Far Horizons Summer Counselor

The Position

The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Far Horizons Summer Counselor to join our dynamic team located on Chicago's Museum Campus. The Far Horizons Counselor collaborates with Far Horizons staff and the Teen Programs Manager to implement Far Horizons, Teens.

During Far Horizons Teens, high school students will continue a teen-implemented light pollution research project. Teens will learn about light pollution and the ecology of local ecosystems through hands‑on activities and plan and carry out the next steps of a research project. They will also create communication tools and activities to share their project with the public.

The Counselor keeps participants engaged all day, every day, while assisting the Program Manager with program operations. They take the lead on individual needs management, allowing the Program Manager to focus on whole group instruction.

• Assisting the Program Manager in maintaining participants’ safety and positive engagement during indoor and outdoor activities
• Understanding and implementing all Adler Planetarium emergency procedures
• Helping participants complete fun, STEAM‑based activities and adapting activities to meet participants’ needs
• Encouraging all teens to participate fully in all activities while providing individual attention when required
• Participating in all training sessions and preparation as needed
• Setting up and cleaning up program materials and activities daily
• Traveling with Far Horizons Teens to a TBD location for fieldwork

This temporary full‑time position begins on June 1st, 2026, and ends on August 7th, 2026. The typical work schedule for this position is 35 hours per week. The anticipated schedule for this position is:

• July 6 – 10 | Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
• Possibility of remote or virtual work

• July 13 – August 7
• Other Night‑Time Field Work | Dates TBD

$18.02/hr

• Eligible to accrue up to 6 vacation days per year
• 3 sick days at date of hire (can accrue up to 6.5 days per year)
• Eligible to earn time and a half for working on any of the 7 Adler observed holidays
• Paid Family Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty
• Retirement Savings Plan
• 403B plan with Adler match
• Adler's match is 100% vested immediately
• Eligible to enroll as of the date of hire
• Network of Support through our EAP programs
• Resources to help address emotional, legal, and financial issues
• Face‑to‑face, telephonic, and web‑based services
• Free subscription to the Calm Premium app
• Employee Loan Program
• Discounted On‑site Parking Program
• Free Entrance to Chicago area museums and cultural institutions

The Far Horizons counselor is ready for anything and curious about everything! They always have a new game or challenge prepared to keep the group of young folks occupied during downtime, and they're great at figuring out what needs to happen to keep the day running smoothly. Teamwork and collaboration come naturally to them, and they know that the best way to help someone learn is to guide them toward their own discoveries.

They’re equally comfortable in the field (possibly a literal field!) or in the classroom. They’re curious about the world around them, from the plants and animals of an ecosystem to the layers of the atmosphere and up into the night sky!

• High School Diploma or GED
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• One or more years of experience working with 7th‑12th graders in an educational and/or camp‑like setting
• Valid driver’s license
• Proficient in Google Suite
• Confident tech user and excited to learn new tech skills

• One year or more of college
• College coursework or comparable in formal (classroom) or informal (museum) education, space science field, technology, or relevant science field
• Experience teaching in bilingual (English/Spanish) learning environments
• Previous research fieldwork experience
• Camp counselor experience
• Experience with high‑altitude ballooning

Please submit a resume and cover letter for consideration. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by March 25, 2026. First‑round interviews will take place from late March to mid‑April, followed by final interviews in late April.

The Adler Planetarium is dedicated to complying with its Equal Opportunity Employer obligations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email the Human Resources Department at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). and provide the nature of your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.