Education Assistant

Job description
The Education Assistant at rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge, ON, supports the Summer ECO Camp program, delivering hands-on, nature-based activities for youth aged 6-17. Responsibilities include training, guiding hikes, and administrative tasks. Candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 15-30. This position involves on-site work and is part of the Government of Canada – Canada Summer Jobs Program.
EDUCATION ASSISTANT

Responsible for ensuring the successful preservation and restoration of 1,200+ acres, rare is located in one of the fastest-growing areas of the country. Its lands provide a natural laboratory for scientific study and research, and for rare’s related research-based educational programs. You can find more about our culture and values, who we are looking for and what you can expect in the Frequently Asked Question section at: https://www.raresites.org/about/careers#jobs

Supervised by and reporting to the Senior Educator, while working in a team environment with all program advisors, staff and volunteers, the Education Assistant is responsible for assisting in the delivery of our Summer ECO Camp program, and other related duties as required.

ELIGIBILITY

This is a paid position, under the Government of Canada – Canada Summer Jobs Program. Requirements of funding state that the participant must:
• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period*;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment**; and,
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
• The youth must be 15 years of age at the beginning of the employment period. The youth may be more than 30 years of age at the end of the employment period as long as the youth was 30 at the beginning of the employment period.
• International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada. Youth awaiting a refugee status ruling, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa, youth visa or work visa are ineligible. As the objective of the CSJ program is to support youth entering the Canadian labour market, the temporary nature of an international student’s time in Canada does not allow for a long-term connection to the labour market.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Educational Assistant would assist the delivery of our Summer ECO Camp program, including 8 weeks of on-site youth programs and other related duties as required. Their tasks and responsibilities would include:
• 1 week of training including site and program specific learning, safety training (e.g. WHMIS), and inclusivity training (e.g. AODA, supporting LGBTQ+ youth, supporting Indigenous youth)
• Delivering hands-on, nature-based activities to children aged 6-17
• Delivery of curriculum-based materials
• Preparation and clean-up of daily activities and equipment maintenance
• Participation in documentation and administration duties
• Guiding interpretive hikes
• Sending feedback and evaluation forms and youth photographs following camp
• Cleaning and organizing post camp (1 week)

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a program in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, outdoor and recreational studies, a related discipline OR enrolled in secondary school with relevant experience
• Experience in developing and delivering environmental programs to children
• A current police check, including a Vulnerable Sector Screening
• Able to participate in all-weather hikes over rough terrain
• Reliable transportation to/from work
• Fluency in other languages, considered a strong asset
• Costs associated with the VSS Police Check will be covered by rare for the successful candidate.

In addition to following all COVID-19 safety measures to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and guests, the rare Charitable Research Reserve requires all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

SALARY: 21.30 per hour, 35 hours a week between 8 to 16 weeks, depending on availability of funding.

TENTATIVE START DATE: May 5, 2025 (Negotiable) or July 3, 2025 if funding received for 8-weeks only.

HOW TO APPLY

DEADLINE: March 28, 2025

Applicants are invited to send their application as ONE attachment to the following email address: jobs@raresites.org.

Only documents including a cover letter and resume compiled into ONE PDF file will be reviewed. Any application materials provided within the body (text) of your email or as separate documents will not be considered. Cover letters for this position may be addressed to Istafa Sufi. Please include the name of the position for which you are applying in the email subject line.

No phone calls please. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Two professional references will be requested if you have been short-listed for an interview.

As part of our commitment to racial justice, reconciliation and equity building, we welcome individuals from marginalized communities including Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, LGBTQI2S+ and self-identifying women candidates to apply for this position. We encourage people with disabilities to apply. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We are dedicated to removing bias from our hiring process. For this reason, we have implemented an anonymous review component in our recruitment process. What does this mean? We will be removing your name, address and e-mail address from your application/resume prior to it being reviewed by the hiring manager, during the first stage of the recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview, this information will become available to the hiring manager only at that time. We also do not use Artificial Intelligence in our job screening process. Read more