Contract Educator positions – hands-on nature & science programs – Apply by March 30th

Contract Educator positions – hands-on nature & science programs – Apply by March 30th

 

We’re lookiing for Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre Educators (contract position with fexible term): Do you have a background in nature education and enjoy transmitting your knowledge and love of nature to children and youth? Perhaps you are a retired or part-time teacher who enjoys leading hands-on learning with children from grades K-9? We are looking for nature educators to join our team and bring the Cowichan Estuary to life for school groups in K-9 at our Centre on the shores of the Cowichan Estuary this spring. Join us and get inspired working in an amazing ecosystem and community here in the Cowichan Valley. Our educators may also be invited to co-lead restoration programs for high school youth working with Anna Scounten, our Restoration Program Lead. Contract rate: $20 – $23/hour.

As a Nature Centre educator you would lead or co-lead (dependent on class sizes) 1hr – 1.5 hour nature and ecology programs for learners in Grades K-9. Our programs focus on hands-on experiential learning, include time outside in nature and cover topics such as: estuary intertidal creatures, birds and wildlife, watershed health, climate change, environmental science, nature conservation, biology, etc., and may include social studies and historical content, including respect for the knowledge and care of the Quw’ustun have brought to the estuary and its watersheds from time immemorial to the present day. At low tide activities may include mud digs, micro-plastic surveys and beach seines in the intertidal zone to explore resident sea life.  Hours are dependent on school and restoration programming bookings, typically 2 – 3 hrs weekday mornings or afternoons (usually a 1 to 1.5 hr program plus set up and take down time).  

Applications due by March 31st. For the full job description: Nature Educator Position Description 2022

To apply for Educator Positions: Email your resume and references to admin@cowichanestuary.ca with the subject heading of “Nature Centre Educator 2023”.

We thank all those who apply for your interest!

Paid Youth Internship – Spring Break – Apply NOW

We are so excited to invite youth aged 15 to 20 to apply for a paid restoration internship this Spring Break!

From March 21st to 25th at Bright Angel Park, youth will gain valuable work experience in ecological restoration techniques that will help propel them into employment fields such as Environmental Sciences, Biology, and Ecology. Each 5-hour day will be a mix of invasive species removal, native species planting, and daily Lunch-and-Learns where they will be mentored by local experts.

Position: Restoration Intern
Organization: Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre
Location: Bright Angel Park

Compensation: $18/hr

Hours: 9:00am-2:00pm (27 hrs total)

Position Type: Temporary, March 21st to 25th, 2022 (with paid 2hr orientation Friday, March 18th)

Application Deadline: March 11, 2022

Skills gained:

  • Invasive species identification and removal techniques
  • Native species identification and planting procedures
  • Ecological restoration techniques and theory
  • Daily Lunch-and-Learn workshops from local experts
  • Restoration monitoring and surveying skills
  • Valuable work experience to help propel you into a related field

Skills/Qualifications needed:

  • Enthusiasm for environmental restoration
  • Strong work ethic
  • Ability to perform physical duties of the job in all outdoor weather conditions
  • Leadership skills
  • Excitement to learn
  • Youth aged 15-20

What you’ll bring

  • Snacks/Lunch for the day
  • Your all weather clothing

To Apply:

Email us your resume to restoration@cowichanestuary.ca by March 11th, 2022

Big Huy ch q’u (Thank you) to our collaborator, Cowichan Watershed Board and partners.

Volunteers zoom fabulous kids workshop to Family Medical Conference

Local physician Dr. Katharine Bell invited the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre to be part of a Canada Wide College of Family Physicians Family Medical Conference this November which was zoomed over the airwaves from Ontario! The Nature Centre joined a group of organizations including the Toronto Zoo as part of their family-zone entertaining children while their parents attended important medical lectures.

We are so grateful to our incredible team; Kerrie Talbot (Storytime host), Jim Wisnia (MC and sing-a-long host) and Lyn Wisnia (puppet-master) and Madeline (technical wizard and touch tank show-and-tell host)! Together, they put on a fabulous show for the kids including a magical journey through the estuary using songs, a puppet show of local critters and a wonderful touch-tank show-and-tell with Madeline. Some of our audience members may never have seen a live hermit crab or been to our coast and feedback from the FMF organizers has been lovely saying:

“We appreciate all the hard work and time spent making this component of FMF a great success! The storytelling, sing-a-long and exploring of the touch tank created a lot a buzz among the attendees.”

Great work team!

