Summer Educator, Mountains to Oceans

Ocean Wise

Ocean Wise

Canada · British Columbia, Canada · Vancouver, BC, Canada

CAD 22-22 / hour

Posted on May 12, 2026

We need the ocean. The ocean needs us.

Role Summary

As a Summer Educator, you will lead youth through an immersive week-long program that blends STEM learning, Indigenous knowledge, and hands-on conservation across Vancouver’s ecosystems. This entry-level role will offer training, mentorship, and meaningful exposure to green-sector skills such as environmental monitoring, restoration, and stewardship, and is designed to be accessible to youth with differing levels of experience.

*Please note this is a short-term 8 week long contract with no guarantee of extension*

Who You Are

You are an enthusiastic and adaptable outdoor educator who is passionate about connecting youth to nature, science, and conservation. You enjoy working in collaborative, hands-on environments and bring a positive, supportive energy to every group you work with. You’re comfortable spending full days outside and are excited to help inspire the next generation of ocean and climate leaders through engaging, inclusive experiences.

What You Will Be Doing
Program Delivery & Facilitation

  • Deliver daily Mountains to Oceans (MTO) programming, including field-based STEM activities, guided hikes, shoreline cleanups, marine ecology sessions, and basic data collection.
  • Create inclusive, supportive learning environments that encourage curiosity, teamwork, and confidence in youth, ages 13–15.
  • Integrate environmental science, ocean literacy, Indigenous knowledge, and conservation action using accessible and age-appropriate approaches.
  • Ensure participant safety by following all risk management procedures.
  • Model environmental stewardship and introduce youth to green career pathways through hands-on restoration, biodiversity monitoring, water quality testing, and citizen science.

Program Preparation & Logistics

  • Prepare program materials, equipment, field journals, and safety gear each day.
  • Support logistics including transportation coordination, site access, and smooth transitions across program locations (mountains, forests, watersheds, shoreline, and marine facilities).
  • Maintain field equipment and program supplies, ensuring proper care and storage.

Youth Engagement & Support

  • Build rapport with youth and support their personal growth, teamwork, and confidence throughout the week.
  • Model respectful, inclusive behaviour aligned with Ocean Wise values and community standards.
  • Guide youth during reflections, group activities, and presentations to help them communicate what they learned.

Data, Administration & Reporting

  • Record daily attendance, incidents, and field-collected data.
  • Support feedback collection and contribute to end-of-week program summaries.
  • Ensure accurate completion of activity logs, service metrics, and data sheets (e.g., biodiversity surveys, water quality tests).
    Collaboration & Representation
  • Work collaboratively with fellow educators, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and science partners (e.g., PSEC researchers) to deliver high-quality programming.
  • Represent Ocean Wise professionally with youth, families, and community partners.
  • Support other Youth & Education activities as needed during the summer season.

Training & Development

  • Participate in training on facilitation, safety, environmental content, and inclusive engagement.
  • Receive ongoing mentorship, coaching, and regular check-ins to support skill development, confidence, and career exploration, especially for youth with limited prior work experience.

What You Bring

  • Interest in working with youth and learning about local ecosystems; formal experience is not required and training will be provided.
  • Comfort spending full days outdoors (forests, shorelines, parks, trails) and supporting hands-on activities such as basic data collection and field observations.
  • Curiosity about environmental issues, including watersheds, marine habitats, climate impacts, and stewardship practices.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as part of a field-based team and take initiative during program preparation and cleanup.
  • Valid Class 5 Drivers license.
  • Ability to participate in physical aspects of the role, including walking, light lifting, variable weather conditions, and waterfront environments.
  • Assets:
    • Access to a reliable vehicle.
    • Standard First Aid or willingness to obtain prior to the program start.

How You Will Be Measured

  • You deliver engaging and impactful programming, reflected in participant feedback and program evaluations, and observations.
  • You represent Ocean Wise as a brand ambassador in schools, other institutions, and with the public, assessed by observation evaluations.
  • You demonstrate care and respect for learners, colleagues, program materials, and equipment; assessed through evaluations, surveys, condition of materials and equipment maintenance logs.
  • Achievement of program goals and objectives, including participant reach, knowledge acquisition, and intent for behaviour change.
  • You build transferable skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving through daily interaction with youth and colleagues.
  • You gain experience aligned with the environmental and conservation sectors through fieldwork, data collection, and public engagement.
  • You are reliable and dependable, including regular attendance.
  • You actively demonstrate Ocean Wise’s values and expectations for conduct.

What We Offer

This full-time, short-term contract position offers:

  • An on-site, team-based working environment within communities or schools with the opportunity to work remotely or in person in our beautiful downtown Vancouver head office when not programming.
  • An hourly rate of $22.00 per hour in line with market data for not-for-profit organizations
  • 4% pay in lieu of vacation days.
  • 5 paid sick days
  • Paid Statutory and General Holidays each calendar year
  • Professional development opportunities
  • The opportunity to be part of a team that’s helping to save the ocean!

Where and How You’ll Work

Our typical work week is 37.5 hours and requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and outside standard business hours to deliver school programs and community events. Working hours may include early mornings, long hours and overnights, overtime will be paid as per the Ocean Wise policy on overtime. This is a Vancouver-based role with opportunities to work remotely and/or at our headquarters in downtown Vancouver on non-program delivery days. The role requires travel, sometimes for extended periods (up to four weeks at a time) to deliver Ocean Wise Sea Dome programming to communities across Western Canada and beyond.

The role involves driving, sitting, standing and public speaking for prolonged periods, exposure to outdoor environments with seasonal temperature fluctuations, and lifting heavy objects on a daily basis (up to 20Kgs to chest level). It also involves working on a computer screen for extended durations and participating in phone and video calls.

Who We Are

Ocean Wise is a global conversation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Learn more about us at ocean.org.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Ocean Wise, we believe that a welcoming and diverse workplace fosters the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented. We encourage applications from individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process. We value human connection and fairness in our recruitment process. Ocean Wise welcomes applications from youth facing barriers to employment, including those with limited work experience, and provides structured training, mentorship, and supportive supervision throughout the contract.

We do not use AI, algorithms, or automated tools to screen or evaluate candidates. All applications are reviewed by our hiring team to ensure each candidate is considered thoughtfully and equitably.

See more open positions at Ocean Wise