Outdoor educators plant the seeds of knowledge in the hearts and minds of students, teachers, and nature lovers. Those with outdoor education jobs impart respect and understanding of the natural environment through a wide array of learning projects. And outdoor educators combine their love of wilderness with knowledge of sciences including ecology, botany, biology, and forestry.
Outdoor educators focus on teaching the public about the natural forces of the earth. Educators might use their skills to work as mountain guides, community conservation leaders, water safety instructors, camp managers, or environmentalists. They might also teach courses on outdoor ethics, expedition leadership, and skills like wilderness medicine, wilderness first responder, whitewater rafting, or mountaineering. And the number of outdoor jobs in academia, either as faculty or recreation staff, have been steadily growing over the last decade as have opportunities for wilderness bloggers.
Outdoor employment opportunities are provided by schools, community groups, and government and non-profit agencies. In some states, such as California, all students attend an outdoor science school at least once. Outdoor educators can work in the wild backcountry, in an urban park, or at a respected wilderness teaching institution like the National Outdoor Leadership School. The best paying outdoor education jobs are associated with up-scale adventure tourism and outdoor film-making.
Whatever the task, outdoor educators positively influence lives. They are helping a new generation develop critical thinking skills to make sound environmental decisions. Outdoor educator Dave Pederson explains, “We are doing what we can to connect people to the great outdoors, making an emotional connection with the outdoors and the environment so kids care about it. If you haven’t experienced it, you are not going to care for it.” There is little doubt that outdoor educators like Pederson are actively moving society toward sustainable practices while working every day surrounded by nature’s beauty.