Marian Langan Conservation Young Leader
Within Audubon Nebraska, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center (SCP) focuses on grassland bird conservation by restoring and maintaining the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, and the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary (Rowe) focuses on conservation of the Platte River ecosystem and the birds that rely on it. Sustainable conservation is dependent on an environmentally literate and engaged community at each Center, so the Audubon Nebraska education team is expanding local education and engagement opportunities in the communities surrounding the Center with emphasis on the cities of Lincoln, Denton, Crete, and others. Education programming spans from elementary to adult age groups and strives to engage new and underserved audiences.
Audubon Nebraska seeks to hire a six-month seasonal position that will work primarily at SCP. The position will assist in education and outreach programming as well as volunteer coordination, and community science and Audubon Plants For Birds projects.
Essential Functions
- Help implement education & outreach plans.
- Work closely with education & outreach leads, state and Center staff, and volunteers.
- Assist with creating and facilitating public programs, as well as off-site outreach programming, focused around Audubon’s strategic priorities and initiatives: Bird-friendly Communities/Plants for Birds; Water; Climate; Working Lands; Community Science; and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
- Assist with creating and facilitating school field trip education programs.
- Assist with leading summer camp programming and activities for overnight and day camps.
- Assist with updating and enhancing education curriculum guides, focusing on summer programs and pre-K programs.
- Work with all staff and volunteers to participate in community science projects like monarch monitoring, Climate Watch, bird surveys, etc.
- Assist with visitor center operations ranging from welcoming visitors and general maintenance to creation of program signage and outreach materials.
- Assist with creating and facilitating public outreach activities about the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch project.
- Assist with volunteer trainings and events.
- Receive on-the-job and/or formal training opportunities in environmental education; native plants; curriculum development; outdoor safety; equity, diversity, & inclusion practices; wildlife management, etc.
- Project leadership opportunities available for individuals with advanced experience in using social media platforms; software design; and iNaturalist, eBird, and other community sciences applications.
Qualifications and Experience
- Minimum of 2 years of college preferred. Experience will be considered in lieu of education with training or education in a science related field, environmental education or natural sciences.
- Must have a team-focused attitude, and the ability to professionally represent Audubon Nebraska and the network.
- Must have comfort working independently, as a leader and part of a team. Ability to follow instructions from colleagues, with little supervision, and at irregular hours.
- Must be comfortable organizing meetings and building relationships.
- Some/Occasional evening and weekend hours required.
- Ability and willingness to work in the field, in inclement weather.
- Must have access to reliable vehicle and current valid driver’s license with ability to provide for own transportation to Spring Creek Prairie near Lincoln, Nebraska, when necessary.
- Ability to operate – or willingness to learn to operate – various types of equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g., lawn mower, chain saw, tractor, ATV).