 

Pacific Salmon Foundation

Many thanks to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for this beautiful Mark Hobson print

as seen above with our lead aquarist and educator Madeline Southern!

We are grateful for the support of the Pacific Salmon Foundation over the past 10 years since the Centre was first created. PSF has been supporting our work in educating children, and the whole community, about on the importance of our local watersheds, and especially the key role of salmon in our watershed ecosystems. PSF’s ongoing support of our youth riparian habitat restoration program – inspiring young people to make a hands-on positive difference in our local streams and rivers – is having an impact we’re proud of.

We are hiring a Restoration Coordinator/Educator!

HALF-TIME RESTORATION COORDINATOR/EDUCATOR – WE ARE HIRING!

Are you experienced in restoration and teaching children and youth in grades 5-12 and beyond? We are looking for an inspiring Restoration Coordinator/Educator to join our team! Join us and get a chance to delve into an amazing community doing great work here in the Cowichan Valley.

Job Title: Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre Restoration Coordinator/Educator

Hours: 18 hours a week (can vary from week to week)

The restoration season tends to be Sept-Oct and February-May with school programming in development for November and March See:  https://www.cowichanestuary.ca/programs/school-programs/

Rate: starting $20/hr.

Start Date: September 2021 (2022 funding for this contract position is dependent on grant applications in process)

Program Description: Our “Youth Watershed Conservation and Restoration Program for a Climate Resilient Future” engages youth in the  Cowichan Valley in learning about conserving and protecting local watersheds and building climate resilience in the Cowichan Valley through hands-on riparian restoration, school programs, leadership training, educational workshops, awareness-­raising activities, and effective hands­-on water conservation and restoration projects especially focused on the Cowichan and Koksilah Watersheds that converge at the Cowichan Estuary.  Program for upper grades includes monitoring the success of plantings to see measurable results.

Job Description: The CENC Restoration Education Coordinator will create on-the-ground conservation and restoration programs working in collaboration with CVRD Parks and local conservation partners, deliver school programs, community workshops and water conservation and restoration action days, do program communications and outreach, support students and volunteers, and track data to measure project success.  This program is flexible, with room for creativity and to make it your own!

For the full job description click Restoration Coordinator/Educator Job Description 2021

How to Apply: 

Email your resume and references to Amy Clinton-Baker (coordinator) at amy@cowichanestuary.ca with subject heading: Nature Centre Educator 2021. Applications close midnight September 30th.

Thank all those who apply for your interest in our organization!

Restoration Workshop with Dave Polster

Do you want to help restore wild spaces? To feel a part of nature, your community and make a difference? Join us for a 1.5 day workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workshop Details:

Where?

Day 1 online, using Zoom, focusing on theory (1-5pm) *sounds long but Dave’s presentation is very engaging and there will be a break midway through!*

Day 2 will be spent in the field  (9-3pm)

ALL AGES. minors 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

This is a 1.5 day workshop to learn and refine skills in the field of Ecological Restoration. By renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment we will work as a group to learn the skills and transfer them into key techniques out in the field.

The goal is to bring together people who are already working in the field of restoration or are excited to learn more about it. No experience is necessary for this course.

The first day will be spent on Zoom setting the context. The second day we will travel to a field site (likely Stoltz Bluffs – but TBD) and take part in learning some key bioengineering techniques to enhance the success of restoration projects.

Our teacher, David Polster, is a plant ecologist with over 35 years of experience in vegetation studies, reclamation and invasive species management. He graduated from the University of Victoria with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 and a Master of Science degree in 1977. He has developed a wide variety of reclamation techniques for mines, industrial developments and steep/unstable slopes as well as techniques for the re-establishment of riparian and aquatic habitats. He has authored numerous papers and teaches graduate level courses on these topics.

 

Cost: $89 per person (includes Dave’s restoration workbook)

 

REGISTER HERE 

Honouring Eric Marshall’s 90th Birthday!

The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre is proud to honour Eric Marshall in the event of his 90th birthday!

We are hosting a drop-in birthday “party” at the Nature Centre to celebrate a lifetime of dedication to nature and community. Come and drop by to speak with Eric and Dorothy, view a slideshow of images from his adventures and community work and tour the Nature Centre.

In lieu of gifts Eric is asking that you consider making a donation to the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre. Click the link below to be redirected to our Canada Helps donation Page.  On behalf of Eric and the Nature Centre, thank you for your donation.

Donate to Eric’s 90th Restoration and Nature Education Fund

We look forward to seeing you here!