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. This paid position offers $17.00/hr. It is a part‑time (20 hours/week) role lasting up to 52 weeks. The Avian Educator will provide research assistance and informal and formal interpretation to the community, while gaining valuable interpretative skills through experiential learning projects such as Project Nestwatch, Project Feeder watch, the Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas, local hawk watches, the farmland raptor project, and other faculty research initiatives.

Experiential Learning and Landowner Outreach (May–August)

• 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.

Outreach and Interpretation (September–April)

• Support the Arboretum’s annual Avian Education Lecture event programming, as well as bird walks and programs organized 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. A basic understanding of avian ecology and biology, and the ability to identify common Pennsylvania bird species, is required. 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 are highly preferred.

• Applications must be submitted online via the Penn State Careers Website:  (note: internal links to Workday have been omitted for clarity)
• Include a cover letter, resume or CV, and reference contacts/letters of recommendation with your application materials.
• This position will remain open until filled.

This position requires PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check are also required.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those regarding alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters.

The ASR is available for review here: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

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 . Penn State is committed and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging.