Teacher, Zoo Camp (Summer)

Pay: $22.66-25.75/hr depending on experience. This is a seasonal position; there are no benefits or paid time off.

• Applications accepted until April 1, 2024. Rolling interviews will be conducted until close date.

Position Summary

ZooCamp is a summer day camp program for kids entering grades K-8th Grade, run by the Learning & Engagement Department at the Oakland Zoo. Camp runs 9:00 am - 3:30 pm M-F throughout the summer, with nine 1-week sessions. ZooCamp Teachers lead and facilitate a group of 16-20 campers and supervise 1-4 Teen Assistants. Teachers play a huge role in setting the tone for camp and report directly to the ZooCamp Director.

Note: ZooCamp is an active and high sensory environment. Teachers should expect to spend the majority of their day outside in the sun and often in dirt/grass. Teachers should expect to spend much of their time standing, walking, and sometimes other types of physical movement (running, dancing, etc) when playing with campers. Sometimes teachers will need to carry things from place to place.

ZooCamp Mission Statement:

ZooCamp is a space where life is celebrated and nurtured. We respect the diversity of life we find reflected in our people, our plants, and our animals.

Our goal at ZooCamp is to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment in which campers and staff alike develop and practice our skills of communication, compassion, and scientific thinking. Through hands-on exploration, play, and community building campers will deepen their connections to themselves, each other, and our natural world.

Camp Schedule:

• Mandatory Staff Training May 21-24 and May 28-31.
• S1 (A): Monday-Friday, June 3-7
• S2 (B): Monday-Friday, June 10-14
• S3 (A): Monday-Friday, June 17-21
• S4 (B): Monday-Friday, June 24-28

No camp week of July 4

• S5 (A): Monday-Friday, July 8-12
• S6 (B): Monday-Friday, July 15-19
• S7 (A): Monday-Friday, July 22-26
• S8 (B): Monday-Friday, July 29 - August 2
• S9 (A): Monday-Friday, August 5-9

Priority will be given to candidates who can work all summer.

Camp Hours: M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm with 1-week required OT for Before care (8:00-9:00) and 1-week required OT for aftercare (3:30-5:30).

Essential Job Duties

• Lead and supervise a group of 16-20 campers, ensuring the physical, social, and emotional well-being of all campers in accordance with the ZooCamp Mission
• Create a weekly schedule for your camp group
• Facilitate lessons, games, Zoo tours, and other camp activities
• Participate in, help create, and facilitate all-camp activities like skits, song sessions, and games

• Help campers solve conflicts, provide guidance and manage behavioral expectations as needed

• Attend weekly all-staff meetings and one:one check ins with the Directors
• Work collaboratively with fellow camp staff, Zoo Learning & Engagement team, animal care, operations and administration staff
• Supervise 1-4 Teen Assistants. Have daily check-ins and provide weekly evaluations on their performance. Delegate tasks and facilitation and provide opportunities for them to take on leadership roles in the group
• Communicate with campers’ parents/guardians about issues as well as successes, inform camp directors about any concerns
• Understand and maintain Zoo and ZooCamp health and safety standards
• Follow all Zoo safety protocol to ensure safety of people, equipment, and animals

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

Who You Are

• Experience working with youth in grades K-8 in education (formal or informal) and/or camp settings
• Some scientific literacy and experience with science concepts and thinking
• Experience working in a collaborative team
• Excellent communication skills
• High emotional intelligence, patience and compassion for others
• General openness towards people, experiences, and ideas
• Comfort being in front of a group
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Willingness to be silly and add your voice and personality to the ZooCamp culture
• Must be 18+ years old
• All Zoo staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Teachers are required to be fully vaccinated (including at least 1 booster) 2 weeks before staff training begins on May 29.
• Teachers are required to provide a recent (within the last 2 years) TB test or acquire one before the start of camp.

Bonus If You Have

• Experience working in a zoo/nature center/museum
• Experience in outdoor/environmental education
• Experience supervising others, especially teens
• Nonviolent communication training/experience
• Knowledge of climate change and climate-related issues
• Background in biology, zoology, ecology, and/or environmental science
• Knowledge of local plant and animal species and ecosystems
• Experience working with animals

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility.
• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing.
• Dependability – demonstrates trustworthiness and reliability, including while working with little or no direct supervision.
• Enjoyment – finds joy in one’s work, approaches tasks with thoughtfulness & intentionality, and fosters collective well-being by embracing the unique skills and qualities of colleagues.
• Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
• Inclusive Facilitation – able to comfortably move a group through pre-determined content while balancing inclusion and timing; able to flexibly weave in related content to make connections for learners and adjust or pivot when needed.
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times.
• Solution-oriented – utilizes an open-minded and strengths-based approach to finding solutions for complex challenges.
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department.
• Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at The Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife.