Environmental Education Instructor

The Chewonki Foundation is seeking a passionate Environmental Education Instructor with excellent leadership skills to join the Chewonki Team! The Environmental Education Instructor position is a 3-season position spanning the beginning of April through the end of October, with the opportunity to work for Camp during the Summer season.

Location:

Wiscasset, Maine (On Campus/Hybrid)

Schedule/Approximate 2026 Dates:
April 2026 - May 2026;
August, 2026 - October, 2026

June, 2026 - August, 2026:
Camp Chewonki (Summer)

Refer to position descriptions on Camp Chewonki’s website for a more full picture of what the summer will entail.

Potential positions:
Trip Leader and Adventure Staff, Summer Farm Worker/Educator, Counselor, Camp Leadership positions.

Reports to:

Director of the Center for Environmental Education

"Chewonki inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives."

The Environmental Education Instructor (EEI) position is a 3-season position spanning the beginning of April through the end of October. During the spring and fall, EEIs work within the Center for Environmental Education department. EEI’s lead overnight programs for school groups on cabin trips, base camping trips, saltwater canoe trips, on-campus day programs, and off-site natural history presentations to facilitate positive learning experiences in nature.

Curriculum includes teaching outdoor living skills, team building, farm and food systems, and ecology, and span multiple place-based teaching methods and styles. During overnight camping programs (Basecamps and Saltwater Canoe Trips) instructors camp with their students and a school chaperone in small groups at shore-side campsites on Chewonki Neck. Ecology Expeditions are overnight programs where students and chaperones sleep in cabins, with the chaperone providing nighttime supervision.

The team of EEIs facilitate approximately 140 groups over the course of the spring and fall Center for Environmental Education (CEE) seasons.

Upon the successful completion of the spring season, EEIs have the opportunity to work for Camp Chewonki. The summer season runs from June to August where staff will have day, evening and overnight responsibilities supporting our residential camp program. Under the supervision of the Camp Director Team, EEI’s may fill roles within Camp Chewonki such as;
Trip Leader/Adventure Staff, Farm staff, Coordinator positions, and more! Positions at camp will be determined by the Camp Chewonki Directors based on individuals experience, qualifications, interest, and organizational need.

• Lead three or four-day base camping and saltwater canoe trips for schools:
  • Finalize itinerary, teaching blocks and all other logistics.
  • food and gear for the duration of the program.
• Lead three-day Ecology Expeditions for schools:
  • Sharing breakfasts and dinners with participants in the dining hall, and sharing picnic-style lunches.
  • Finalize itinerary, teaching blocks and all other logistics.
  • While leading assigned program, effectively implement the following:
    • Hold the risk management and group management for the duration of the program.
    • Teach scheduled activities and outdoor living skills.
    • Professionally represent Chewonki.
    • Appropriately communicate with the CEE admin team as needed.
  • Hold responsibility for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of participants; this includes:
  • Develop healthy and appropriate relationships with participants.
  • Manage risk and maintain the safety of participants.
  • Provide direct supervision of participants as assigned.
  • Develop a positive co-leader dynamic between other Chewonki co-leaders and/or school chaperones.