Educator, Camp KangaZoo​/Teen Camp

Location: Saint Louis Zoo – Forest Park
Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
Position Type: Part-Time/Seasonal
Hourly Rate: $16.00/hr.

Camp Kanga Zoo is an outdoor day camp (four days and one evening) at the Zoo for children entering 2nd – 6th grade, and our Teen Camp is for youth entering 7th-9th grade (four days and one overnight). Educators serve as camp counselors for Camp Kanga Zoo and Teen Camp. Educators lead the activities, tours, logistics, educational, and youth-serving aspects of Camp, and work together to create a nurturing, safe and fun environment.

At Camp, we care for children from diverse backgrounds, foster appreciation for animals, increase understanding of animals and conservation topics, and inspire conservation action, in a fun and active camp environment at the Zoo. We are looking for team members who are positive, caring, respectful and attentive to children; enthusiastic, team-oriented, flexible, willing to learn, and willing to be silly, with a sincere passion for wildlife and conservation education, who are dedicated to creating positive lasting connections between animals and children.

• Work as a team to create an educational, fun, and safe environment for children, with the goal of making their week at Camp Kanga Zoo or Teen Camp the very best week of their summer
• Lead crafts, activities, games, Zoo tours, songs and skits
• Modify and lead activities and lessons so that the methods and messages are developmentally appropriate for your group of campers (different campers and age group each week).
• Share responsibility with another Educator for a group of up to 16 children (18 in Teen Camp)
• Get to know your campers and their individual needs, personalities, preferences, health/medical needs, interests, etc. Supervise and attend to the needs of your campers every day
• Use positive techniques to set the behavior expectations for your group and help campers meet those expectations with kindness, respect and consistency.
• Help children with social interactions
• Mentor and provide direction for an Assistant Educator and one or two Zoo ALIVE teen volunteers each week who help with your camper group.
• Maintain the Camp area including setting up and cleaning up each day.
• Model responsible conservation behavior

• High school diploma required, as well a minimum of 2 years of college or 2 years of experience in a similar educational facility (summer camp, school, etc.)
• Experience teaching or working with groups of children age 7 – 14 in either a formal or informal setting. Camp experience helpful
• Have skills and experience using positive techniques to guide children’s behavior and help them grow.
• Courteous, patient, respectful and able to connect with children, adults and coworkers with a wide range of neurodiversities and from diverse financial, cultural, and racial backgrounds. Able to nurture a culture of inclusion and respect.
• Understand biology, ecology, and wildlife conservation concepts and environmental education theory and practice, and desire to share the wonders of the natural world with children.
• Must be flexible and be able to work efficiently and effectively in a high-energy and ever-changing outdoor, public environment. Able to stay calm and function during stressful situations.
• Must possess excellent customer service, organization, and communication skills, and exemplify the Zoo’s values, as well as the Youth Programs Unit values of Initiative, Self-awareness, Teamwork, Eco-consciousness, Positivity, Understanding, and Professionalism (I STEP UP.)
• Must be trained or willing to be trained in First Aid, CPR, Epi-pen and AED use. Training provided if needed.
• All successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check and a drug test. As this is a safety-sensitive role, a negative drug test result is mandatory. The drug test screens for five substances, including marijuana.
• All successful candidates for this position follow all Youth Protection Code of Conduct guidelines.

If you don’t think you meet all of the criteria above but still are interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks…