Environmental Educator at The Ridges Sanctuary

position Title: Environmental Educator (AmeriCorps Position description PDF)

Position Service Site: The Ridges Sanctuary (Baileys Harbor, WI)

Service Time: January 12 – August 22, 2026 (1,200 hours total, 32 weeks, 40 hours/week)

Benefits: Living stipend total for the whole term = $16,000 ($500 per week). An AmeriCorps education Award of approximately $5,176 will be awarded upon successful completion of service.

Housing that is within walking distance of the service site is provided for $50/wk.

OVERVIEW: The Ridges Sanctuary’s mission is to promote positive environmental behaviors through impactful educational experiences, land protection and management, and ecological research. The Ridges was established in 1937 after Albert Fuller, then Curator of Botany at the Milwaukee Public Museum, began spending a significant amount of time surveying the landscape. Fuller spearheaded a grassroots movement to protect this incredibly diverse property and establish Wisconsin’s first land trust. The Ridges now protects over 1,700 acres comprising fifteen discrete plant communities, 475 inventoried vascular plants, a Boreal Forest glacial relict and twenty-nine of Wisconsin’s forty-nine native orchids. The Ridges has also established popular early childhood education programs, a nationally recognized Orchid Restoration Project, and welcomes over 35,000 visitors to our Nature Center each year.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION: The Ridges Sanctuary seeks a motivated individual to join our team of educators. The primary responsibilities will be developing and leading educational programs during the school year and summer, leading guided hikes for adults and families, and assisting visitors at the Nature Center and along the trail. Other duties include weekly immersion into the organization’s operations, including engaging with ecological research and other land management activities, and developing and completing an individualized project in an area of interest.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Education Programs

• Support the implementation of year-round youth education programs and lead associated lessons.
• Develop camp curriculum and teach Backpack Adventure Camps for children ages 4 to 11.
• Lead nature hikes, teaching visitors about The Ridges Sanctuary.
• Assist with group tours as needed.
• Participate in special events.
• Develop a report, program, or educational materials for staff or visitors based on an individual area of study.
• Assist in developing brochures, programs, activities, and related materials to enhance educational experiences.

Visitor Engagement

• Interact with visitors daily and answer questions about The Ridges, the Nature Center, and Door County.
• Manage daily operations for visitors and members, including program registration and customer service.
• Help answer incoming phone calls and assist callers with their questions and concerns.

Research/Preservation

• On rare occasions, the Environmental Educator may choose to assist land management and research staff in various projects throughout the summer, such as orchid monitoring, plant surveys, and trail maintenance.

HOUSING:

• Members should be prepared to live in communal housing with other program/organization/agency members.
• Members should expect to have roommates and must inform staff of any housing preferences or required accommodations. Pets are not allowed.
• Occupants are assigned individual rooms in units with a shared living room, kitchen (with some pots, pans, plates, and utensils), and one or more bathrooms.
• An off-site laundry facility and a grocery store are available within a 5-minute drive of the provided housing.
• Occupants will be required to sign a lease for a rate of $50/week, which will outline any other stipulations.
• The housing area is located about 25 miles from Sturgeon Bay, WI, which offers several services and amenities.

TRAININGS OFFERED:

• Knowledge of local natural and cultural history
• Early Childhood Education Training
• CPR certification and Shaken Baby Syndrome training
• Ongoing learning opportunities will be offered throughout the summer to expand the service member’s knowledge in education, research, outreach, land preservation, and more.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 18 years of age
• A citizen of the United States, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States
• experience in developing and delivering environmental education and/or camp programs is preferred
• Lifeguard Certification and experience is preferred
• Energetic and enthusiastic personality to help motivate children and to collaborate with co-workers and visitors
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to withstand the physical demands of work, which involves some lifting, carrying, bending and hiking across uneven terrain in potentially inclement weather conditions and in the presence of biting insects
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions
• Upon hire, a criminal background check will be conducted. Service with WisCorps will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed

WisCorps provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us at 608-782-2494, by email at staff@wiscorps.org or dial Wisconsin Relay 711.