NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus
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Outdoor Education Instructor
The Lorado Taft Field Campus is Northern Illinois University’s outdoor education and conference center and is located in Oregon, Illinois. Taft Campus’ outdoor education program is generally multidisciplinary, place-based, and experiential, and planned in close partnership with the visiting schools with the goal of providing excellent programming and customer service to the visiting students and staff.
All positions require successful hires to live in provided campus housing.
For additional information about Lorado Taft Field Campus, please visit https://www.niu.edu/taft/.
Position Description Summary: The Outdoor Education Instructor is responsible for the instruction of resident outdoor education experiences for elementary and middle school students.
Salary and Benefits: $2275/month; private room in furnished, shared housing; welcome to meals when dining hall is in operation; health, vision, and dental insurance.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop and teach classes, primarily in the outdoor environment, to students in the 4th to 8th grades.
Develop curricula and resources for the program.
Assist in the maintenance and upkeep of campus teaching, habitat, and resource storage areas.
Participate in staff training prior to teaching and throughout the school year.
Assist in the coordination of the residential outdoor education program.
Provide guest services and assist in security and emergency procedures.
Complete projects assigned by the faculty supervisors.
Minimum Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in education, science, natural resources, recreation, history, or related field.
Two months experience teaching or facilitating learning experiences for youth. This may include classroom teaching, summer camp, natural history or environmental education, facilitating outdoor recreation experiences and other non-formal teaching experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience as an educator, program staff, naturalist or related position at a residential outdoor education center, nature center, or similar facility preferred.
Previous experience in preparing lesson plans, outlines, or guides in preparation to teach or facilitate activities.
Previous experience leading or facilitating groups in team building activities.
Demonstrated enthusiasm for the outdoors and outdoor education, even when conditions are challenging.
Demonstrated professionalism as related to the field.
Demonstrated initiative to go above and beyond minimum assigned duties.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Ability to work effectively with co-workers and supervisors to achieve the goals of the program.
Ability to convey information about environmental topics without bias and with the goal of encouraging lifelong learning.
Ability to effectively engage in behavior management in order to maintain students’ interest and participation in outdoor classes and activities.
Ability to manage work time effectively and with little supervision to ensure preparedness and project completion.
Flexibility and the ability to deal with the unexpected and quickly changing nature of outdoor activities and children.
Demonstrated competence in verbal communication, particularly the ability to present information, ideas, directions, etc. in a clear and concise manner.
Physical Demands
Ability to hike hilly, uneven terrain. Ability to be on feet for much of the day.
Additional Information About NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus
Located near Oregon, Illinois, the Lorado Taft Field Campus has a rich history. The 141-acre campus was once part of the Wallace Heckman estate, a peaceful property overlooking the Rock River.
In 1898, a group of artists and scholars established the Eagle's Nest Art Colony on the Heckman estate. The group was led by noted sculptor Lorado Taft. The secluded estate provided a creative environment for the group members to focus on their work. The colony remained active until the death of its last member in 1942.
In 1951, NIU acquired a portion of the Heckman estate. Named after Lorado Taft, the campus consists of wooded areas, open fields and ravines. It also includes 3 of the original art colony buildings. We have modernized the buildings and added other facilities.
Over the years, we have welcomed thousands of people to our campus. They have experienced the same peaceful setting enjoyed by the original art colony members. We invite you to join in our tradition of learning and reflection