Outdoor Education Facilitator

Contract | $23/hour training, $30/hour independent teaching

Paddle for Peace | San Diego, CA

Paddle for Peace is a San Diego-based nonprofit on a mission to Diversify the Coast by breaking down barriers and connecting underserved youth to the ocean’s transformative and healing power.

Through hands‑on education, outdoor experiences, mentorship, and water‑based programming, we create opportunities for young people to learn, explore, build confidence, and see themselves represented in outdoor and coastal spaces.

Paddle for Peace is looking for an energetic, dependable, and engaging Outdoor Educator to join our Coastal Ninjas Academy team.

Coastal Ninjas Academy brings ocean and environmental education directly into Title I schools throughout San Diego. Educators lead interactive classroom lessons and help facilitate culminating coastal field trips where students put what they’ve learned into action.

This role is ideal for someone with experience teaching youth and a strong background or interest in marine science, ocean safety, conservation, and outdoor education.

• Lead hands‑on environmental and ocean science lessons for students, primarily in grades 4–6
• Teach topics including ocean safety, waves and tides, marine biology, plastic pollution, urban runoff, deep‑sea adaptations, and Indigenous way finding
• Create an engaging, welcoming classroom environment where students feel comfortable participating and asking questions
• Facilitate experiments, demonstrations, games, group activities, and outdoor learning experiences
• Support Coastal Ninjas Academy field trips at the beach and other outdoor locations
• Work alongside Paddle for Peace educators and school staff
• Adapt lessons for different learning styles, English language learners, and individual student needs
• Assist with program setup, breakdown, materials, and program documentation
• Serve as a positive mentor and representative of Paddle for Peace in the community

We are especially interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Classroom teaching or leading structured educational lessons
• Marine science or marine biology education
• Ocean and water safety education
• Ocean conservation and environmental education
• Outdoor education or experiential learning
• Teaching environmental science, ecology, watersheds, or coastal topics
• Working with elementary or middle school students
• Teaching in Title I schools or working with underserved communities
• Facilitating field trips, camps, nature programs, or other hands on youth experiences

• Strong classroom management and group facilitation skills
• Ability to make science engaging, interactive, and understandable for young people
• Comfortable presenting and teaching in front of groups
• Dependable, organized, flexible, and able to work collaboratively
• Passion for ocean conservation, environmental justice, outdoor access, and youth development
• Ability to connect with students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Comfortable working both indoors and outdoors
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to schools and program locations throughout San Diego
• Availability primarily Monday through Friday during school day hours

Preferred but not required:

• Degree or coursework in marine science, environmental science, biology, education, recreation, or a related field
• CPR/First Aid certification
• Bilingual skills
• Familiarity with San Diego beaches, watersheds, and coastal ecosystems

You do not need to be a surfer or marine biologist to apply, but applicants should have demonstrated experience teaching youth and be comfortable learning and delivering ocean‑focused curriculum.

$23/hour during…