Naturalist Teacher (F/T) 

Job Posting: Naturalist Teacher (F/T) 

***This position is for people who identify as Indigenous. All candidates must be registered with Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training and working with an Employment Counsellor. If you haven’t registered with Miziwe Biik yet, you can still apply to this position. *** 

About us:  

The High Park Nature Centre is a charitable organization that was established in 1999. Our mission is to promote awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor nature education and park stewardship activities. Nature Centre programs inspire a sense of wonder, knowledge and respect for High Park’s natural systems; restore human connections to local plants and animals; and engage visitors in ecological restoration activities to ensure a sustainable future for High Park for generations to come. 

The High Park Nature Centre serves a diverse audience of over 14,000 people annually from across the Greater Toronto Area. Through the Nature Centre’s programs, over 100,000 participants of all ages have been able to “give back” to High Park through park stewardship activities like planting native grasses, wildflowers and sedges or removing invasive plant species. 

Job Summary: 

As a Naturalist Teacher, the successful candidate will be responsible for delivering high quality nature education programs to children, youth and families. They will have the opportunity to teach across all of our programming; early years and school aged nature clubs, school field trips, camps (including summer camp), special events, adult team building programs and family nature walks. They will collaborate with other nature interpreters to create and amend programming.   They will have the opportunity to work with the Indigenous Programs Coordinator to deliver and promote Indigenous led programming which could include assisting to develop new events that highlight Indigenous connections to the land in High Park; overseeing OURSpace plantings of native plant species; and if candidate has the knowledge and desire, working with coordinators to revise existing program outlines to ensure Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are presented accurately and respectfully. For more details, please see full job description below. 

Benefits:  

The Naturalist Teacher will gain professional teaching experience and have an opportunity to co-teach with many different staff and work with a variety of ages. They will get to work outdoors and experience High Park through the seasons.  They will have an opportunity to study, explore and research the unique ecology in High Park as well as participate in hands-on stewardship work.  

Qualifications: 

• Passionate about the environment and environmental education  
• Experience working with children in educational programs, preferably outdoors; 

• Demonstrated ability to work with children, providing a positive learning experience for participants of all ages; 
• Experience in day camp or overnight camp an asset;  
• Experience with positive behavioural management and conflict resolution; 
• Experience dealing with the public; 
• Demonstrated ability for effective teamwork as well as independent work;  

• Experience developing educational resources; 
• Knowledge of Toronto’s ecology and natural history; 
• Ability for effective teamwork as well as independent work; 
• Creativity and enthusiasm with excellent problem-solving skills; 
• Communication skills (oral and written); 

• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in all conditions; 
• Current CPR and First Aid certificates or willingness to acquire; and 
• Current Vulnerable Sector Check or willingness to acquire. 

Job Type: 

Full time (35 hours / week) contract ending March 31, 2023 

Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position for 35 hours per week. Regular weekend and evening work is required. 

Rate of Pay: 

$18.00 / hour 

Apply here:

https://highparknaturecentre.com/indigenous-naturalist-teacher/

Naturalist Teacher Job Description 

Program Delivery 

• Deliver outdoor environmental education programs to children, youth and adults, including nature camps and clubs; school programs; guides & scouts programs; and other programs as required;  
• Work closely with volunteers to engage them in our programs and mentor new volunteers seasonally;  
• Develop and adapt current program plans; 
• Develop seasonal naturalist knowledge and skills to aid in program delivery;  
• Ensure health and safety protocols are followed in programs.  

Program Coordination, Planning and Administration  

Work with the Indigenous Programs Coordinator to:  

• Coordinate Indigenous Family Nature Walks and assist in developing new events that highlight Indigenous connections to the land; 
• Continue to work with partnering organizations and build relations with Indigenous communities in Toronto; 

• Assist in revising program outlines to ensure Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are presented accurately and respectfully if candidate has the knowledge and desire; 
• Oversee OURSpace savannah demonstration area and outdoor classroom including the plantings of native plant species; 
• Develop and share knowledge of native plants in OURSpace; 
• Scope new opportunities/partnerships and propose new programs; 

Human Resources  

• Provide training and mentorship to part-time staff, volunteers, interns and co-op students. 

On-Going  

• Organize, repair, maintain and develop program supplies, props and displays; 

• Ensure daily building maintenance; 
• Ensure animal care; 
• Purchase program and other materials; 
• Other duties as required.