Join the Explore Ecology Team!
- ART FROM SCRAP PROGRAM
- SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM
- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
- WORKING AT EXPLORE ECOLOGY
EXPLORE ECOLOGY SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM
Full time positions available.
Position Overview: Explore Ecology School Garden Program An Explore Ecology School Garden Educator’s primary role is to engage and educate students while maintaining the school’s garden and outdoor classroom. Main duties include: coordinating with teachers, planning and teaching lessons in outdoor classrooms to K-8th grade students, planting, harvesting and maintaining organic garden space. The School Garden Educator reports to their assigned Garden Coordinator. 
Pay and Benefits
- Hourly Pay: $17.00
- Bonus Potential: Annual increase opportunity and bonuses based on performance
- Full Time Employees: 30-40 hours per week
- Health Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- 2 weeks per year of paid vacation
- 9 days per year of sick time off
- 8 Paid Holidays per year
Role and Responsibilities
- Lead weekly garden education lessons in your school’s organic garden for K-8th grade students
- Maintain and submit weekly reporting
- Use a portion of your weekly assigned hours to maintain your school garden(s), growing a diverse mix of seasonal crops and perennials
- Continue to build your school’s connection to the garden through garden work parties or campus beautification days, outreach to the PTA or Wellness Committees, recruiting and managing community volunteers to help with the garden, and by distributing produce harvested in the garden to the school community
- Communicate regularly with your Garden Coordinator, attend monthly and/or weekly staff meetings focused on team building, staff development, and training
Work Environment
- Outdoors and on a school campus
- Standing, bending, and stooping, for extended periods of time (up to 8 hours)
- Extensive contact with the public and children
- Unassisted heavy lifting (up to 40 lbs.)
Scheduling
- Shift Work Exclusively.
- Full Time: 30-40 hours per week / 5 shifts
- Part Time: approximately 15-25 hours per week / 3 shifts
- Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday), as scheduled.
Additional Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Degree in relevant subject including but not limited to Environmental Education, Elementary Education, Horticulture, Botany
- Experience working with groups of Elementary aged students
- Must pass LiveScan (fingerprint background check) and TB test
- Spanish Speakers are encouraged to apply
Preferred Skills and Characteristics
- A passion to cultivate children’s connection to nature, healthy food, and culture through hands-on garden-based education
- Experience teaching and working with elementary-age students
- Experience with growing produce
- Ability to work independently, setting own schedule, while maintaining clear communication with assigned Garden Coordinator
- Strong organizational skills
Information about Explore Ecology
Explore Ecology is a Santa Barbara based non-profit organization that educates over 38,000 children a year, inspiring them to engage with the natural world, think critically, and experience the value of environmental stewardship. Explore Ecology programs include the Art From Scrap Creative ReUse Store and Gallery, Environmental Education, Watershed Resource Center, and School Gardens.
Explore Ecology actively promotes an environment of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We support all employees regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, race, ethnic origin, color, religion, national origin, creed, marital status, disabled veteran status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, and/or physical disability that does not inhibit the performance of the specific core tasks of this position.
TO APPLY: Click on the button to fill out our application form; there will be a place to upload your resume in the application. Thank you!
Explore Ecology Environmental Education Program (North & South County)
Environmental Educator
An Environmental Educator’s primary role is to conduct field trips and in class lessons focusing on water quality and waste reduction while educating and inspiring the next generation of elementary aged environmental stewards. Main duties include: leading field trips and in class lessons, data tracking and reporting, maintaining teaching supplies and field trip sites, educational event preparation and implementation and more as assigned. The Environmental Educator reports to the Environmental Education Program Coordinator (EEPC).
Pay and Benefits 
- Hourly Pay: $17.00
- Part-Time Employee – 20-25 hours
- 2 weeks per year of paid vacation
- 9 days per year of sick time off
- Up to 8 Paid Holidays per year
Role and Responsibilities
- Lead Environmental education lessons both on school campuses and at various field trip sites.
- Maintain lesson supply kits
- Drive to various school and field trip sites located throughout Santa Barbara County
- Perform administrative duties related to evaluation, and tracking student performance and teacher satisfaction
- Assist and support the EEPC in marketing and scheduling lessons and field trips
- Maintains all teaching kits in a well stocked and clean condition
- Staff occasional evening and weekend special events
Work Environment
- Standing, bending, and stooping, for extended periods of time (up to 8 hours)
- Extensive contact with the public
- Walking and climbing as required
- Unassisted heavy lifting (up to 40 lbs.)
Scheduling
- Shift Work Exclusively.
- Part Time: approximately 20-25 hours per week / 3 shifts
- Must be able to work on evenings and weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday), as scheduled.
Additional Qualifications and Education Requirements
- A degree in Environmental Education, Environmental Studies, Resource Conservation, related field or equivalent experience
- Must pass LiveScan (fingerprint background check) and TB test
- Self-starter, motivated to lead an innovative environmental education program and inspire the school community to follow through with techniques learned during the presentations. Excellent written & oral communication skills (Spanish language skills desirable)
- Highly organized and able to manage multiple responsibilities
- Excellent rapport with children; experience with primary school setting, including a familiarity with curricular standards, and classroom activities. Ability to supervise and engage small and large groups of elementary students
- Comfortable working from multiple locations & traveling between job sites and Explore Ecology offices
- Able to provide prompt transportation within Santa Barbara County and provide proof of insurance
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Docs, e-mail and internet (daily access to email)
- Ability to attend regular staff meetings
- Ability to commit 20-25 hours per week, including occasional weekends
Preferred Skills
- Environmental knowledge of waste reduction, water quality, and composting systems with an understanding of ecology and how environmental issues are related
- Strong teaching skills and experience in conducting in-class presentations to groups of elementary aged students
- Excellent administrative and data entry skills: Accurate, detail oriented, organized, time efficient, self-directed, able to multitask
- Ability to be flexible and work both independently and as a team
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Quick to learn multiple environmental lesson presentations
- Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work independently and in groups; able to work with people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds
Explore Ecology is a Santa Barbara based non-profit organization that educates 
over 38,000 children a year, inspiring them to engage with the natural world, think critically, and experience the value of environmental stewardship. Explore Ecology programs include the Art From Scrap Creative ReUse Store and Gallery, Environmental Education, Watershed Resource Center, and School Gardens.
Explore Ecology actively promotes an environment of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We support all employees regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, race, ethnic origin, color, religion, national origin, creed, marital status, disabled veteran status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, and/or physical disability that does not inhibit the performance of the specific core tasks of this position.
Emma Serr is an artist and a student studying Studio Art at SBCC. Emma has a background in art and customer service, having worked as a camp counselor at sewing camp and assistant for sewing events and classes, and display manager and cashier in previous positions, and was recently a nanny to several young children. Emma first found us as a customer who loved what Art From Scrap represents!
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent her last four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife. Veronica is very passionate about conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. Veronica has spent many summers working in environmental education at various zoos and museums and loves introducing kids to the plants and animals that coexist with us. In her free time, she likes to sit at the beach and read, take dance classes, roller skate, and walk around fancy neighborhoods to look at the houses.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them. Lu is thrilled to be teaching budding scientists about the Earth and why it’s important for us to protect and preserve the environment. 
Lydia
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Ian Docktor
MELISSA BROOKS
Lindsay Johnson