Science Camp Assistant

The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned nonprofit dedicated to protecting and growing trees locally and globally. We are seeking enthusiastic team members to help our camp instructors facilitate interactive summer adventures for our campers. The ideal candidate will have experience working with children, a passion for the outdoors and nature, and an interest in experiential education. You will be part of an incredible team working to engage in fun experiences and learning together.

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Position Summary:  Assist Science Camp Instructors as they lead school-age children in nature discovery classes and activities related to the Arboretum’s remarkable exhibits and varied natural areas. Accompany Science Camp Instructors and students on engaging, fun hiking trips on the Arboretum’s grounds and assist with science-related indoor and outdoor teaching activities.

 Essential Functions: 

• Represent The Morton Arboretum's mission and programs in a positive, constructive, and effective manner.
• Assist Science Camp Instructors as they implement a science-related curriculum for up to 15 students of a specified age group.
• Become familiar/comfortable with hiking a variety of trails on the Arboretum grounds.
• Interact with parents and guardians of students in a professional, courteous, and responsive manner.
• Become familiar with the Arboretum’s mission, history, programs, and structure. 
• Support Summer Science Camp’s inclusion practices with the assistance of the Camp Instructors and Inclusion Coordinator. 
• Demonstrate alignment with the Arboretum’s employee core values.

• Other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications: Experience with teaching or assisting with the teaching of school-age children in a formal or non-formal setting required. Basic science knowledge a plus. Must be at least 18 years old. 

Success Factors: Ability to engage and excite children about the natural world. Good verbal skills and an enthusiasm toward learning. Ability to maintain interest and discipline of up to 15 students during a weeklong camp experience. Flexible, constructive, and courteous approach to parents, children, and summer science camp staff. Stamina and ability to participate in outdoor programs in various weather conditions. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Requires some physical activity:  limited lifting and carrying (up to 15 lbs.), hiking, kneeling, ability to travel over one mile on paved, wood-chipped, and dirt paths over varied and uneven terrain.

• Work Environment: Work is performed in a combined indoors and outdoors environment, in various weather conditions.

• Equipment: Scientific tools, microscopes, two-way radio, educational materials, appropriate protective clothing. 
• Schedule:  The position requires availability for seven of the ten weeks of camp, attending a mandatory orientation meeting, and weekly staff meetings. 

 

Availability requirements for 2026

• Must be available to attend a virtual mandatory summer camp orientation meeting  on Thursday, May 14th from 5:00p.m. and 7:00p.m and an in person training Thursday, May 21st from 5:00p.m. and 7:00p.m. 
• Must be available to work seven out of nine weeks of camp, five days a week (8:30am-12:15pm, 8:30 am-3:15pm, or 11:45am-3:45pm) for an assigned grade level (Pre-Kindergarten through 8^th grade) for assigned weeks (opportunities available June 1-August 14, no camp the week of July 4th). 
• A mandatory all-staff meeting (for each week of camp) is held every Monday morning at 8:00 am (for full day and morning camps) or at 11:15am (for afternoon camps).

 

For full consideration, please include a cover letter and resume with your application.

The hiring rate for this position is $20.00/hour. This position is also eligible for a competitive benefits package.  

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The Morton Arboretum is a champion for diversity, supporting a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Arboretum is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. 

The Morton Arboretum is dedicated to complying with our obligations as an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants are guaranteed equal consideration for employment. 

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The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, United States, is a public garden and outdoor museum with a library, herbarium, and program in tree research including the Center for Tree Science. Its grounds, covering 1,700 acres (6.9 square kilometres), include cataloged collections of trees and other living plants, gardens, and restored areas, among which is a restored tallgrass prairie. The living collections include more than 4,100 different plant species. There are more than 200,000 cataloged plants.