Seasonal Camp Lead Environmental Educator

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $18/hour 

Hours per week: 35-40, Mondays-Fridays, 8:00AM-3:30PM 

Job Classification: Nonexempt, Seasonal 

Job Type: Onsite 

Duration: June 1 – August 22, 2025 

Location: Weir River Farm, Hingham, MA 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

Are you passionate about farms and animals and excited to convey your knowledge and enthusiasm to young people? Would you like to spend the summer in a barnyard, garden, and woods supporting Camp Educators and campers in a curriculum you create? Do you like to combine crafts and games with teaching about the natural systems that support our lives? 

Surrounded by acres of woodland habitat, Weir River Farm is home to chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, and more! Our forty campers ages 5-14 are outdoors all week, including daily visits to the barnyard handling and caring for our animals. Campers learn gardening skills by weeding and harvesting in the Children’s Garden. Hiking adventures lead to discoveries in forest and field habitats. Each day’s lessons, games, and crafts are designed to instill the importance of nature and agriculture in our daily lives.  

For more information about our camp, please visit Trustees Camps. 

The Role:

As a Lead Environmental Educator (LEE) at Weir River Farm, you are essential for the success of this fun and engaging camp experience. You will oversee the daily camp curriculum and logistics, ensuring education and meaningful experiences all day and thematic weeks. You will develop and demonstrate lesson activities and work collaboratively with Camp Educators to implement these activities.

You are an enthusiastic educator of children and young adults alike! You have a passion for farms and local wildlife. You thrive outdoors and are deeply committed to the environment. You have experience handling livestock, with environmental education and/or with inquiry-based learning. You love a camp setting and are inspired to bring new ideas for crafts and games. You are highly organized and an excellent communicator. You are flexible with can adapt to quick changes. You are calm under pressure and can multitask. You work well independently while being supportive of an incredible team! 

As the Lead Educator, you will provide daily support for Camp Educators by modeling and suggesting lessons, games, crafts, and inquiry activities. Every week at camp, you lead the barnyard time for campers ages 5-11 with hands-on opportunities for animal handling and care. You should be prepared to adapt last-minute to changes due to weather or other inconveniences.  

Supervision and support of the team of Counselors-in-Training (CITs, 15-17 years old) is an important part of this role. As the LE, you will mentor and encourage CITs to implement their own activity with the campers by the end of each week. You may be required to fill in for a Camp Educator during a camp session, directly supervising a group of campers and implementing camp programming.  

Specifically, you’ll:

• Support South Shore Education Manager and Camp Director with planning and implementation of training weeks. 

• Develop and familiarize with fun and educational learning activities for campers ages 5-11. 

• Demonstrate educational activities for campers, and support Camp Educators in leading them independently. 

• Support Camp Educators in their daily plan with campers, including scheduling of barnyard time and other activities. 

• Lead daily barnyard activities in handling animals. 

• Plan and lead training for CITs, supervise and support CIT-led activities, and evaluate CITs performance weekly. 

• Provide breaks to Camp Educators daily. 

• Photograph campers for end-of-week parent email. 

• Facilitate daily parent drop-off and pick-up of campers, and occasionally communicate with parents regarding their camper’s experience. 

• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation. 

This is a seasonal, non-exempt position Mondays-Fridays, 8:00AM-3:30PM reporting to the South Shore Education Manager School & Youth Programs Manager & Camp Director.  

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• Completed or working towards a Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental education, agriculture, science, or other relevant course of study is preferred. 

• Experience working closely with domesticated animals such as goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs. 

• Experience working in a camp as a counselor, or as a classroom teacher, environmental/informal educator, or in another group setting with youth. 

• A special interest in farm-based education and local ecology. 

• Experience developing environmental education program curriculum. 

• Experience leading a team and providing constructive feedback preferred. 

• Demonstrated communication and collaboration skills. 

• Strong ability to work independently, as well as effectively work as part of a group. 

• Flexible to sudden changes in plan due to unforeseen challenges. 

• Ability to take initiative and accomplish necessary tasks in a timely manner without being asked. 

• The physical and mental wherewithal to teach outdoors, sometimes under difficult circumstances.  

• Embrace inclusion of all, and an open-mindedness to learn through new experiences. 

• Must be outgoing and bring unbridled joy and enthusiasm to work. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be 21+ years old. 

• Full availability for camp staff training weeks (June 9-20) and all eight weeks of camp (June 23–August 15), Mondays-Fridays, 8:15AM-3:30PM; availability in late May/early June for training and camp preparation is preferred 

• Able and willing to work outdoors all summer in variable weather conditions    

• Reliable transportation to the property. 

• Adult/Child CPR and Basic First Aid certified (provided if needed). 

• The ability to lift 40 pounds. 

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment. 

• A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy. 

• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Have questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org!

Your Benefits:

• Sick Time: Mass Sick Leave Accrual 

• Trustees Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores, cafes, and on stays at our inns.  

• Museum Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.