Education Programs Assistant
Part-Time | Approximately 24 hours per week | $20.00–$23.00 per hour
Help Kids Discover the Wonder of Nature!
Do you light up when you’re working with children? Are you happiest when you’re sharing what you know, leading an activity, exploring outdoors, or helping someone discover something new?
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre (ABNC) is looking for an enthusiastic, energetic, and dependable Education Programs Assistant to help bring our environmental education programs to life.
This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working with children and youth, brings positive energy to a team, and is excited to keep learning. You don’t need to know everything about Okanagan wildlife and ecosystems on day one—we’ll help you build that knowledge. What matters most is that you are curious, engaging, organized, and genuinely excited about creating memorable learning experiences.
What You’ll Be Doing
Reporting to our Education Programs Coordinator, you’ll help prepare and deliver programs such as:
- School Field Trips
- Nature in the Classroom
- Summer Camps
- Birthday parties
- Outreach programs
- Guided nature activities and interpretive experiences
- Other youth-focused educational initiatives
A key part of this role will be travelling to schools throughout the North Okanagan to deliver interactive, experiential environmental education presentations. You’ll bring nature into the classroom through hands-on activities, engaging discussions, demonstrations, and established ABNC programs designed to spark curiosity and help students connect with the natural world.
Some days you may be leading a hands-on activity with a classroom of excited students. Other days, you could be preparing materials for an upcoming program, guiding children on an outdoor adventure, supporting a birthday party, or helping a young person make an unforgettable discovery about the natural world.
You’ll receive training in ABNC’s established programs and gradually take on more responsibility for independently leading activities and educational experiences.
Your Responsibilities Will Include
· Travelling to local schools to deliver engaging, hands-on environmental education presentations and activities for children and youth
· Helping prepare and deliver environmental education programs at the Nature Centre and in the community
· Leading established lessons, presentations, games, guided activities, and hands-on learning experiences
· Adapting activities for different ages, group sizes, learning needs, weather conditions, and facilities
· Preparing classrooms, outdoor learning areas, equipment, supplies, and educational materials
· Supporting the planning and delivery of Summer Camps and other seasonal programs
· Providing fun, age-appropriate nature interpretation through guided tours, hikes, presentations, and demonstrations
· Supporting program scheduling, registrations, participant communications, attendance tracking, and recordkeeping
· Organizing and maintaining educational supplies, teaching resources, and program equipment
· Working closely with our Education Programs Coordinator, volunteers, seasonal staff, and other ABNC team members
· Helping create safe, inclusive, welcoming, and well-organized learning environments
· Pitching in with front desk coverage, special events, fundraising activities, and other Centre needs when required
You’ll Be a Great Fit If You
· Genuinely enjoy working with children and youth
· Bring warmth, patience, enthusiasm, and positive energy to your work
· Are comfortable speaking in front of groups and encouraging participation
· Can provide clear direction and keep children engaged
· Are organized, reliable, and attentive to the details that keep programs running smoothly
· Communicate well with children, parents, teachers, volunteers, and coworkers
· Are curious and excited to build your environmental knowledge
· Welcome feedback and enjoy developing new skills
· Can work independently once trained while recognizing when to ask for guidance
· Enjoy being part of a collaborative, hands-on team
· Are comfortable working both indoors and outdoors in changing weather conditions
· Can work a seasonally variable schedule, including weekdays and weekends during ABNC’s public season
· Are willing to jump in and help wherever needed to create a great experience for our participants and visitors
What You’ll Bring
· A high school diploma or equivalent
· Experience working with children or youth in an educational, recreational, camp, childcare, volunteer, or community setting
· Experience facilitating group activities, delivering presentations, or supporting educational programs is an asset
· Early Childhood Education certification or experience is an asset
· Post-secondary coursework or training in education, environmental studies, biology, natural resources, interpretation, recreation, child and youth care, or a related field is an asset
· Knowledge of Okanagan ecosystems, wildlife, habitats, or conservation topics is an asset
· Current First Aid and CPR certification, or willingness to obtain it
· A valid driver’s licence and reliable personal vehicle, as the position involves travel to schools and other off-site program locations
· The ability to successfully complete a criminal record check, including the applicable vulnerable sector screening requirements
Schedule
This position is approximately 24 hours per week.
From September 2026 through the winter and early spring, hours will be primarily Monday to Friday, with occasional Saturdays during September and October. During ABNC’s public season, generally mid-April through the end of October, hours will vary between Tuesday and Sunday to support school programs, summer camps, birthday parties, and other educational activities. Weekend availability will be required during the public season.
Work Arrangement
This is primarily an on-site position. During the winter months when the Nature Centre is closed to the public, some administrative and program preparation work may be completed remotely. School visits and program delivery remain in person. During ABNC’s public season, the position is based on-site at the Nature Centre, with travel to schools and other program locations as required.
What We Offer
· Three weeks of paid vacation annually, based on your regular part-time hours
· A paid one-week Christmas closure, based on your regular part-time hours
· An annual Health Spending Account
· Training and opportunities to develop your environmental education and nature interpretation skills
· Meaningful work in a beautiful and unique setting
· The chance to make a lasting impression on children and help inspire the next generation of nature enthusiasts
· A welcoming, collaborative team that cares deeply about ABNC’s mission and the work we do
About Allan Brooks Nature Centre
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is a charitable environmental education organization located in Vernon, British Columbia. We promote the enjoyment of nature and increase awareness of habitat conservation through environmental education and nature-related activities throughout the Okanagan.
Our school programs, summer camps, public programs, interpretive experiences, and community events help people of all ages connect with nature and learn about the diverse ecosystems, wildlife, habitats, and unique grassland environments of the Okanagan.
Learn more about our programs, mission, and beautiful Nature Centre at www.abnc.ca.
We’d Love to Hear From You!
Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to:
Stacey Davidson, Executive Lead
In your cover letter, tell us what excites you about this opportunity, what you enjoy most about working with children or youth, and what you would bring to the ABNC team.
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, including Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, persons with disabilities, and people of all gender identities and expressions.
No phone calls, please. We appreciate every application; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $20.00-$23.00 per hour
Expected hours: No more than 24.0 per week
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Vernon, BC: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Application question(s):
- Are you available to work approximately 24 hours per week, primarily Monday to Friday during the winter and early spring, with weekend availability during ABNC’s public season?
- Do you have experience working with children or youth in an educational, recreational, camp, childcare, volunteer or community setting?
- Please briefly describe your experience working with children or youth, including any experience leading activities, presentations or group programs.
- Are you comfortable delivering interactive presentations and hands-on activities to groups of children, once you have been trained in ABNC’s programs?
- Do you have a valid driver’s licence and a reliable personal vehicle that you can use to travel to schools and other program locations?
Work Location: In person
