Seasonal Outdoor Education Assistant

Through our conservation, education, and community-building work we partner with the NPS to preserve and share the park’s 75,000 acres of forest, grasslands, coastal scrub, rangelands, federally designated wilderness, wetlands, dunes, beaches, and marine habitats that support 38 threatened, endangered and species of concern. Over 2 million people visit the park each year and nearly 100 research projects from researchers around the country and the world are conducted in the park annually. PRNSA works year-round in partnership with the NPS to monitor and protect the natural and cultural resources within the park. PRNSA staff work with NPS project managers on long-term inventory and monitoring of threatened and endangered species, habitat restoration and invasive species removal, and historic and cultural preservation projects in the park. Through our youth and adult education programs we aim to expand the community of people who both love and protect the park. 

PRNSA’s Environmental Education programming includes managing overnight group stays at the Clem Miller Environmental Education Center (CMEEC), teaching Science at the Seashore programs for school groups, leading day-long Youth In Parks (YIP) outdoor experiences, organizing adult and community education programs (Field Institute), hosting equity-based community events, and leading summer youth programming such as day camp, overnight camp, and backpacking. Programs are primarily held in person, but education strategies may also include online presentations and written and visual communications. 

The Seasonal Outdoor Education Assistant will play a primary role in supporting welcome activities for overnight school groups, post-trip inspections, and facility maintenance including cleaning and restocking at the CMEEC. Approximately 50% of their time will be dedicated to supporting the CMEEC overnight groups program, and facility maintenance at the CMEEC. Note that PRNSA staff (including this role) do not generally stay overnight with groups at the CMEEC, although participation in occasional overnight YIP programs may be possible.   

In this role, the Seasonal Outdoor Education Assistant will also work alongside PRNSA education staff to help lead Science at the Seashore environmental science lessons and equity-based Youth in Parks programs, building skills in program development and planning, community building, and environmental education best practices. In addition, the Seasonal Outdoor Education Assistant will gain exposure to a variety of outdoor professions by also helping implement volunteer-based habitat restoration programs, shadowing park conservation staff to observe or support inventory/monitoring or restoration projects, and will have the chance to complete an independent project during the summer in an area of personal interest as an added skill-building experience. 

This seasonal position is nine-months in duration from mid-Feb through mid-November, and includes both benefits and professional development opportunities.  

Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) is committed to supporting staff in this work through dedicated preparation and reflection time, opportunities to participate in affinity spaces (such as an internal BIPOC affinity group), and participation in regional networking events.

Programs may take place in the Seashore, or require travel to locations in and around the SF North/East Bay Area, and onsite programming may include day-long or overnight programs taught in teams at locations throughout the Seashore. This work includes strengthening community connections through relationship-building and significant socializing/interaction during programs and outreach events. All education roles are highly visible positions that require the ability to communicate with diverse audiences and to represent PRNSA in a variety of community, professional, and public settings. Weekend and overnight work will be required.   

• Work alongside PRNSA Educators to provide onsite check in/out and orientations for groups staying at the CMEEC

• Inspect and straighten CMEEC facilities before and after group visits, including cleaning and mopping restrooms/bath house, kitchen cleaning, mopping the main lodge, sweeping cabins, and restocking consumable supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, and cleansers

• Collaborate with PRNSA education team to help deliver creative and engaging youth program experiences which inform and cultivate a sense of belonging

• Assist educators to plan lessons, manage materials, and deliver science and nature-based youth and community programs outdoors

• Clean and maintain scientific and field teaching equipment

• Exercise sound judgement to ensure  participant and group safety in field settings; understand, communicate, and model National Park Service and Leave No Trace wilderness policies, and work onsite, in-person in the Point Reyes National Seashore

• Engage in learning, enrichment, and PRNSA supported professional development

• Perform other organizational duties as required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in education, natural science, environmental studies, wilderness recreation, conservation, or related fields

• Demonstrated experience working with youth in formal or informal education, or in a youth development or youth care setting

• Comfort with written and verbal communication and public speaking

• Experience as a role model demonstrating conscientious, respectful, and inclusive leadership/mentoring 

• Flexibility to adapt to challenges and manage youth in a field setting

• Current First Aid Certification or the willingness to receive training

• Experience directly teaching or leading youth in educational or recreational activities

• Interest/practice in facilitating  justice-oriented, equitable, and inclusive group interactions

This role demands the ability to work both indoors sitting or standing at a computer and outdoors in a variety of field settings engaged in moderate to rigorous physical activity. While performing the duties of this job, the employee needs to use their hands, arms, legs, eyes, and ears. The employee is frequently required to talk and hear, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, and walk on trails and uneven surfaces. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds of equipment over uneven surfaces. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SALARY & BENEFITS: $26.00-$28.00 DOE, 40 hours/week, non-exempt. Personal benefits include health and dental insurance, paid time off, optional FSA and 403(b) retirement programs. 

• Application review begins - Dec 4, 2026
• Position begins Feb 2027

Department: Education
This is a non-management position
This is a seasonal position