Echo Hill Outdoor School Teaching and Internship positions are a great match for those with initiative, motivation, energy, creativity and commitment.Providing quality residential experiential education programs for over 50 years, Echo Hill Outdoor School (EHOS) awakens each student's curiosity to the wonders of nature, introduces and acclimates them to the outdoors, and leaves them with an enhanced love for and understanding of the Chesapeake Bay and a greater sense of camaraderie with each other. The strength of each EHOS program is a result of the curriculum diversity combined with the staff's investment in the individual facets of the programming. The safe and supportive environment created by each staff member helps students feel challenged while having the freedom to think, question, and express themselves. 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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Captain/Educator During the school year, classes are taught aboard the workboats with 12-15 students about Bay ecology, water quality, and the variety of life that exists in the Bay and its surroundings. Tools such as otter trawl nets, plankton tows, Secchi disks, and crab and eel pots help achieve these goals. In summer, the skipjack and buyboat are used to lead 5-day overnight excursions for up to 6 students who live aboard with up to 3 crew, exploring and discovering the Bay and its tributaries. Applicants must possess a minimum USCG license of 25 Ton, Inland. Previous experiential education or leadership training experience is preferred. Shoreside housing and meals are provided during the program year. To apply, email your resume to Andrew McCown. |
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Teaching & Internship Job Opportunities |
Teacher/Naturalists 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 class on the school's challenge course.
Internship Opportunities 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 (mid-March to June), summer (June to August) and fall (late August to November). Starting contracts range from three to four months, with opportunities for longer-term employment possible. During the off-season, housing is available to returning staff. |
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Perks & Rewards |
EHOS is a magical place—view the experience. The starting salary for an entry level Teacher/Naturalist is $340-$400/week depending on experience and certifications. Interns receive a small weekly stipend. Extra money can be earned by working optional weekend programs and is paid on a separate pay scale. School-owned housing and full board is provided—and a condition of these residential positions. Depending on personal preference, staff members may live in rustic cabins overlooking the bay, newer dorms, or communal houses located on and off campus. A staff medical policy is also available.
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, 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 two hours away. |
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The Essentials |
Instructors come from a wide variety of backgrounds including education, natural sciences, recreation, environmental education, adventure learning, psychology, history and marine biology. Teachers have extensive experience working with and relating well to children, and they generally possess a Bachelor's degree. Interns are often 18 to 24 years of age, joining Echo Hill Outdoor School as part of a gap year or as an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student earning fieldwork or practicum experience through their college or university. 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 & Connections |
Instructor applications are welcomed year-round; with primary start dates in mid-March and late August. To begin the application process, send a cover letter, resume, two phone reference contacts and two written references to Betsy Zelter McCown.
Betsy Zelter McCown
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The training you will receive at 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.
