Outdoor Education Instructor

NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus provides resident outdoor education programs to 6000+ elementary and middle-school students each year. Taft's outdoor education program teaches an appreciation, understanding, and awareness of the natural community by studying and interacting with the natural world. Underlying a visit to Taft is the belief that learning is not only restricted to the classroom, but is also accomplished in the world around us. Through the combination of related, multidisciplinary activities and an interaction with the natural world, we hope that students will not only acquire new knowledge, but will also come to appreciate this philosophy.

Job Overview

The Lorado Taft Field Campus is Northern Illinois University’s outdoor education and conference center and is located in Oregon, Illinois.  Taft Campus’ outdoor education program is generally multidisciplinary, place-based, and experiential, and planned in close partnership with the visiting schools with the goal of providing excellent programming and customer service to the visiting students and staff. Under the direct supervision of the Outdoor Education Extension Faculty Supervisor, the Outdoor Education Instructor is responsible for the instruction of resident outdoor education experiences for elementary and middle school students.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and teach classes in the outdoor environment to students in the 4^th to 8^th
• Develop curricula and resources for the program.
• Assist in the maintenance and upkeep of campus teaching, habitat, and resource storage areas.
• Participate in staff training prior to teaching and throughout the school year.
• Assist in the coordination of the residential outdoor education program.
• Complete projects assigned by the Coordinator or Specialists.

Special Benefits

EEO Statement and Visa Policy

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Minimum Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in education, science, natural resources, recreation, history, or related field
• Six months experience as an educator, naturalist, or facilitator of non-formal education programming.
• Two months experience teaching, facilitating, or participating in outdoor education or recreation activities.
• Ability to live in provided campus housing.
• Ability to manage a security sensitive position, having passed a pre-employment background investigation including a criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an educator, program staff, naturalist or related position at a residential outdoor education center, nature center, or similar facility preferred.
• Previous experience in preparing lesson plans, outlines, or guides in preparation to teach or facilitate activities.
• Previous experience leading or facilitating groups in team building activities.
• Ability to work effectively with co-workers and supervisors to achieve the goals of the program.
• Ability to convey information about environmental topics without bias and with the goal of encouraging lifelong learning.
• Ability to effectively engage in behavior management in order to maintain students’ interest and participation in outdoor classes and activities.
• Ability to manage work time effectively and with little supervision to ensure preparedness and project completion.
• Flexibility and the ability to deal with the unexpected and quickly changing nature of outdoor activities and children.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for the outdoors and outdoor education, even when conditions are challenging.
• Demonstrated professionalism as related to the field.
• Demonstrated competence in verbal communication, particularly the ability to present information, ideas, directions, etc. in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrated initiative to go above and beyond minimum assigned duties

Required Applicant Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
4. List of three references