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Fun, exciting and interesting programs encompass a wide range of outdoor and adventure education activities, including aquatic and bay studies, dairy and farm ecology, early American studies, environmental issues and recycling, orienteering, sensory exploration, survival skills, swamp studies and weather. The outdoor school's historic wooden work boats are the cornerstone of the Bay science and history programs. The boats are used for a variety of classes and ventures that allow participants to study and discover first-hand the wonders of Chesapeake Bay ecology. Each vessel is outfitted with a variety of laboratory equipment, enabling it to function as a mobile Bay Studies classroom. |
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WHAT YOU CAN DO |
Teaching
Positions
Teaching Positions at Echo Hill provide opportunities to learn more about natural sciences and local history; adventure course facilitation and training; residential life; individual and group guidance; facility care and maintenance (including landscaping, gardening and carpentry); and the restoration and maintenance of historic wooden boats. Instructors will gain insight into diverse educational philosophies, participate in curriculum development and often collaborate in teaching. While there is a strong and established framework for all of the classes taught at EHOS, great responsibility is placed on a staff member to plan, execute and provide the creativity behind any lesson plan. On a typical day, staff members teach two 3-hour classes, participate in an evening activity and supervise breakfast, lunch and dinner. At night they read stories or sing songs to a tent of students before going to bed. Throughout the week, staff may participate in campus work or focus on a responsibility area for a 3-hour work block. The school's facilities may be adapted to meet the needs of groups ranging from the college level to first graders, but the majority of the programming is geared towards middle school students. Depending on their comfort level, staff members may find themselves responsible for teaching a wide variety of classes, ranging from Bay studies which is conducted on one of the school's historic Chesapeake Bay work boats to an Adventure I class on the school's challenge course. Intern
Positions
Interns at Echo Hill serve as assistants to the teaching staff while learning the ropes of environmental and adventure education. Key responsibilities include assisting with all aspects of the school curriculum (including planning, co-teaching and assessing classes), helping with the supervision of students at all times, creating and implementing new course and curriculum ideas, overnight tent/cabin duties for groups of 7-10 children and active involvement in staff assessment of visiting groups. Interns are encouraged to create their own goals and objectives for their experience, and it is extremely beneficial for the intern to maintain a journal throughout their tenure at Echo Hill. An orientation, supervision and evaluation is provided during the internship period. EHOS interns are often students working in conjunction with their college and Echo Hill Outdoor School to earn course credit and fulfill individual course requirements. |
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TIME COMMITMENT |
Echo Hill Outdoor School operates year-round and primarily provides programming from March through December during these terms: spring (March-June), summer (June-August) and fall (September-December). Contract opportunities range from 3 to 10 months during the first year of employment, with even more extensive contracts available after your first year at EHOS. During the off season, housing is available to returning staff. |
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PERKS & REWARDS |
Compensation for work at EHOS includes a weekly salary plus full room and board. Extra money can be earned by working optional weekend programs and is paid on a separate pay scale. Depending on personal preference, staff members may live in rustic cabins overlooking the bay, newer dorms or communal houses located on and off campus. The starting salary for Teacher/Naturalists is $220-$250 per week; Interns receive a weekly stipend. School-owned housing and full board are a condition of these residential positions. A staff medical reimbursement plan is also available. The training you receive as an employee of Echo Hill is truly a reward. Throughout the program year, five weeks of comprehensive training and professional development in all curriculum areas is provided. Although you are a teacher at EHOS, you are constantly learning more about the environment, the Chesapeake Bay and most importantly yourself. It is not uncommon for Echo Hill Outdoor School teachers to move on to graduate programs in the areas of teaching and the natural sciences. Internships often lead to Teacher/Naturalist positions. The social life at EHOS is a blast. Staff entertain themselves right at home in a variety of ways, with everything from beach bonfires and movie nights to an annual spring Kentucky Derby party and an autumn Rockfish Festival. The school is located in a scenic but relatively isolated environment with a mile long private beach on the Chesapeake Bay. Off-campus entertainment opportunities exist just twenty minutes away in Chestertown MD, home to Washington College. Chestertown is a majestic colonial town with over 300 years of history. Beyond Chestertown, staff will frequently make trips to Annapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Ocean City or Washington, D.C. All of these destinations are located less than 2 hours away. |
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THE ESSENTIALS |
Instructors and interns come from a wide variety of backgrounds including education, natural sciences, recreation, environmental education, adventure learning, psychology, history and marine biology. Teachers generally possess a Bachelor's degree. Internships are available to undergraduate, graduate, and gap-year students. Internships are also available to individuals interested in teaching/working with children, but have little experience. Motivated, energetic and creative individuals who are looking for a challenging and rewarding experience will thrive in this environment. |
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YOUR FIRST MOVE |
Applications are welcomed year-round. Primary start dates are March, June and September. If interested, please send a cover letter, resume and three references to Betsy Zelter McCown to the address below. |
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CONNECTIONS |
Betsy
Zelter McCown (410)
348-5880 |
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NAVIGATION |
Echo Hill Outdoor
School can be found in the Environmental
Education Jobs
channel |
