52 Teaching Jobs in 52 Weeks

Once again it was the summer and I found myself seeking a ‘fun’ job. I struck gold. Under the Parks & Recreation jobs I found a position as a Naturalist with the Warner Parks Nature Center. I was to guide field trips, takes children and adults on hikes, create programs for the community, hold hummingbirds in the palms of my hands, tasted fresh peppermint growing from a natural garden, and I even called for Barred Owls during the night.

That summer I spotted the first River Otters in over thirty years in Nashville, TN. A handsome photographer for the Tennessean captured me and I, of course, mistook the creatures for “funny-looking beavers” (I was new to rivers and creeks, I’d spent my time in boats on lakes, what did I know).

Needless to say the job was wonderful. I was paid to hike. I was paid to entertain. I was paid to educate. I went searching for crawdads in the creek (this was something I’d done as a child) I highly recommend working in Nature. The birds were beautiful ( I fed them every morning and watered the pine trees up the trails. I discovered bugs I’d never seen and ran into a few raccoons. Nature seems to come alive around me. If you’re going to go hiking and you want to see animals, promise to be as quiet as a mouse and then take me with you. It is without  a doubt you’ll certainly see some creatures. Here’s my former boss speaking about the wonderful Warner Park Nature Center Opportunities.

So, again, if you fancy nature and education this is an opportunity for you. Locate the nature centers in your area and or contact the local (city) and state departments of parks and recreation. Give them a call and inquire (they certainly hire for the summer and you may find your position becoming permanent).

*One more thing I failed to mention. If you find that you can offer your nature center any benefit to their educational programs, by all means share that when writing your cover letter and share it during your interview process. If you can evaluate curriculum, create puppets, you specialize in American Indian story-telling or anything else of that nature you’ll be a real treat.

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