Climate Education Fellow

About This Position

Mass Audubon is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just organization and to providing greater access to nature for everyone. Part of this work requires us to address the historic inequities within the environmental and conservation fields, which is why we launched the Environmental Fellowship Program for Early Careers (EFP). The EFP is a unique program designed to increase pathways into environmental professions for people whose identities have been historically underrepresented. Each 14-month fellowship is hosted within one of four departments/teams: Land jobshiringnearme.org, jobshiringnearme.org Science, Nature in the City, or Environmental Education. Our fellows will tackle some of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time while working with a passionate and dedicated team of professionals. In addition to professional experience, the fellows are given opportunities for networking, mentoring, and skill development within a supportive cohort model. 

Mass Audubon’s Action Agenda is a five-year plan to address the rapid loss of wildlife habitat, inequitable access to nature, and the threat of climate change. Environmental Education and Community Engagement are key strategies in achieving goals focused on increasing equitable and inclusive access to nature across Massachusetts. The Climate Education Fellow will be part of the Education and Engagement Team, a hybrid role based out of one of Mass Audubon sanctuaries and will have the opportunity to play a key role in educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Working with educators throughout the state, they will support our programs focused on youth climate organizing and programming with high school age students, both within school curricula and in out-of-school settings. The goal of these programs is to increase the capacity of high school age youth to lead action towards a healthy, just and resilient society in the age of climate change. Within this area of work, our programs include the Youth Climate Leadership Program, the Climate Democracy Project, and the Climate Resilient Schools Coalition. We will work with the Fellow to find the right fit between his/her/their skill set and interests and the specific program(s) they will support. Depending on that choice, work might include coaching for young people, facilitation of regular groups meetings, curriculum development, help organizing youth summits or showcases of action projects, place-based support for student action, or other work located at the nexus between civic and science education and focused on climate justice.

Responsibilities
Primary duties and responsibilities will be divided between your work with the Education and Engagement team, outlined below (80%) and your own professional development, cohort connections, mentoring, and professional projects or research (20%). Specific responsibilities will include: 

• Provide organizational support for the Climate Democracy Project (CDP), Youth Climate Leadership Program, or Climate Resilient Schools Coalition. Work will include: coordinating communications among team members; acting as a resource for students and teachers engaged in the programs; helping co-create the strategy and direction for the program; helping with climate summits, lobby day and other events; and/or coaching groups of students.
• Support connections between these three programs: the Youth Climate Leadership Program (YCLP) – a club-based program for teens focused on climate action projects; the Climate Democracy Project – a year-long in-school program in which our educators partner with students, teachers, and community members to engage in civic action around climate justice; and the Climate Resilient Schools Coalition – a grassroots organizing coalition focused on strengthening resilience policy in school districts
• Support staff in developing written materials such as newsletters, bulletins and updates, resources for teachers, unit guides, etc.
• Assist with creation and implementation of K-12 and out of school time programs related to climate change, utilizing best practices in culturally responsive environmental education
• Work with a cross disciplinary team of educators, managers and other wildlife sanctuary staff to prepare and conduct activities for community engagement and educational initiatives, with an emphasis on connecting with marginalized communities
• Attend and actively participate in statewide and regional staff meetings, professional learning communities, and professional development trainings related to your area of focus
• Maintain the safety of all participants and staff as a priority and maintain strong accountability to Mass Audubon’s risk management policies, child-environment guidelines, and all pertinent licensing regulations and accreditation standards
• Effectively communicate and represent Mass Audubon’s mission, vision, and programs to students, teachers, visitors, members, and community members

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Must Haves

• Must obtain a Bachelor’s degree by the start of the fellowship. Degrees or fields of study especially suitable for this work include: Biology, Education, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Ecology, Earth Science, or related field
• Strongly values the critical role that community engagement and environmental education programs play in helping to build healthy, vibrant and equitable communities
• Experience as a youth climate leader and/or working with youth civic action programs.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills
• Familiarity with and passion for culturally responsive teaching and/or other equity-based pedagogy
• Familiarity with climate justice education and/or communication best practices
• A growth mindset, with the ability to be self-reflective and an eagerness to improve one’s own skills.
• Strong organizational skills, including prioritizing and follow through with tasks, listening to input from team members and community members, synthesizing information from a wide array of sources, problem solving on a day to day and long-term basis, and the ability to move a project forward with input from others
• Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook)

Nice to Haves

• Knowledge of local natural history, conservation, and climate-related issues
• Knowledge of local (Massachusetts or New England-based) social justice organizations and change-makers
• Experience designing and delivering climate change and climate justice education programming or equivalent
• Experience leading middle and/or high school educational experiences
• Valid driver’s license, and willingness to travel throughout the state
• First Aid and CPR (child and adult) certification (training provided upon hire, if needed)