Job Description

Outdoor Educator

Paddle for Peace | San Diego, CA

Contract | $23/hour training, $30/hour independent teaching

About Paddle for Peace

Paddle for Peace is a San Diego-based nonprofit on a mission to Diversify the Coast by breaking down barriers and connecting underserved youth to the ocean’s transformative and healing power.

Through hands-on education, outdoor experiences, mentorship, and water-based programming, we create opportunities for young people to learn, explore, build confidence, and see themselves represented in outdoor and coastal spaces.

The Role

Paddle for Peace is looking for an energetic, dependable, and engaging Outdoor Educator to join our Coastal Ninjas Academy team.

Coastal Ninjas Academy brings ocean and environmental education directly into Title I schools throughout San Diego. Educators lead interactive classroom lessons and help facilitate culminating coastal field trips where students put what they’ve learned into action.

This role is ideal for someone with experience teaching youth and a strong background or interest in marine science, ocean safety, conservation, and outdoor education.

What You'll Do

• Lead hands-on environmental and ocean science lessons for students, primarily in grades 4–6
• Teach topics including ocean safety, waves and tides, marine biology, plastic pollution, urban runoff, deep-sea adaptations, and Indigenous wayfinding
• Create an engaging, welcoming classroom environment where students feel comfortable participating and asking questions
• Facilitate experiments, demonstrations, games, group activities, and outdoor learning experiences
• Support Coastal Ninjas Academy field trips at the beach and other outdoor locations
• Work alongside Paddle for Peace educators and school staff
• Adapt lessons for different learning styles, English language learners, and individual student needs
• Assist with program setup, breakdown, materials, and program documentation
• Serve as a positive mentor and representative of Paddle for Peace in the community

Preferred Experience

We are especially interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Classroom teaching or leading structured educational lessons
• Marine science or marine biology education
• Ocean and water safety education
• Ocean conservation and environmental education
• Outdoor education or experiential learning
• Teaching environmental science, ecology, watersheds, or coastal topics
• Working with elementary or middle school students
• Teaching in Title I schools or working with underserved communities
• Facilitating field trips, camps, nature programs, or other hands on youth experiences

What We're Looking For

• Strong classroom management and group facilitation skills
• Ability to make science engaging, interactive, and understandable for young people
• Comfortable presenting and teaching in front of groups
• Dependable, organized, flexible, and able to work collaboratively
• Passion for ocean conservation, environmental justice, outdoor access, and youth development
• Ability to connect with students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Comfortable working both indoors and outdoors
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel to schools and program locations throughout San Diego
• Availability primarily Monday through Friday during school day hours

Additional Qualifications

Preferred but not required:

• Degree or coursework in marine science, environmental science, biology, education, recreation, or a related field
• CPR/First Aid certification
• Bilingual skills
• Familiarity with San Diego beaches, watersheds, and coastal ecosystems

You do not need to be a surfer or marine biologist to apply, but applicants should have demonstrated experience teaching youth and be comfortable learning and delivering ocean-focused curriculum.

Compensation

$23/hour during training

$30/hour once approved to teach independently

Hours are contract and vary based on school programming and scheduled field trips.

What Makes This Role Different

This isn't about standing in front of a classroom and reading from a PowerPoint.

Our educators help students investigate pollution like detectives, understand how their neighborhoods connect to the ocean, explore how marine animals survive, learn how to stay safe at the beach, and ultimately experience the coastline for themselves.

For many of our students, Coastal Ninjas Academy may be their first meaningful introduction to the ocean.

We are looking for educators who understand how powerful that opportunity can be.

Join Our Team

If you're passionate about youth, science, education, community, and creating greater access to the outdoors, we'd love to hear from you.

Paddle for Peace is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and those with lived experience in the communities represented in our programs to apply.

Help us raise the next generation of Coastal Ninjas — and Diversify the Coast.

Job Tags

Contract work, Monday to Friday, Flexible hours

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