Environmental Education – Nature Day Camp Series (CSA II, Ages 18+) – Open Continuous

Full Job Description

Here are the Nature Day Camp jobs you can apply to on this application:

Educator II Program Support Leads Activities Leads Wellness Lead After Care Lead Site Leads

Summary: Portland Parks & Recreation’s Nature Day Camp offers eight weeks of outdoor summer camps at two urban parks in Portland. Weekly camps have a nature theme and offer an opportunity for educators to lead groups of children ages 5-12.

Campers and educators spend the entire day outside in small groups exploring the park. Each day at camp may be different: some days are spent sharing stories, hiking, singing songs, and playing games in nature. Other days may include group rotations, making crafts, meeting guest speakers, and other hands-on activities.

For these jobs, you must be able to work outside in parks and natural areas all day, no matter the weather.

You need to be able to walk, hike, stand, balance, bend, reach, and carry things up to 25 pounds. Sometimes, you’ll hike up to three miles on bumpy or hilly trails.

You’ll also need to handle loud noises, like planes or leaf blowers, and deal with excited kids. You will meet other people and park users, and you may encounter off-leash animals.

You must be okay using public bathrooms or portable toilets. You’ll help keep things safe during the day and know what to do in emergencies.

Because you’ll be outside all day, you’ll need to drink more water, eat enough, and rest more to stay healthy.

Studies have shown that women and People of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences and qualifications for the role. Representation matters!

Daily Schedules:
For Educator II’s, Program Support Leads, Program Activities Leads, and Wellness Leads:

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, includes a 30-minute paid lunch with campers.

For Site Lead:

• Monday – Friday, 7:45 am – 4:15 pm, includes a 30-minute unpaid lunch.

For After Care Lead:

• 40 hours per week: Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm. Includes a 30-minute paid lunch.

Dates of Employment:
For Educator II’s, Program Support Leads, Program Activities Leads, and After Care Lead: June 15 – August 17, 2026
For Site Leads and Wellness Leads: Approximately June 8 – August 20, 2026*
*Please note: dates before and after Staff Training and the Summer Camp Session are flexible.

Camp Locations and Times Each week, camp takes place at one outdoor location from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. Extended drop-off is from 8:30 – 9:00 am, and optional After-Care is from 3:30 – 5:30 pm.

Over the eight weeks of camp, staff will travel to both of these outdoor locations and will need to find their own transportation to get there.

Each of these parks can be reached by public transportation.

• Mt. Tabor Park (SE Portland)
• Sellwood Park/Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge (SE Portland)

About Us: Portland Parks & Recreation is dedicated to making sure everyone can enjoy our parks and services, no matter their background. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion. We encourage people who speak other languages to apply.

Contact Information:

Loan Tran Polanco, Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Loan.Tran@portlandoregon.gov

Educator II's
$19.00 - $20.00 per hour

• Create safe spaces for campers to explore and observe the natural world.
• Plan the daily group schedule and lead activities that promote nature play.
• Check in and check out participants daily.
• Work with Program Support Leads and other Support Staff to prepare and lead an engaging and interactive day for participants.
• Communicate with parents/guardians and work together to solve logistical and behavioral problems as needed.
• Teach and lead groups using various teaching methods.
• Use creative techniques to help campers transition between activities.

Program Support Leads
$21.00 - $22.00per hour

• Support camp staff to plan, organize, and lead engaging nature-themed activities and daily programming.
• Provide camp-wide on-the-ground support to Educators. This might include leading or assisting with meetings, offering guidance and feedback, and modeling effective facilitation and transitions as needed.
• Mentor a small number of Educators throughout the summer, providing guidance, feedback, conduct performance evaluations, and provide long-form support to help them grow in their role.
• Assist Educators with camper check-in and check-out process each day.
• Communicate any logistical and behavioral issues clearly to staff, campers, and families as needed each day.
• Coordinate, plan, and implement staff break schedules to ensure appropriate coverage across camp.
• Provide temporary coverage throughout the summer who are absent or need additional support during the camp day.

