Instructor, ZooCamp

About the Position

ZooCamp is a summer day camp program for kids entering grades K-8th Grade, run by the Learning & Engagement Department at the Oakland Zoo. ZooCamp Instructors play a huge role in setting the tone for camp and will be assigned a different age group each week of the summer. This role involves teaching curriculum, leading activities, supervising campers, and ensuring the overall well-being of all participants. Instructors report directly to the ZooCamp Director.

ZooCamp Mission Statement:

ZooCamp is a space where life is celebrated and nurtured. We respect the diversity of life we find reflected in our people, our plants, and our animals.

Our goal at ZooCamp is to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment in which campers and staff alike develop and practice our skills of communication, compassion, and scientific thinking. Through hands-on exploration, play, and community building campers will deepen their connections to themselves, each other, and our natural world.

Dates:

Mandatory Staff Training May 20-23 and May 27-30
S1 (A): Monday-Friday, June 2-6
S2 (B): Monday-Friday, June 9-13
S3 (A): Monday-Friday, June 16-20
S4 (B): Monday-Friday, June 23-27

No camp week of July 4

S5 (A): Monday-Friday, July 7-11
S6 (B): Monday-Friday, July 14-18
S7 (A): Monday-Friday, July 21-25
S8 (B): Monday-Friday, July 28-August 1
S9 (A): Monday-Friday, August 4-8

Priority will be given to candidates who can work all summer.

Hours: M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm with 1-2 weeks required OT for aftercare (1 OT hour/day)

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Education

Department

Manager:

Seasonal

Full-Time

$23.18 to $24.50 per hour (depending on experience)

Application Deadline:

Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 (Rolling interviews until close)

Benefits

Apply

Essential Job Duties

Supervise a group of 16-20 campers, ensuring the physical, social, and emotional well-being of all campers in accordance with the ZooCamp Mission.
Assist in various camp activities, such as Zoo tours, arts and crafts, games, and outdoor activities, ensuring activities are age-appropriate, engaging, and safe.
Assist in maintaining a positive and inclusive camp environment.
Monitor campers' behavior and ensure campers follow camp rules and regulations and address any issues promptly in accordance with the ZooCamp behavior policy, reporting any larger issues to the ZooCamp Director.
Assist in implementing and enforcing health and safety protocols, administering first aid as needed.
Communicate effectively with campers and staff about issues as well as successes.
Work collaboratively with fellow camp staff and other Zoo departments, such as Learning & Engagement, Animal Care, Guest Services and Administration.
Supervise 1-4 Teen Assistants (“TAs”), delegating tasks and providing opportunities for them to take on leadership opportunities in the group.
Assist with camp setup and cleanup.
Assist with daily attendance.
Fill out weekly evaluations for the Lead Instructor in your group.

Who You Are

Who You Are:

Experience working with youth in grades K-8.
Some scientific literacy and experience with scientific concepts and thinking.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills such as high emotional intelligence, patience and compassion for others.
General openness towards people, experiences, and ideas.
Physically able to navigate uneven terrain.
Comfort being in front of a group.
Willingness to be silly and add your voice and personality to the ZooCamp culture.
Must be 18+ years old.
High school diploma or equivalent required.

Bonus If You Have:

Experience working in a zoo/nature center/museum
Experience in outdoor/environmental education
Nonviolent communication training/experience
Knowledge of climate change and climate-related issues
Background in biology, zoology, ecology, and/or environmental science
Knowledge of local plant and animal species and ecosystems
Experience working with animals

Some notes:

All camp staff should expect to spend the majority of their day outside in the sun and often in dirt/grass; on days where temperatures may be high, there is limited indoor space available.
All camp staff should expect to spend much of their time standing, walking, reaching, and sometimes other types of physical movement (running, dancing, etc) when playing with campers.
All camp staff may need to carry things from place to place, such as a backpack or wagon.
All camp staff are required to provide a recent (within the last 2 years) TB test or acquire one before the start of camp.

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Required Education

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities

May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities– May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associated with this position.

Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing
Dependability – demonstrates trustworthiness and reliability, including while working with little or no direct supervision
Flexibility – nimbly adapts to evolving priorities and urgent needs; handles intervals of high pressure while maintaining perspective and humor
Inclusive Culture - fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
Organization – strong attention to details and able to build and/or maintain efficient systems
Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times
Presentation – able to convey ideas clearly and sensitively, highlight key takeaways and translate impact; have thoughtful presence, can quickly build rapport with others, and are comfortable in front of a variety of audiences
Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department
Technological Aptitude – able to quickly understand, develop and maintain functional digital systems
Time Management – strong capabilities with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple commitments
Wildlife Aware - understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife

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Who We Are

The Oakland Zoo (managed by The Conservation Society of California) is an award-winning facility stretching 100 acres and overlooking the city of Oakland atop the hills of beautiful Knowland Park. Our mission: Oakland Zoo deepens connection with animals, saves wildlife, and inspires champions for the natural world. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), The Zoo is part of the largest conservation organization in the nation. Our employees take PRIDE in our values of being Positive, Respectful, Inquisitive, Driven and Effective members of a team who places the care of our animals, stewardship of the natural environment, and the experience of our guests at the forefront of all that we do.

Oakland Zoo’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access

We believe that all people should have safe access to the Zoo and culturally relevant and responsive experiences with our staff, programs, and curriculum. The Oakland Zoo is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and valued for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement toward a vision of equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are committed to reflecting the diverse community in which we exist and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The Conservation Society of California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status or other characteristics protected by law. The Conservation Society of California also promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.