culture, and the natural world. The position location is at Piscataway Park in Accokeek, Maryland. This is a full-time (40 hrs. per week), nonexempt position and will require work on evenings, weekends, and some holidays.

This position reports to the Education and Interpretation Director and serves as a part of the member of the Education and Interpretation team.

Responsibilities

• Greets, welcomes, and engages daily visitors to facilitate peak park visitor experience.
• Leads participants through cultural, historical and environmental educational experiences with K-12 schools and public programming, group tours, and special events.
• Facilitates interactions with visitors of all ages at events and public programs.
• Supports implementation of MWEEs by providing in class visits to schools, leading outdoor field experiences and supporting student action projects
• Promotes and supports Accokeek Foundation values and mission through visitor engagement and interaction.
• Prepares for and takes down educational programming including light maintenance and inventory management of educational materials and facilities.
• Participates in routine internal training, professional development, all staff meetings and stakeholder events.
• Supports teacher professional development workshops.
• Supports agriculture and natural resource stewardship volunteer program with occasional feeding and care of livestock, maintenance of garden, interpretive crops, trails, and natural areas with direction from the volunteer supervisor.
• Supports visitor services by serving as a park ambassador during outreach events.
• Supports virtual content creation, digital media and library organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Able to engage effectively with culturally diverse audiences, and audiences of varying ages.
• Associate degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent communication and time management skills.
• Experience working with youth in outdoor settings.
• Reliable transportation and ability to commute to schools regionally.
• Ability to work on evenings, weekends, and some holidays.
• Organized, adaptable, a problem-solver, and personable.
• Comfortable being outdoors in all weather.
• Able to be fingerprinted and pass a background check.
• Must speak English proficiently.

Preferred:

• Studies/experience in living history, museum education, environmental education or other topics related to programs.
• Certification in Environmental Education, MWEE 101 & 102, OR Certified Interpretive Guide.
• Experience leading Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences.
• Classroom or group management skills indoor and outdoor.
• Experience with and ability to use technology and online programs including Office 365, Google Drive, Excel, Canva, and Altru preferred.
• Proficient in Spanish, American Sign Language, and/or other additional languages.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a non-exempt position with starting pay of $18/hour, 40 hours per week, with evening and weekend availability as needed to meet the demands of the position. Candidates must live in the DMV area and be available to work on-site. Accokeek Foundation provides eligible employees working a minimum of 20 hours per week a comprehensive benefits package including flexible paid time off, cost share benefit, paying 50% of health insurance premiums, retirement matching, and paid disability and life insurance.

To apply: Send a resume and cover letter describing how your experience, skills, and interests make you uniquely qualified for this position by email with the subject line “Education Program Associate” to info@accokeek.org.

Join us in our mission to inspire people to care for the land and create a more sustainable future for all.

The Accokeek Foundation provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard of race, color, age, sex, national origin, religion, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.