Community Science Educator

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE AT TREMONT

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

POSITION TITLE:  Community Science Educator  

Reports to:  Manager of Science Literacy and Research

Job Status:  Endowed Position (George Fry Chair)

Classification:  Seasonal Full Time 

Compensation and Benefits:  Salary $425/week + meals and lodging.  On-site housing provided with monthly utilities paid by the Institute. 

Paid professional development including First Aid, Red Cross Lifeguard Certification

Position duration: May 26th – July 18th 2025

Our Values and Culture

We create experiential education programs focused on the natural world, knowing such learning and research opportunities are uniquely suited to bring about life changing outcomes in individual passion for learning, sense of worth, and behavior.

We believe a lost connection with the natural world can be repaired beginning with experiences that take place in the original classroom—the outdoors. We believe such experiences produce cascading results that enrich individual lives, strengthen communities, and empower community members.

We celebrate the distinctive setting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) provides as a living laboratory to explore the biodiversity that forms the building blocks of healthy ecosystems, examine past and present human impacts on the land, and navigate questions about how to best support the land that supports us.

We carry out our mission with both urgency and joy, recognizing that the work of connecting people and nature could not be timelier. 

Our Ideal Applicant

We are seeking passionate science educators. People who thrive in this role have experienced awe and wonder through outdoor exploration, and want to facilitate these experiences for others. They know that by looking at the world through a scientific and ecological lens, we begin to understand the connectedness of all things and our own role within these systems. Above all, Tremont educators want to take care of children, and know that the dynamic, rich experiences of exploring the outdoors with wonder and curiosity fundamentally take care of children. 

Community Science Educators play a crucial role in cultivating a science identity among campers and colleagues. They understand that one’s connection to the natural world is dependent on aspects of identity and demographics; some communities and backgrounds are excluded or disenfranchised from connections with nature. They work to demystify the study and exploration of nature by creating accessible pathways into science that are fun, engaging, and welcoming. 

Community Science Educators work effectively with varied audiences. Throughout the summer, the Community Science Educator will meet and work with a variety of  campers, colleagues, community members, non-profit park partners, and National Park personnel to bridge the gap between science and the public. They will proactively identify and resolve needs of the community and campers, and articulate their own needs clearly to the supervisor.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY  

The following duties are normal for this position and are noted in priority order.  The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this position.  

Summer Camp Programs

Lead residential summer programs that offer campers opportunities to focus intensely on the study of nature. Develop and implement activities for campers (age 9-17) that focus on hands-on nature investigations and research. Lead games, campfires, and discussions with campers to facilitate their safe, happy engagement with each other and nature. 

Citizen/Community Science engagement with the public

Assist with ecological monitoring projects in the field. Observation, data collection, and sample collection for a variety of organisms. Projects are subject to change but may include studies of birds, salamanders, trees, and soil respiration. As needed, help with other study subjects and assist visiting researchers or park resource managers. Act as an educator for the public during Bird Banding events.

Tremont Community

Work with other members of full time and seasonal staff to effectively cover the needs of all camps, including set up, cleaning, and maintenance of program spaces. 

Leadership and Growth

Demonstrate curiosity by continually exploring areas of interest. Act as the point person for the Community Science Volunteers in the absence of the Manager of Science Literacy and Research.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Operate a motor vehicle to transport campers or to conduct other work activities.
• Write at least one article for Tremont’s blog and social media using self collected data on a subject of your choice OR using data from one of our decades long citizen science projects.
• Some overnight supervision of campers
• Participate and facilitate discussions on education, science, and related fields with science tea

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Education:

• Experience and interest in scientific research, science communication, and natural history. Experience with or desire to learn about  citizen/community science.
• Experience working with kids in a camp or educational setting. Residential program experience preferred.
• Performance Aptitudes: Enthusiasm for both science and education and a desire to involve young people in science in a residential setting. Committed, punctual, conscientious data collector. Helpful attitude, excellent people skills, flexibility, displays leadership qualities. Requires the ability to communicate, support, and cooperate with others to achieve program goals.
• Technical Expertise: Ability or willingness to learn to enter data, conduct analysis, and summarize field data. Applicants will be expected to take Basic First Aid and CPR upon arrival, if they do not have current certification.
• Experience and Education: Two years or more of college education or relevant work experience required; four years preferred.
• Vehicle Utilization: Requires possession and maintenance of a valid driver’s license.
• Physical Ability: This position requires working during uncomfortable weather, including hot, humid days and rain. Hiking in the backcountry is expected, including hikes over 2 miles in length. Ability to traverse steep, rocky, slippery terrain in adverse weather conditions. Every 10 days, the employee will be required to help set up and help run our Bird Banding station beginning before sunrise. 

Housing Requirements:

Position requires employees to reside on-premises of the Institute in a shared dormitory, with residence and utilities provided by the Institute. 

The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Association will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.