JOIN BLACK ROCK FOREST!
Black Rock Forest (BRF) is a growing environmental non-profit organization with programs in research, education, and conservation. The organization’s facilities, including offices, labs, classrooms, and a lodge, are located in the 3,920-acre Forest of the same name in Cornwall, NY. BRF has a staff of 10 and functions as a biological field station with 26 miles of hiking trails and another 17 miles of gated forest roads.
Part-Time Outdoor Educator
Position Summary
Black Rock Forest seeks a 1-year Part-Time Outdoor Educator to facilitate engaging, inquiry-based environmental lessons for K-12 students throughout the 2026 calendar year. This position is essential to connecting students with the ecology of the Hudson Highlands through direct outdoor experience. The Outdoor Educator will be responsible for planning and implementing outdoor education lessons, delivering engaging educational programs, and facilitating hands-on learning experiences, while promoting the mission of BRF. Daily tasks include teaching lessons, materials preparation, and equipment maintenance.
Scheduling is flexible and based on program demand and the educator’s availability, with a minimum of 20 hours/week.
Reporting To: Director of Education
Compensation: $18 – $20 per hour, based on experience
Hours: 20 hours/week minimum, occasional weekends or evenings, up to 30 hours/week in peak season (May-October). The ideal candidate will start January 5, and the position will last 1 year.
Status: In-person, Part-Time
Key Responsibilities
- Program Facilitation: Lead and deliver established K-12 outdoor environmental science lessons and assess learning. Lessons are primarily outdoors and incorporated throughout hikes in the Forest. Topics include:
- Native Pollinator Garden ecology
- Amphibian studies (e.g., salamander surveys)
- Hike orienteering and map skills
- Bird Identification
- Water quality testing
- Student Engagement: Foster student curiosity, facilitate hands-on learning, and promote a strong sense of place and stewardship in the natural world. Ensure participants’ safety, fun and satisfaction. Share educational concepts, including natural history, cultural/historical information, and environmental knowledge with participants on outings.
- Preparation: Prepare and organize necessary field supplies and teaching materials before and after programs. Help maintain science classrooms and lab spaces. Work with staff to develop and implement engaging lesson programs for youth outdoor education.
- Safety & Supervision: Maintain a safe, positive, and inclusive learning environment for all students and accompanying adults. Work safely in an outdoor environment. Follow low-impact, Leave-No-Trace environmental practices in all instances.
- Communications & Outreach: Create new communications materials (social media, posters, newsletters, or audiovisual media content) for education in service of our non-profit mission. Represent the organization at community events and outreaches.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Science, or similar area of study
- Previous experience working with diverse groups of students and adults in a formal or informal K-12 education setting
- Must be curious, reliable, and possess a strong work ethic, with the ability to work independently and as part of a small team
- Ability to work flexible hours during the calendar year (typically Mondays through Fridays, occasional weekends or evenings)
- Must be able to lead groups for 1-5 mile hikes over varied terrain and in all weather conditions (snow, rain, heat, etc.)
- Must be comfortable working outdoors with insects, poison ivy, and wildlife, and be in good physical condition (must be able to lift equipment)
- Must have a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle, or reliable transportation
- Must be able to pass a background check
- Strong foundation in file organization on both Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Meet)
- Has a commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred:
- First Aid/CPR certification or willingness to obtain
- Background knowledge of native flora and fauna of the Hudson Highlands or willingness to learn
- Has strong organizational skills & attention to detail
- Is flexible & adaptable under changing circumstances
- Has some proficiency in Spanish
How to Apply
Please submit your resume, names & contact for three references, and a cover letter explaining your interest in this position, detailing your experience working with K-12 students in an outdoor or science context. Questions to jschnell@blackrockforest.org. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2025.