Program Activities Leads
$21.00 - $22.00 per hour

• Plan and facilitate daily drop-in activities and weekly crafts and rotations for assigned age groups.
• Collaborate with Educators to co-create age specific, nature-themed activities for camper groups.
• Oversee planning and weekly flow of activities for assigned age groups, including rotations and special programs.
• Lead daily all camp opening and closing circles as scheduled.
• Prepare, organize and distribute activity materials and curriculum kits for assigned groups.
• Coordinate guest speakers and special activities related to assigned age groups.
• Obtain, transport, and manage camp supplies and equipment. Access to a personal vehicle may be required. Mileage is reimbursed

Wellness Leads
$23.00 - $24.00 per hour

• Collect and fill out reports for camper behavioral incidents. Communicate incidents to Support Staff and guardians by the end of each day.
• Review participant health forms each week using online health form system; communicate this information to Educators and Support Staff.
• Intake and process camper medication forms; check in and out camper medication each day.
• Administer medications to campers, document all medication administration and accident reports.
• Spend time with campers or groups who need additional support – behavioral, emotional, or by providing first aid.

After Care Lead
$23.00 - $24.00 per hour

• Assist and support with staff breaks, and oversee transition to After Care.
• Oversee all logistics and flow of After-Care program (3:30 - 5:30pm each day).
• Check campers in and out of After-Care.
• Ensure campers are provided with a snack that meets dietary or allergy needs.
• Support camp tear-down each afternoon. Make sure items are locked up and stored away.

Site Leads:
$23.00 - $25.00 per hour

• Support and oversee camp flow: lead daily morning and afternoon meetings, help plan activities, assist with staff breaks. Spend time each day shadowing, observing, mentoring staff.
• Conduct, assign, and oversee staff performance evaluations.
• Work with the Nature Day Camp Coordinator to plan and organize staff training and potential mid-summer staff enrichment days.
• Coordinate onsite logistics: camper attendance, fill out staff timesheets, make announcements, or other administrative tasks.
• Practice strong communication skills: communicates with fellow all other staff each day. Update teams on daily announcements and ongoing tasks that need to get done.
• Oversee flow of camp set-up each morning, and camper check in and check out process each day.
• Transport camp supplies and equipment to and from locations. You will need access to a personal vehicle and may need to take some supplies home each day. There is reimbursement for mileage.
• Delegate tasks as needed.

Requirements

Qualifications Needed for all jobs on this posting:

1. Experience working at an organization related to childcare, babysitting, summer camp, nature, science, or outdoor education.
2. Experience teaching, mentoring, and leading with people from diverse backgrounds related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic situation, and religion.
3. Experience working with children in settings that are unstructured, lightly structured, or did not have a set curriculum.
4. Experience building relationships with children over extended periods of time.
5. Ability to get to work in different parts of the city throughout the summer by car, carpool, foot, bike, or public transit. (This year’s camps will be at Mt Tabor Park, Sellwood Park).
6. All applicants must be 18 years old by June 8th, 2026.
7. Hold a current CPR/First Aid Certification by time of offer.

Qualifications

How to Apply:

• Click "APPLY" to submit your application online.
• You need to answer the supplemental questions and attach your resume.
• If you are a Veteran and want preference, attach your Veteran documents

Hiring Process:
Step 1: Apply online starting on February 16, 2026 to March 22, 2026.
Step 2: We will review your application to see if you meet the minimum needs for this role.
Step 3: If you qualify, you will be placed on a list of eligible candidates.
Step 4: We will contact eligible candidates for interviews as positions become available. Interviews will happen from March to April.
Step 5: Job offers will be made after interviews, in April and May.
Step 6: The start date will be approximately June 08, 2026, once all hiring conditions are met.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veterans Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations