Description

Dates: September 15, 2026 until approximately February 12, 2027.

Primary Responsibilities: The seasonal naturalist position offers a variety of hands-on experience and training in the following areas:

        60% - Environmental Education: 

        Help lead outdoor educational and recreational programming for public, private, and homeschool groups following the educational standards outlined by the Georgia Standards of Excellence.

        Assist with a variety of off-site outreach programs designed to introduce and educate the community about Georgia’s natural wildlife and other wonders.

        Gain experience with classroom management, teaching, effective communication, and lesson planning.

        Topics include ecology, herpetology, fishing, and more. Please see https://georgiawildlife.com/charlie-elliott-wildlife-center for a list of all programs.

         40% - Additional Responsibilities:

        Assist with cleaning, stocking, and maintaining indoor/outdoor classroom areas and education supplies.

        Aid in the creation of education and outreach materials, including social media content, newsletters, and promotional program flyers.

        Gain experience in animal handling with CEWC’s residential animal ambassadors under the supervision of the Animal Care Specialist. 

        Utilizing the CEWC fleet vehicles (trucks, vans, and SUVs) to transport visitors and guests to programs.

        Contribute to maintenance projects and additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications: Applicants should meet the following criteria:

        Self-motivated, conservation-minded, passionate about education, and enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of the natural world with others.

        Interested in working with children and visitors of all ages in an outdoor setting to foster connection and meaningful experiences with nature.

        Flexible working in hot, cold, humid, rainy, and buggy weather and able to adjust to changing weather conditions.

        Preference will be given to candidates who are working toward or who have earned a degree in wildlife, education, natural science, or a similarly related field.   

Compensation and Benefits: 

        $13 per hour, 40 hours per week.

o    Seasonal employees do not qualify for personal leave, vacation, or holiday pay.

        Monday-Friday schedule from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with occasional evening and weekend work dependent upon program needs. 

        Complimentary housing and utilities in a historic antebellum style home (optional).

o   Shared facilities include bedrooms, den/living spaces, bathrooms, an in-house laundry unit, kitchen, and spacious porch/lawn area. Value estimated at $5,000.

        Some meals are provided during residential programs and for staff engagement lunches.

        Access to on-site trails and fishing ponds perfect for hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, nature journaling, and more.

        Hands-on training and mentorship with a dedicated team of educators, opportunities for networking with DNR professionals.

        Additional opportunities for professional development and certification in Project WILD.

How to Apply:  

        To apply, please email a complete DNR application, a 1-page interest letter, contact information for 3 professional references, and an optional resume to our Education Department at: [email protected] with the subject Seasonal Naturalist 2026.

        Applications must be received by 5pm on July 24, 2026, to be considered. 

        DNR application forms can be downloaded at: https://gadnr.org/careers

        The 1-page interest letter should describe your interest in the Seasonal Naturalist position and address the following areas, where applicable:

o   Your experience working in environmental education.

o   Your experience working with children and teenagers.

o   How you believe you will contribute to a team-oriented work environment.

o   How you believe this position will benefit you in the future.

        Candidates selected for interviews must also consent to a pre-employment background check.

For more information or for questions about the job listing, please email our Education Department at: [email protected]