Park Naturalist jobs in North Carolina

The Recreation Attendant-Naturalist will perform tasks generally related to Summer Nature Camp. They will assist Naturalists at the Environmental Center with nature activities and classes, assist with supervision of campers, help design, and implement outdoor-based nature study, and perform various day to day assigned tasks to support and operate PEC’s Summer Nature Camp.

Work is performed under regular supervision of the Parks Supervisor. Work schedule may include nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Assists PEC staff as needed; Assists with summer nature camps and other programs as needed.
• Helps school-age children become familiar with nature through different activities.
• Escorts children to daily activity sites when needed.
• Cleans facility areas and assists in maintaining outdoor areas.
• Maintains daily communication with supervisor.
• Prepares lists of materials and equipment needed for activities and makes requests for same.
• Enforces center policies and safety rules and regulations.
• Plans nature activities related to environmental concepts and practice with the center’s Naturalists.
• Inspects equipment daily, makes safety recommendations.
• Attends facility staff meetings.
• Makes preparation of area for participants’ lunches and snacks.
• Greets parents and children daily upon arrival and ensures authorized party gets children at departure time.
• Assists in answering phone, directing calls, and providing information.
• Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.

• Must have a valid North Carolina Driver’s license.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be able to effectively lead groups in natural history activities.
• Must be able to apply basic knowledge of phases of child development.
• Must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be comfortable in a customer service role and working in an outdoor setting. 

• Teaching experience or experience leading groups in an educational setting.

• Acuity, far – clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see the children across an open space and give instructions to them regarding the program activity.  Both eyes 20/25 - R 20/30 - L 20/30 corrected.
• Acuity, near – clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see program materials, telephone, documents, and other paperwork near at hand.  Both eyes 20/22 corrected.
• Depth perception – Three-dimensional vision and the ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are.  Must be able to judge distances in order to ensure the safety of program participants.   Depth perception – 4
• Field of Vision – the area that can be seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are focused on one point. Must be able to see a wide span to observe and be aware of the outdoor setting while focusing on the participants receiving the program.  Must be alert to surroundings.
• Accommodation – Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly. This item is especially important when doing near-point work at varying distances from eye.  Must be able to adjust eye lens to focus readily when glancing from near work (teaching materials, notes, etc.) to distance work (patrons walking along the trail, participants with questions, etc.) to monitor activities and ensure safety at all areas. 

• Light to Medium Work
  • Exerting negligible amount of force constantly to move objects and papers, to make reports, answer telephone and file.   Additional strength required to lift tables, chairs, and equipment.  
  • Work requires walking, standing, stooping, bending, lifting, stretching, pushing, and pulling, although worker does sit on occasions.  There is significant use of arms, hands, feet, and legs.
• Type of Physical Demands
  • Reaching - Extending the hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
  • Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s).
  • Fingering - Picking, pinching or otherwise working with fingers primarily rather than the entire hand or arm.

• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks and practical situations and requests made by supervisor or members of the general public; to comprehend and respond to a variety of situations in an expedient manner; to understand and communicate with individuals of varying ages.   Good judgement is important because the individual will interact directly with the public on a constant basis and may be working in the absence of a supervisor.

• Using arithmetic and/or Statistics: Ability to use arithmetic to add and figure number of program participants and attendants, count money, and make change, figure daily revenue collections, and make various reports.  Ability to use basic calculations to determine ratios, percentages, and surface area for ecology analysis.

• The ability to speak, read and write the English Language are required for this position.  Ability to be conversant in voice and diction to participate in discussions in person and by telephone.   

• The Recreation Attendant – Naturalist employee is subject to Outside Environmental Conditions:   Exposed to the various weather conditions and temperatures. Combining the type of work performed with the various weather conditions, the worker should be one who can work outside in a hot or cold environment.

• The Recreation Attendant – Naturalist employee will be exposed to working outside in a range of weather conditions and occasionally around controlled burning operations.  Employee will be exposed to trash, garbage, lake, and cleaning chemicals.  Work is subject to final standards of OSHA on bloodborne pathogens.

• Items which may be representative, but not all inclusive, of those commonly associated with this type of work: Office supplies, leaf blowers, rakes, bow saws, water, back packs, concession items and merchandise, packaged products, soft drinks, milk, juices, cash register, calculator, mop, broom, First Aid supplies, scissors, telephone, receipt books, hoses, and Personnel Resolution.