Environmental Educator

The Ridges Sanctuary is seeking a motivated individual to join their team of educators. The Environmental Educator will primarily aid, develop, and lead educational programs during the school year and summer, lead guided hikes for adults and families, and assist visitors at the Nature Center and along the trail.

Service Time: September 1, 2026 to August 14, 2027 (1,700 hours total, 50 weeks, 35 hours/week)

Schedule: Monday to Friday, usually 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Some evening, weekend and holiday hours are required for events and programs. Hours will vary weekly but generally will not exceed 70 hours over a two-week period.

Benefits: Living stipend for the entire term totals $23,000 ($460 per week). An Ameri Corps Education Award of approximately $7,300 will be issued upon successful completion of service.

Health insurance is available via Wis Corps for individuals in 1,700-hour positions who are not already covered.

Housing that is within walking distance of the service site is included with the position.

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

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 should expect shared accommodations including but not limited to a shared living room, kitchen (with some pots, pans, plates, and utensils), and one or more bathrooms.
• Occupants will be required to…