We have been expanding rapidly since launching in AZ in 2019! Due to the increased demand for our programs we are now hiring lead teachers and aides to help us with our Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa Chapters. We are also interested in finding leaders to help us launch chapters in other AZ counties (we are also open to discussing establishing chapters in other states).
If you are interested in joining ECO as a Steward please complete this interest form. We have paid and volunteer opinions available.
We will host trainings for those who are hired and accept a position. We will also email you recommended educator workshops that you can begin taking to enhance your environmental educator knowledge and knowledge about the Sonoran Desert. There may be a few mandatory classes, like CPR/first aid, LNT, etc.
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Here are some details about being an ECO Steward for our established chapter, semester programs (and possibly fee based drop-in programs):
Pay: You receive 50% of the total class tuition and your children attend for free. Each class maximum is 15 students. You are an independent contractor and will be responsible for tracking your income for tax purposes. We will PayPal you funds in the Fall and Spring.
Aides are volunteers and recieve no pay, but if they have children their children may attend for free.
Time commitment: 2.5-4 hr class hours every other week (depending on the class) plus about 2-4 hrs of prep work for class.
Aides have no prep work.
Prerequisites: complete a 1st aid and CPR certification class, we will cover the fee. Complete a few mandatory workshops (most are online).
Aides have no prerequisites.
Responsibilities: teaching material at class, overseeing children, encouraging children to explore and participate in activities, assessing risk, making sure children are practicing leave no trace and caring for the land, prepping for classes to make sure you are fully prepared, adapting schedule as needed, helping children learn boundaries, taking photographs and uploading to group album, completing class wrap-ups, making decision about postponing a class due to unsafe conditions. Classes are 100% outdoors.
Aide responsibilities are mostly to assist with watching children, making bathroom runs, helping with activities, helping with set up and clean up.
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Lead teachers and aides will need to sign a contract. Volunteers will need to sign a waiver.
If you are interested in starting a chapter the responsibilities and pay will differ from that above.
Volunteer positions are available to help with free programming. These are great opportunities for those needing to meet volunteer and/or intern hour requirements.
The ECO Director will handle all registrations, and provide curriculum, program materials and class agendas. They will also create Google Classroom assignments and send all reminder emails. This applies to estabished and new chapters.
Questions email Kathy Balman ECO Director 678-457-0802
ecoexplorersatl@gmail.comeer