Environmental education, Outdoor education

Position: Environmental Education Assistant
Organization: EcoSpark
Location: Toronto and Greater Toronto Area, Ontario

At EcoSpark, we believe that connecting people with the environment supports them both. If you share our passion for youth and community conservation science, please apply!

This position may be funded by the Nature Canada Work to Grow program. To be eligible for Work to Grow funding, participants must be: Between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) ; Legally entitled to work in Canada; and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or granted refugee status. NOTE: A work permit is not eligible. BIPOC youth are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Description

The Environmental Education Assistant will work with the Citizen Science Program Manager and the Lead Environmental Educator to implement EcoSpark programs. Our programs engage participants in outdoor environmental monitoring activities to support access, eco-literacy and climate resiliency. Programs support diversity in STEM and focus on serving school communities that face barriers to outdoor education.

The Assistant will co-facilitate workshops for students (grades 6-12), and for adults (teachers, community and corporate groups, and park volunteers). The workshops take place with classes on school grounds and in parks throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Workshops engage youth and the public in monitoring urban biodiversity and forest health using citizen science apps and accessible protocols. Topics include measuring tree benefits, leading bird and insect surveys, studying soils, and more.

Citizen science data collected by volunteers, participants, and the public at large supports open-source databases for research and conservation. (Projects include EcoSpark’s Tree Benefits project, iNaturalist, eBird, Caterpillars Count, and SkNOWLEDGE.) Science communication is key in this role to help apply the results and enable meaningful conservation actions.

The Assistant will support online outreach and in-person community events. They have the opportunity to help develop geospatial projects for ecoliteracy (e.g., mapping trees on schoolgrounds) and assist with data analysis, working with geospatial tools and resources to enhance participant engagement with environmental data collected across Ontario.

The Assistant will use EcoSpark’s outreach tools (social media, website, etc.) to initiate, develop, and implement projects that visually interpret and share the stories behind the data with participants during and following programs.

Position Responsibilities/Tasks:

• Co-facilitate engaging citizen science workshops on school grounds as part of EcoSpark’s School Watch delivery team.
• Assist with the facilitation of teacher/educator professional development, and public citizen science training workshops in person and online.
• Co-facilitate citizen science events and workshops for community and corporate groups in parks and green spaces around the GTA.
• Develop and update environmental education resources as needed.
• Participate in EcoSpark’s ongoing work to reduce barriers, for example by taking part in Natural Curiosity training or other professional development opportunities.
• Assist participants with data collection from the various citizen science platforms (for example, iNaturalist) for data quality control purposes.
• Assist the Citizen Science team in program promotion, resource development and research.
• Assist with participant communication before and after field sessions - i.e. ensuring media release forms are filled out, teachers have access to curriculum linked teaching resources, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• University degree or college diploma, preferably in environmental/ecological studies, environmental education, or a related field.
• Experience facilitating workshop components and delivering presentations for students and community members.
• Experience with or knowledge of environmental citizen science monitoring projects and comfort with scientific protocols and equipment in the field, OR experience with any land-based practice.
• Experience working with youth in outdoor education settings.
• Experience working with ArcGIS and ESRI is an asset.
• Excellent customer service, time management, and written/oral communication skills.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions in all seasons.
• First Aid Certification - Standard First Aid (CPR-C or higher), or willing to obtain certification.
• Valid G Ontario Drivers’ Licence and regular access to a vehicle is an asset.
• Ability to obtain a clear Vulnerable Sector Check.

Working Conditions:

• This position is based out of EcoSpark’s office in Toronto with travel throughout the GTA.
• The Environmental Education Assistant is entitled to use EcoSpark’s Enterprise CarShare membership as eligible and as required.
• The Environmental Education Assistant may from time to time be required to work more than 7.5 hours per day and occasionally on weekends, with lieu hour compensation.

