Summer Educator

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Summer Educator

Job Overview:

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), a nationally recognized leader in environmental education for people of all ages, seeks summer educators for two of its sites, Rock Bottom Ranch and Hallam Lake to develop and teach week-long summer camps and programs, primarily with children entering grades K-8. 

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a non-profit environmental science education organization with three locations in the Roaring Fork Valley: Hallam Lake, Rock Bottom Ranch, and the Catto Center at Toklat. Since 1968, ACES has been meeting its mission of educating for environmental responsibility. Our programs reach more than 140,000 individuals every year, and focus on ecological literacy, regenerative agriculture, forest and ecosystem health, land restoration and environmental leadership. ACES works diligently to directly affect environmental and climate change education, awareness and action. We also engage our community by hosting public lectures and events. ACES collaborates with land trusts, public agencies and other nonprofits to achieve our mission.

ACES has full-time environmental education classrooms at four elementary schools: Aspen Elementary School, Basalt Elementary School, Crystal River Elementary School, and Kathryn Senor Elementary School. Educators teach K-5 students in our partner schools, lead field programs for school groups at sites from Aspen to Rifle, and facilitate winter, spring, and summer camps.

Please visit the ACES website for more information on our youth summer camps and programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities (90%)

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Teach ACES Youth Summer Camp and Programs.
   1. Teach informative, fun, and inspiring week-long youth programs for students (K-8) based at Hallam Lake or Rock Bottom Ranch, and various other off-site locations. Programs may include hikes and overnight camping.
   2. Be solely responsible for managing and supervising youth in grades K-8 in an outdoor environment.
   3. Lead and safely manage students (K-8) in a wide range of environments and conditions (i.e. programs at 11,200 feet in elevation, working outdoors with children in wet and cold weather).
   4. Support and mentor high school youth who are employed in ACES Trook Apprenticeship positions and our Educator-in-Training volunteers.
   5. Lead and support other community programs for adults and families, as needed.
      
2. Develop and prepare curriculum and education materials for ACES Youth Summer Camps  and Programs. 
   1. Develop, revise, and document education curriculum for week-long youth programs for various ages.
   2. Create, prepare and organize educational resources and materials for ACES youth programs.

Secondary Responsibilities (10%)

1. Assist and become involved with visitor center maintenance including resident animal management, ranch animal husbandry, interpretive exhibits, and other ACES projects.
2. Perform on-site visitor center hosting responsibilities. This includes greeting and engaging guests, answering telephone calls, informal visitor education, and fielding questions.
3. Maintain site organization and cleanliness. 
4. Other duties as assigned to further the mission of ACES. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree, or equivalent experience, in natural sciences, environmental education, agriculture education or related field
• Minimum of two years’ teaching experience in a classroom or outdoor setting, elementary and/or middle school grade level preferred
• Passion for working with children in an outdoor setting
• Experience with curriculum writing and development of educational teaching materials 
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team-oriented environment
• Creativity and organizational skills essential
• Spanish language proficiency preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
  
• Current First Aid & CPR certification, WFR or WFA preferred

Employment Dates

June 9, 2025 - August 15, 2025 (Full-time, Seasonal). Work hours are typically Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm. There is a week of mandatory training June 9 - 13, 2025. 

Employment as a full-time, year-round ACES Educator may be available. Please see our year-round Educator job announcement.

Reporting Relationships

The ACES Summer Educator position reports to the ACES Community Programs Director. Coordination with other education staff may be required.

Compensation

Pay is $168 per day; educators receive additional pay for overnight programs. Housing may be provided as part of compensation if available.

Location

Rock Bottom Ranch (RBR) educators are based at ACES’ 113-acre working ranch located in Basalt, Colorado. Hallam Lake (HL) educators are based at ACES’ 25-acre nature preserve located in Aspen, Colorado. 

Application Process

Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Indicate in your application whether you are applying for the Rock Bottom Ranch or Hallam Lake position, or both. Hiring will occur on a rolling basis. Please do not make any phone calls regarding this position.

This summer position is for those only interested in working the summer. If you are interested in a year-round educator role at ACES, please apply for the year-round ACES Educator Position. 

ACES employees work with school children, therefore ACES conducts background checks for criminal history and motor vehicle records. 

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ACES does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, genetic information, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and organizational need.