Environmental Education – Nature Day Camp Series; CSA II, Ages 18 Continuous

Recruitment Notice

This is an ongoing recruitment to fill positions starting in June. Apply early! Applicants will be contacted for interviews as early as March.

Portland Parks & Recreation’s Nature Day Camp offers eight weeks of outdoor summer camps at two urban parks in Portland. Weekly camps have a nature theme and offer an opportunity for educators to lead groups of children ages 5-12.
Campers and educators spend the entire day outside in small groups exploring the park. Each day at camp may be different: some days are spent sharing stories, hiking, singing songs, and playing games in nature. Other days may include group rotations, making crafts, meeting guest speakers, and other hands‑on activities.

Casual, Part‑time. Employees serve at will and work up to 1,400 hours in a year. These positions are called Community Service Aide II’s by the City of Portland.

These jobs are not eligible for benefits.

If you speak another language besides English and use it to help the community, you may get extra pay. We encourage all applicants to apply, and especially those who may speak Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Chinese, or Russian.

Educator II’s, Program Support Leads, Program Activities Leads, and Wellness Leads:

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, includes a 30‑minute paid lunch with campers.

Site Lead:

• Monday – Friday, 7:45 am – 4:15 pm, includes a 30‑minute unpaid lunch.

After Care Lead:

• 40 hours per week:
  Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Includes a 30‑minute paid lunch.

Educator II’s, Program Support Leads, Program Activities Leads, and After Care Lead: June 15 – August 17, 2026.

Site Leads and Wellness Leads: Approximately June 8 – August 20, 2026 (dates before and after Staff Training and the Summer Camp Session are flexible).

Each week, camp takes place at one outdoor location from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. Extended drop‑off is from 8:30 – 9:00 am, and optional After‑Care is from 3:30 – 5:30 pm. Over the eight weeks of camp, staff will travel to both locations and will need to find their own transportation. Public transportation is available to each park.

• Mt. Tabor Park (SE Portland)
• Sellwood Park/Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (SE Portland)

Portland Parks & Recreation is dedicated to ensuring everyone can enjoy our parks and services, no matter their background. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage people who speak other languages to apply.

Loan Tran Polanco, Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Loan.

Tran

Six positions are available with specific areas of focus. We encourage alumni of Portland Parks and Recreation’s Environmental Education Programs to apply for educator positions!

Pay: $19.00 – $20.00 per hour

• Create safe spaces for campers to explore and observe the natural world.
• Plan the daily group schedule and lead activities that promote nature play.
• Check in and check out participants daily.
• Work with Program Support Leads and other Support Staff to prepare and lead an engaging and interactive day for participants.
• Communicate with parents/guardians and solve logistical and behavioral problems as needed.
• Teach and lead groups using various teaching methods.
• Use creative techniques to help campers transition between activities.

Pay: $21.00 – $22.00 per hour

• Support camp staff to plan, organize, and lead engaging nature‑themed activities and daily programming.
• Provide camp‑wide on‑the‑ground support to Educators, including meetings, guidance, feedback, and modeling effective facilitation and transitions.
• Mentor a small number of Educators, providing guidance, feedback, performance evaluations, and long‑form support.
• Assist Educators with camper check‑in and check‑out each day.
• Communicate logistical and behavioral issues clearly to staff, campers, and families.
• Coordinate, plan, and implement staff break schedules across camp.
• Provide temporary coverage for absent staff during the day.

Pay: $21.00 – $22.00 per hour

• Plan and facilitate daily drop‑in activities and weekly crafts and rotations for…