About EcoSpark

EcoSpark is an environmental charity with a mission to empower communities to take an active role in protecting and sustaining nature. We do this by giving people the tools for education, monitoring and influencing positive change. Since 1996, EcoSpark has connected youth and their communities with scientific ideas and skills for environmental monitoring. We have a strong reputation in the areas of education, citizen science, community engagement and collaboration. To date, we have directly worked with over 100,000 youth and adults from across southern Ontario in over 20 watersheds. For more information about EcoSpark, visit ecospark.ca. 

EcoSpark collaborates with local school boards and community partners to deliver programs across the GTA. Approximately 60% of sessions are delivered to school and community groups that lack equal access to greenspace and STEM programming.

EcoSpark has been expanding our use of digital mapping and science communication formats to help program participants apply their environmental monitoring results for conservation. We mentor young environmental leaders to map and share key indicators of environmental health in their communities.

About School Watch

School Watch is a program where classes learn to conduct citizen science projects on school grounds. Students engage in real scientific research and learn to assess and support biodiversity and climate resiliency for local ecosystems. We deliver grade 6-12 activities on curriculum-linked environmental projects such as tree inventories, soils, and bird surveys. EcoSpark partners with school boards to focus program delivery on schools and students with the greatest needs. School Watch allows students to contribute meaningful data while learning about ecosystem health, STEM skills, and positive environmental leadership actions in our communities. For more information, visit ecospark.ca/school-watch.

Information and data collected during our programs is contributed to open-source citizen science databases including eBird, iNaturalist, and Caterpillars Count, used by individuals, communities, researchers and policy makers to plan stewardship actions. EcoSpark's iNaturalist Participant Project lists over 100,000 observations of local species to date.

Training and Mentorship Plan:

The Assistant will work as part of the environmental education team and will be supervised by an on-site manager. Mentorship opportunities will be provided by the supervisor and other EcoSpark program staff to develop skills aligned with the Assistant’s professional development goals. As part of this team, the Assistant will have access to expertise in citizen science projects, environmental education, youth engagement, marketing and communications and the non-profit sector. Through the mentoring plan, EcoSpark will ensure that the Assistant will gain valuable experience in all of these areas.

The mentorship plan will include:

• An initial orientation to the organization, the office and our LEED gold certified building.
• Setting of professional development and project goals.
• Weekly meetings with the project supervisor to discuss progress towards professional development and project goals.
• Interim and final evaluations to discuss approaches for project success.
• Training in citizen science topics.
• Opportunities to network with partners and collaborators (e.g. municipal, academic, and conservation authorities) and/or attend environmental events.
• Participation in EcoSpark staff meetings.
• Access to professional development resources and advice (including: inclusivity, time management, environmental monitoring, data management, event organizing, as well as general office procedures and workflows.)
• Participation in EcoSpark’s events such as symposia, Staff & Board gatherings, etc.

Health and safety practices in the workplace:

Health and Safety Regulations and WSIB information are posted in plain view at the EcoSpark office for employees to consult at any time. This includes fire and safety regulations and location of the nearest fire exit. In addition, EcoSpark has a first aid kit in the office, and a list of staff with current certification in First Aid and CPR is displayed. During the Assistant’s orientation they will be made aware of the location of the above. They will also be allotted time to review the materials as well as visit our recommended good health and safety practice websites. EcoSpark will provide staff orientation documents to the Assistant and review any questions at the start of the position. This includes EcoSpark’s Personnel Policies and policies related to the Assistant’s position, informed by provincial guidance and following all necessary local health guidance.

Application Deadline: September 2nd at 11:59pm

Dates and Duration: 16 week full-time contract beginning around September 8th, 2026

Location: Program delivery locations are on-site across the Greater Toronto Region. GTA-wide travel is required. Program support tasks are based at our office, with hybrid work arrangements available. The office address is 601 Christie St, Suite 174, Toronto, ON M6G 4C7.

Compensation: 37.5 hours per week at $18.00 per hour

Reports to: Dana Buchbinder - Citizen Science Program Manager

Application Process:

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume in a single PDF to: jobs@ecospark.ca

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We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.