About the Employer The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) serves some of Orange County's most vulnerable student populations and provides support and mandated fiscal oversight to 28 school districts serving more than 600 schools and approximately 475,000 students. In addition to providing direct instruction to students through its own alternative and special education programs, OCDE administers an array of programs and services that are critical to the operations of local school districts and community colleges, facilitating professional development, legal guidance, payroll, career and technical education support, high-speed internet access, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval, resources for families, and student enrichment. OCDE's vision is that "Orange County students will lead the nation in college and career readiness and success." Department staff are working to achieve this goal in collaboration with educators at all levels of student development, from early childhood through higher education, and in partnership with families, businesses and community organizations. Job Summary Job Summary OCDE's Inside the Outdoors (ITO) is a unique and hands-on environmental education program serving local Southern California students and families. As a team, our goal is to collectively empower the next generation of environmentally-literate citizens through our Field Trips, Traveling Scientist, and Community programs. Our programs support current California academic standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards and California's Environmental Principles & Concepts, and allow students to interact with these concepts in a real world setting. Inside the Outdoors has been a leader in hands-on science and social science programs since 1974. Inside the Outdoors field trip programs take place in parks and open spaces throughout Orange County. During our programs, Pre-K through 12th grade students step into the shoes of ecologists, geologists, and other scientists as they explore local ecosystems and discover local cultural history. Selected candidates will: • Deliver environmental education and cultural history field trip programs to pre-K through 12th grade students from schools across Orange County. • Enforce safety rules for students, classroom teachers, and chaperones. • Hike on trails for up to one mile and traverse stairs and uneven terrain while carrying equipment. • Work as a team with other ITO staff to set up and take down programs. • Handle a variety of animals, including rats and snakes. • Promote Inside the Outdoors and deliver programming during public community programs and partner events. View Job Description Requirements / Qualifications Preferred Qualifications: • Three years of related education, work experience, volunteer experience, and/or training is required. • Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university with major course work in biology, ecology, earth systems science, education, or a related field is strongly preferred. • Experience working with school-age children, especially in an organized outdoor environment, is highly preferred. • Experience working and collaborating with diverse community members is strongly desired. • Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under OCDE's vehicle insurance policy. Current CPR and First Aid Certificates (paid for by OCDE) are required within first two months of employment. The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is a public education organization based on fundamental human values of honesty, commitment, responsibility, respect, integrity and professional ethics. Our priority is service to students, districts, and the community who look to us for support and educational leadership. We hold each other and ourselves accountable for the highest level of service, performance, efficiency, resources management, and professionalism. As a leader in hands-on science and social science programs, our Inside the Outdoors School and Field Programs have three major goals: • Encourage students' awareness and appreciation of the environment. • Broaden the students' knowledge of science concepts. • Foster students' commitment to the protection of the natural environment. In order for your application to be considered, your online application must be complete, including responses to the supplemental questions on the application. For your reference in preparing to complete the online application, the application's supplemental questions requiring composition and thought are included below. Please note that your response to the supplemental question should be thoughtful and thorough, within the limit of 5,000 characters or less. 1. Please list any equipment you can operate that may be involved in the position for which you are applying. 2. Please describe any work or volunteer experience in an outdoor education program, camp, or youth group within the past five years. Please include name(s) and location of program(s). 3. Please describe your personal ideas about how people learn best. If you have had experience working with school-aged youth, describe your teaching style. 4. Please comment further on your employment history or to describe in greater detail any aspects of your experience. Comments and Other Information THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OCDE HEALTH AND DENTAL BENEFITS Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application. We are currently recruiting for energetic professionals to serve as Field Naturalists for the OCDE Inside the Outdoors (ITO) School and Field Programs. Our ITO School and Field Programs are a unique and hands-on science, social science, and environmental education program that provide science field trips for kindergarten through seventh grade students. The students spend the day at one of the various field sites, (Upper Newport Bay, Crystal Cove State Park, Modjeska Canyon Nature Preserve, George Key Ranch, Shipley Nature Center, Helena Modjeska House, Mt. San Antonio College, Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Rancho Soñado, and Irvine Regional Park). Students will study tidepools, chaparrals, riparian (stream), and estuary ecosystems. Information on Native American lifestyles and geology are also integrated into the program. Our Field Naturalists begin work at 8:00 a.m. and range from 4 to 8 hours per day. Limited weekend and summer work may be available. For more information, please visit www.insidetheoutdoors.org. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving your application. For more information about this position, go to the pdf file here https://edjoinprodstoragewest.blob.core.windows.net/jobdescriptions/533/Field Nat 23.24-20230801111312.pdf