Middle School Science Instructor 2024 - Education Unlimited

Education Unlimited® provides academic summer camps & pre-college summer programs for students entering grades 4-12. Our summer programs include public speaking camps, college admissions prep programs, science camps, summer acting camp, writing camps, computer camp, leadership camp, video production camp, and college tours.

Science Camp Instructor 

Education Unlimited seeks energetic and experienced science instructors for our fun, activity-based summer programs.

Available sessions: Please indicate your availability on your application.  Instructors may be hired for one or more sessions based on availability. 

Residential, online, and commuter options are available.  Housing and meals provided for in-person sessions

Marine Science Course Description:

Marine Science students will "dive" headfirst into one of the world’s least-explored places – the ocean! In this camp, we will take a multi-disciplinary approach to learning and incorporate studies in chemistry, oceanography, ecology, and marine biology to learn about Earth's amazing seas and the animals and plants that inhabit them.

Campers will begin their week by investigating water and discovering how its unique properties shape our oceans, currents, and biomes both under the sea and at the beach. We'll then shift into marine life and explore food webs and marine adaptations, paying special attention to survival strategies such as mimicry, camouflage, and bioluminescence. Later on in the week, we will take a closer look at the anatomy and physiology of ocean predators - campers will have the opportunity to dissect fish, squid, and sharks to compare their body structures and functions to their niches within the food chain.

We will round out our week by looking at humankind's impact on the ocean as a whole. Campers will engineer an environmental disaster in the form of an oil spill and then brainstorm methods to clean up both the water and the population of affected shorebirds. We will also study water pH, ocean acidification, and its effects on shell-based marine life. 

Genetics Course Description: 

In Gene to Genome, students will learn the fundamentals of genetics, centering on the transfer of information through the Central Dogma of Biology (DNA→ RNA→ Protein). Specifically, students will focus on heritable diseases and the mechanisms by which they are inherited. The course begins at the molecular level and zooms out to organismal inheritance and genomic studies.
The course will culminate with a presentation at our very own EU Genetics Conference! Students will take on the role of researchers presenting on a heritable disease to their peers and families, who will take on the role of colleagues in the field.

Our courses are interactive, use videos and images, and, most importantly, include hands-on activities such as building model systems using candy and household items, extracting strawberry DNA and observing it under microscopes the students build, and engaging in lab activities and demos in order to explore both the molecular and organismal aspects of inheritance.

Campers will explore careers in genetics on Thursday and see what the praxis of our studies looks like in the professional world. The culminating project will be a presentation to peers and parents on the heritable disease that students have researched as we explore each aspect of our curriculum.

Cardiology Course Description: 

Scientists will uncover the complexities of the cardiovascular system through a wealth of interactive and inquiry-based experiments, and project-based, hands-on activities. The Cardiology program offers your budding scientists the opportunity to deepen their understanding of body systems. It is the perfect bridge between our Anatomy and Physiology course, and prior to enrolling in Neuroanatomy.

Young scientists will explore how the function and structure of the heart impact blood circulation and nutrient transport. In addition, scientists will study the impact of disease on the cardiovascular system. Scientists will have the opportunity to create models detailing anatomy, engineer a heart, and make connections to other body systems that will inspire them to want to investigate more! 

In addition, scientists will participate in truly hands-on activities, such as sheep and cow heart dissections!

RESPONSIBILITIES

In-person Camp Responsibilities include teaching the Education Unlimited curriculum, supervising campers both in and out of the classroom, organizing and leading classroom labs, and executing a finale showcasing student work at the end of camp. Instructors will also be responsible for tracking student work and handing in any deliverables to the camp director and EU home office. 

In addition to teaching responsibilities, instructors should be available and willing to assist the camp director with active supervision, recreational activities, and some administrative tasks. Instructors should be mature, reliable, and able to work well with fellow staffers. Instructors are also expected to act as mentors and will be asked to assist with field trips and guide students on excursions. With the support of the entire staff, instructors are responsible for the health and safety of students, in addition to fulfilling instructional objectives.

At all overnight programs, instructors have the option of commuting to camp each day or staying overnight on campus. Overnight staff members will receive full room and board and will be expected to help with evening supervision duties.

Qualifications:

Instructors are usually year-round science teachers, are studying science at the graduate level, or have some other significant teaching/mentoring experience in the area of cardiology. 

• 2+ years' experience science teaching experience or significant subject matter knowledge.
• Experience working with middle, high school  or college age students in an academic setting.
• Bachelor's degree required; preference given to those with an advanced degree.
• A passion for science education.
• A calm and professional demeanor.
• Self-motivation and follow-through.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.