Environmental Educator – Ridges Sanctuary

Address:
789 Myrick Park Dr.
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
54601

Actively Recruiting
:
Yes
Position title
:
Environmental Educator - The Ridges Sanctuary
Type of Position
:
Intern / Individual Placement
Town, City, Park, etc
:
Bailey's Harbor
State / Territory
:
Wisconsin
Benefits
:
Education Award, Housing – Primarily Non-Camping, Industry-Recognized Certifications, Student Loan Forbearance
Project/Program Focus
:
Education/Interpretation, Habitat Restoration, Native Plants, Visitor Services, Volunteer Engagement

Our primary focus is to engage young adults through hands-on service opportunities in environmental stewardship, accomplished through partnerships with land management agencies and environmental education organizations across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

Service Time:May 19 – August 14, 2026 (450 hours total, 13 weeks, 40 hours/week)

Benefits:Living stipend total for the whole term = $6,500 ($500 per week). An Ameri Corps Education Award of approximately $1,900 will be awarded upon successful completion of service.

Housing that is within walking distance of the service site is provided for $50/wk.

OVERVIEW: The Ridges Sanctuary mission is to promote positive environmental behaviors through impactful educational experiences, land protection and management, and ecological research. The Ridges was established in 1937 after Albert Fuller, then Curator of Botany at the Milwaukee Public Museum, began spending a significant amount of time surveying the landscape. Fuller spearheaded a grassroots movement to protect this incredibly diverse property and establish Wisconsin’s first land trust.

The Ridges now protects over 1,700 acres comprising fifteen discrete plant communities, 475 inventoried vascular plants, a Boreal Forest glacial relict and twenty-nine of Wisconsin’s forty-nine native orchids. The Ridges has also established popular early childhood education programs, a nationally recognized Orchid Restoration Project, and welcomes over 35,000 visitors to our Nature Center each year.

SERVICE

DESCRIPTION:

The Ridges Sanctuary seeks a motivated individual to join our team of educators. The primary responsibilities will be developing and leading summer educational programs for The Ridges Backpack Adventure Camps, leading guided hikes for adults and families, and assisting visitors at the Nature Center and along the trail. Other duties include weekly immersion into the organization’s operations, including engaging with ecological research and other land management activities, and developing and completing an individualized project in an area of interest.

If this Individual Placement is successful, the service member may be eligible to renew their service at The Ridges for a 1700-hr term.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Education Programs

• Develop camp curriculum and teach Backpack Adventure Camps for children ages 4 to 11.
• Lead nature hikes, teaching visitors about The Ridges Sanctuary.
• Assist with group tours as needed.
• Participate in special events.
• Develop a report, program, or educational materials for staff or visitors based on an individual area of study.
• Assist in developing brochures, programs, activities, and related materials to enhance educational experiences.

Visitor Engagement

• Interact with visitors daily and answer questions about The Ridges, the Nature Center, and Door County.
• Manage daily operations for visitors and members including program registration and customer service.
• Help answer incoming phone calls and assist callers with their questions and concerns.

Research/Preservation

• On rare occasions, the Environmental Educator may choose to assist land management and research staff in various projects throughout the summer, such as orchid monitoring, plant surveys, and trail maintenance.

Actively Recruiting: Yes
Type of Position
:
Intern / Individual Placement
Town, City, Park, etc
:

Mindoro, Wisconsin
Benefits
:
Education Award, Housing – Primarily Non-Camping, Industry-Recognized Certifications, Meals/Food Assistance, Student Loan Forbearance