Job Description: Wildlife Educator (School Programs & Nature Camps)
May-August 2025
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants will receive an update on their application within two weeks of applying.
Are you interested in working in beautiful outdoor settings, helping youth to connect with Yukon wildlife? Wildlife Educators develop and lead school programs and nature camps for children between ages 6-12. This role may also assist with school programs for older students, tours, and other educational activities at Yukon Wildlife Preserve.
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is a zoological institution and a non-profit charity, dedicated to education, conservation and research on boreal and arctic ecology. The Preserve is located outside of Whitehorse, Yukon. This position is well suited to candidates studying or experienced in education, interpretation, community development, social sciences, environmental science, zoology, biology or a related field. The YWP is seeking to build a diverse and energetic staff to achieve our mission!
From April through mid-June educators focus on school programs. From mid-June through August educators focus on summer day camps. After August the focus returns to school programs.
We are also hiring Wildlife Educators on spring contracts as well as Forester-Educators on contracts of varying lengths. If you are interested in multiple roles, you can submit one application and ask to be considered for multiple roles.
Responsibilities:
- Adapt and deliver engaging outdoor, curriculum-linked interpretive programs for students and youth;
- Coordinate with teachers, volunteers, and educational assistants to support student learning;
- Lead fun and educational day camps, ensuring the safety and well-being of participants;
- Maintain equipment and materials for program delivery;
- Undertake other duties as assigned including light cleaning and maintenance as required;
- Assist with other interpretive and operational needs on occasion.
Minimum Requirements:
- Clean Vulnerable Sector Screening (completed after you receive a job offer);
- Living in/near or ability to relocate to Whitehorse, Yukon (see resources for moving at bottom of document)
- First Aid certification (this can be obtained after receiving a job offer);
- Comfortable outdoors and with animals;
- Comfortable with basic customer service and speaking to small groups;
- Knowledge and/or experience in a relevant field, demonstrated through education, work experience, and/or traditional knowledge:
- Biology, ecology, or a related field;
- Natural resources, environmental science, or a related field;
- Education, interpretation, or a related field;
- Wilderness skills, outdoor recreation, or a related field;
- History, culture, and tourism, or a related field;
- Desire to work with children.
Assets:
- Fluency in French;
- Experience in leadership, mentoring, and/or coaching;
- Experience working with children/youth, especially ages 6-12;
- Knowledge of interpretive theory & techniques;
- Experience in delivering engaging, knowledge based interpretive programs to diverse audiences;
- Hiking and off-trail experience;
- Experience working with animals;
- Advanced first aid training, such as Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, or Bronze Medallion/Bronze Cross;
- Fluency in other languages;
- Cleaning or caretaking experience;
- Class 5 driver’s licence and a clean driving record;
- Class 4 driver’s licence or the ability to obtain one (can be obtained after receiving a job offer).
For candidates from outside Yukon, an equivalent licence from your home province or territory is fine. See this link for information on Yukon licences: https://yukon.ca/en/commercial-drivers-licence
Physical Requirements:
- Mobility on uneven terrain for a minimum of two hours a day;
- Ability to carry their own backpack and light supplies for a minimum of two hours a day;
- Ability to see and hear well enough to supervise a group of ten children.
Conditions of Employment:
- Acquire and maintain a valid Standard First Aid/CPR-C certificate or equivalent
- Clean criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening
Moving to Whitehorse:
- Information from Yukon Territorial Government on moving to Yukon: https://yukon.ca/en/moving-yukon
- Information from the City of Whitehorse on living here: https://www.whitehorse.ca/living-in-whitehorse/
Yukon Wildlife Preserve covers the cost of vulnerable sector screening, class 4 driver’s licensing, and first aid training for successful candidates.
If you have questions about this role please contact us at [email protected].