Nearby Nature is seeking a Resident Park Host to be part of our creative and energetic team of nature educators and land stewards. Our new employee will live in the Park Host House at our Learnscape in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park, which is Nearby Nature’s home base for education and park caretaking programs. Couples are encouraged to apply.
Nearby Nature is a non-profit nature education group that has worked for more than 30 years to foster connections between people and nature in our community. Our staff and volunteers lead nature walks, daycamps, youth programs, special events, and park stewardship projects. We also teach classes for the Network Charter School, maintain a Learnscape Garden and Outdoor Classroom, and serve as the City of Eugene’s official Host in Alton Baker Park.
Location: Nearby Nature’s Learnscape in Alton Baker Park (622 Day Island Road, Eugene, Oregon)
To print this job description as a PDF click here.
Qualifications:
- Basic home maintenance skills (simple plumbing, electrical, building repair, roof maintenance, painting, etc.)
- Basic landscaping skills (pruning, weeding, fencing, etc.)
- Ability to work on your feet for up to eight hours a day/hike on uneven trails/lift heavy objects (up to 50 lbs.)
- Willingness to work outdoors in all seasons/all weather
- Capable of creative problem solving and working independently with minimal supervision
- Ability to be flexible, switch tasks frequently, and work collaboratively
- Committed to creating and supporting an inclusive work environment
- Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills
- Comfortable living in a busy and child-friendly environment (with limited private access to outside spaces during weekdays due to youth programs on site)
- Experience using MS Office and Google Workspace
- Must pass a background check
Additional Desired Skills:
While not required, if you have any of the skills below, they could help Nearby Nature meet other staffing needs and will help shape your “other duties as assigned”. No applicant is expected to have all of these skills. If you have experience in any of the areas below, we would love to hear about it.
- Spanish language fluency
- Tech support skills
- Teaching skills
- Accounting skills
- Fundraising skills
- Experience with native plant habitat restoration
- Experience managing a vegetable garden and/or fruit orchard
- Experience managing/mentoring volunteers
- Other – let us know what you love to do that might further our mission!
Responsibilities:
- Make the Alton Baker Park Host House your primary residence and office space, and be on site and available to collaborate/assist for at least 10 hours per week during normal weekday work hours 8 am-5 pm. Photos from inside the Park Host Residence are available here.
- Provide basic maintenance for Nearby Nature facilities—residential building, office, bathrooms, yurt, storage sheds (outdoor painting, roof/gutter cleaning, pest control, basic plumbing and electrical, etc.)
- Maintain neat site perimeters and lawn area (weeding, mowing, etc.)
- Provide janitorial services for Nearby Nature facilities weekly as well as occasional “deep” cleaning
- Do weekly laundry for education and restoration programs
- Help maintain garden/restoration/maintenance tools and their storage spaces
- Coordinate and grow our TAG Team (Taskforce Against Graffiti) of volunteers/interns who do graffiti abatement on the Frohnmayer Footbridge
- Manage record keeping for volunteers/interns you supervise
- Take weekly park “Action Walks” (monitor activities/conditions, report issues to appropriate authorities)
- Serve as occasional “site lead” on call for emergencies during educational programs
- Assist Park Stewardship Coordinator with park caretaking, Learnscape maintenance, and intern management
- Be a friendly resource for park visitors when on site (answer questions, give directions, provide assistance)
- Collaborate with City Parks and Open Space staff
- Other duties as assigned
Compensation & Benefits:
- Position is half time. Compensation includes rent-free housing in a two-bedroom house with finished attic and cost-free utilities/internet in exchange for the first 78 hours of monthly duties in trade. (Note that one bedroom will be the Park Host’s office and Nearby Nature storage space.) An additional up to 10 hours of work per month will be paid at $21/hour. Additional paid monthly hours beyond 10 may be available based on organizational needs and the hired employees’ skills.
- Sick time
- Vacation/holiday/personal leave time off earned after three months
- Optional large personal gardening space
- Washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, and mini-dishwasher provided
- Heat pump provides air conditioning and heat
- Parking space available in front of house for up to two cars
- Bike storage available for two bikes in garage
- Well-trained, friendly pets will be considered (but no fenced yard available)
- A great location in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park, off the Willamette Riverbank Bike Path, near off-leash dog park, across the river from the University of Oregon
At Nearby Nature, individuals with varied backgrounds, life experiences, and abilities are valued and encouraged to thrive. We are excited to train – as well as learn from – all new staff members. Not all qualifications listed here are hard and fast requirements. Your experiences can include both paid and unpaid work, all of which help build competence, knowledge, and skills. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. COUPLES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY, and job shares between couples will be considered.
To Apply:
Email the following materials to info@nearbynature.org with Nearby Nature Job Application in the subject line. If a couple is applying and planning to share the work, please be clear about who is applying to take the lead on which responsibilities for this position.
- 1) cover letter/s,
- 2) resume/s,
- 3) three references (including one residential)
Complete our Application Form. For a preview of Application questions click here.
Applicant/s should be available for part–time training starting soon after hire (date and total hours flexible) and residency in Alton Baker Park as soon as possible after hire. Preference will go to applicants willing to make a commitment of at least 2-3 years. Interviews to happen on a rolling basis until job is filled.
Questions?
Email info@nearbynature.org or see nearbynature.org for information about Nearby Nature. No phone calls please.
Nearby Nature is committed to fair and impartial treatment of employees, job applicants, contractors, and agents of Nearby Nature, and to maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free work environment. Nearby Nature’s policy is not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age (within statutory limits), race, religion, color, gender, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected status with respect to hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, recruitment, termination, salary level, or other forms of compensation, or any other term or condition of employment.