Teacher, ZooCamp

About the Position

ZooCamp is a day camp program for kids entering grades K-8, run by the Education Department at the Oakland Zoo. 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 Manager and Assistant Manager.

Note: ZooCamp is an active and high sensory environment. Teachers should expect to spend most of their day outside in the sun (often in dirt/grass), standing, walking, and sometimes other types of physical movement (running, dancing, etc) when playing with campers.

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.

Camp is 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.

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

Mandatory Staff Training May 29-June 2.

8 available sessions for Kinder-5th grade campers:

Session 1 A: June 5-9
Session 2 B: June 12-16
Session 3 A: June 19-23
Session 4 B: June 26-30
Session 5 A: July 10-14
Session 6 B: July 17-21
Session 7 A: July 24-28
Session 8 B: July 31-August 4

4 available sessions for 6th-8th grade campers:

Session 3 A: June 19-23
Session 4 B: June 26-30
Session 5 A: July 10-14
Session 6 B: July 17-21 ‍
No camp held the week of July 3-7

Hours*: M-F, 8:30am - 4:30pm

*1-week required OT for Before care (8:00-9:00) and 1-week required OT for aftercare (4:00-5:30).

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Education

Department

Manager:

Manager, ZooCamp

Seasonal

Full-Time

$22-25/hour (depending on experience)

Application Deadline:

Open until filled

Benefits

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Essential Job Duties

Ensure the physical, social, and emotional well-being of all campers in accordance with the ZooCamp Mission
Create a weekly schedule for your camp group with the help of the teaching team and Directors
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 resolve conflicts and provide guidance and discipline as needed
Supervise 1-4 Teen Assistants and provide evaluations
Communicate with campers’ parents/guardians about issues as well as successes, inform camp directors about any concerns
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
Experience working in a team and giving/receiving feedback
High emotional intelligence and patience and compassion for others
Age 18+ years
Able to travel the zoo grounds and be outside for extended periods of time
Able to work in-person at Oakland Zoo
Up-to-Date First Aid/CPR Certification. Those selected for the position who are not already certified can choose to get independently certified (and reimbursed) or attend training provided by the Zoo.
Oakland Zoo requires vaccination*. Teachers are required to be fully vaccinated (including at least 1 booster) 2 weeks before staff training begins on May 29.

Bonus If You Have

Experience working in a zoo/nature center/museum
Experience in outdoor/environmental education
Experience supervising teens
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

Required Education

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

Who We Are

The Oakland Zoo (managed by The Conservation Society of California) is an award-winning facility stretching 100 acres and overlooking the city of Oakland atop the hills of beautiful Knowland Park. Our mission is to inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world, while providing a quality visitor experience. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), The Zoo is part of the largest conservation organization in the nation. Our employees take PRIDE in our values of being Positive, Respectful, Inquisitive, Driven and Effective members of a team who places the care of our animals, stewardship of the natural environment, and the experience of our guests at the forefront of all that we do.

Oakland Zoo’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access

We believe that all people should have safe access to the Zoo and culturally relevant and responsive experiences with our staff, programs, and curriculum. The Oakland Zoo is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and valued for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement toward a vision of equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are committed to reflecting the diverse community in which we exist and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The Conservation Society of California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status or other characteristics protected by law. The Conservation Society of California also promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.

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