Youth Employment in Parks
Position Descriptions

Youth Parks Crew Leaders will each be assigned to lead one Crew of diverse Anchorage teens as they participate in environmental education, parks maintenance work, and outdoor recreation opportunities in parks programs.  The Youth Crew Leaders will be responsible for building a community among their Crew - ensuring their health and safety, maintaining an atmosphere where leadership opportunities, teamwork building skills and hard work encourage a sense of youth empowerment - while guiding them through the YEP program activities.  Youth Parks Crew Leaders will receive a well-rounded one week paid orientation prior to the start of the program learn the appropriate skills and knowledge to be successful.  They will gain valuable job skills in areas of management, leadership, soft skills, supervising, youth development, park maintenance, recreation programming and environmental issues. 

The YEP Field Educator will facilitate and conduct the environmental education and hands-on activities for youth employees who work within the parks and/or recreation track of the YEP program.  This position will be responsible for quality delivery of environmental education curriculum, help make connections to real world issues, deliver teachable moments, and help crew research and lead presentations in a timely and efficient manner.  Responsibilities include presenting curriculum with enthusiasm and knowledge, effectively identifying and utilizing teachable moments, promoting and encouraging youth leadership and making connections between living systems and humans for the teens at their respective job sites throughout the summer.  YEP Field Educator must have a proven ability to empower youth leadership, have a working knowledge of sustainability, and be aware of current issues.  Daily duties require coordination with up to four crew leaders, the YEP Program Coordinator, AYEA program facilitator, related staff and community resources (content experts), purchasing and paperwork.   You will be expected to have a working knowledge of environmental education methodology and must like working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Recreation Leads will be assigned to lead either the Summer School program or the Park-N-Play program.  Leads will be responsible for quality control of either up to 4 schools or up to 5 different park sites in regards to program goals: environmental education, parks clean up work and outdoor recreation opportunities for youth in recreation programs.  The Recreation Leads will be responsible for building a community among their Crews and with the youth they are serving - ensuring their health and safety, maintaining an atmosphere where leadership opportunities, teamwork building skills and hard work encourage a sense of youth empowerment - while guiding them through the YEP program activities.  Recreation Leads will receive a well-rounded one week paid orientation prior to the start of the program learn the appropriate skills, knowledge and expectations for working with youth to be successful.  Recreation Leads will gain valuable job skills in areas of management, leadership, soft skills, supervising, youth development, park maintenance, recreation programming, art in nature and environmental issues. 

The YEP Crew Expeditor will facilitate and maintain equipment and gear for youth employees who work within the YEP program.  This position will be responsible for tools and gear, inventory, purchasing, some paperwork and making sure crews have appropriate gear and or materials for work projects in a timely and efficient manner.  Responsibilities will include obtaining, organizing, maintaining and distributing supplies and equipment to the youth employees at their perspective job sites throughout the summer.  Daily duties require coordination with crew leaders, field educators, the program coordinator, and related staff and community resources (content experts)