Program Naturalist

Caritas Creek at CCCYO Camp is a comprehensive, 5-day residential environmental education experience for students in the 5th-8th grades. The program offers a blend of age-appropriate science curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and retreat style activities fostering social, spiritual, and academic development for youth from diverse backgrounds. During the week, students are exposed to a series of themes, hikes, activities and lessons designed to promote learning, awareness and character development on multiple levels: personal, social, environmental and spiritual. 

One of the unique aspects of the program is the community building experience of Caritas, where the focus is placed on recognizing the individual's unique gifts and strengths. Through hands-on exploration, Caritas endeavors to illuminate the divine in all things and build empathy and understanding for the natural world.

Do you see the interconnectedness of all aspects of the ecosystem as a spiritual concept? Are you devoted to the development of the mind, body and spirit of the students Caritas Creek serves? 

Naturalist Duties:

• Live and work in the Redwood Forest of west Sonoma county in a community of 20 fun-loving individuals dedicated to holistic education, making a difference in kid's lives and changing the world. 

• Deliver an innovative science-based curriculum developed by the BEETLES Program of the Lawrence Hall of Science: research-based, field tested and aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. 

• Spend each week with your own Exploration Group of 11-13 students facilitating an experience that deepens their connection to self, others, nature and God (or spirit of love or source energy or universe or insert name that suits you here!). 

• Leed five-hour exploration hikes through the redwood forest and at the Sonoma coast where you deliver your individually crafted lesson plan to meet the objectives of Caritas Creek.  

A Typical Day:

Program Naturalists begin each work day at an 8:45am meeting with their colleagues to plan the route they will take through the camp's 215-acre redwood forest. They create their own lesson plans—deciding when and where to deliver science, team building, spiritual and social/emotional curriculum provided by the program. After they pick up their exploration group of 11-13 students at the main lodge, they disappear into the forest to explore and learn until they return to main camp at 2:30pm. For the remainder of the afternoon, Naturalists that are on duty run electives such as archery, canoeing, arts and crafts or Gaga ball (a dodge ball game played in a mud pit!). Night time activities include small group sharing sessions called Serendipities (a flashlight-less night hike), campfire and an all-camp celebration.

There is a philosophical theme for each day in which Naturalists connect their curriculum: New Discoveries, Connections, Power and Equality, Change and Springboard. Every Friday Naturalists facilitate a closing ceremony with their exploration group in which they prepare a presentation for the all-camp closure that ends the week for students. After the participants depart at noon on Friday, Program Naturalists perform a variety of tasks to ready the facility for the following Monday. A staff meeting ends by 3pm, then everybody enjoys their weekends free in beautiful West Sonoma County!

The CCCYO Camp & Retreat Center is located amidst 215 acres of towering redwood forest and open meadow in historical western Sonoma county, just six miles from the Pacific Ocean and a short walk away from the town of Occidental. The Russian River winds through valleys to the north and the San Francisco Bay Area lies tantalizingly close, 60 miles to the south.

Originally a logging settlement in the mid-1800s, you can step back into history as you explore Occidental's cozy cafés, open art studios, unique boutiques and the region's 150 wineries. From the dramatic Sonoma coastline, the incredible redwoods of Armstrong Woods, to a stage-side seat at the Celtic Music Festival or Jazz on the Russian River, there is something for everyone.