Part-time Avian Educator Apprenticeship

Opportunity

The Arboretum at Penn State and Penn State's Outdoor Education Field Lab and Nature Center – Shaver's Creek Environmental Center – are searching for an energetic Avian Educator that can provide research assistance and informal and formal interpretation to the community. This opportunity is a paid ($17.00/hr.), part‑time (20 hours/week) position, lasting up to 52 weeks. The apprentice will gain valuable interpretative skills through experiential learning projects that may include:

• Project Nestwatch
• Project Feeder watch
• Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas
• Local hawk watches
• The farmland raptor project
• Other faculty research initiatives

• Assist in on‑site and off‑site nestbox monitoring to track nesting activity, egg‑laying, chick hatching, and fledging success of secondary cavity nesters.
• Develop working knowledge of the natural history of American Kestrel and American Barn Owls through landowner outreach, nestbox management, and hands‑on banding demonstrations.
• Develop working knowledge of the natural history of central Pennsylvania’s breeding birds by participating in the 3rd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas.
• Contribute to avian research projects led by Penn State Faculty.
• Support staff in outreach and interpretation at Penn State’s annual three‑day event, Ag Progress Days.

• Support the Arboretum’s annual Avian Education Lecture event programming, as well as bird walks, and programs organized and delivered as part of the avian education program suite.
• Embrace a growth mindset by demonstrating critical thinking, taking on leadership roles, and seeking opportunities for professional engagement.
• Participate in paid, regularly scheduled community education days designed to support career and self‑development.
• Enroll in a mandatory 9‑week non‑credit tuition‑free Canvas course (currently titled Upskill Penn State) designed to support reflection on experiential learning.
• Help maintain the Arboretum’s bird feeding stations during peak use.
• Develop a working knowledge of migration ecology and identification through local fall and spring hawk watch sites.

Applicants should be currently enrolled in or recent graduates from an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management, or a related field and should demonstrate a strong interest in environmental education. Applicants should have a basic understanding of avian ecology and biology and be able to identify common Pennsylvania bird species. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a desire to learn more about avian ecology and explain how this opportunity will help them reach their career goals.

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter
• Contact information for at least two professional references. Written letters of recommendation highly preferred.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.