Haw River State Park, Browns Summit, NC

Want to work in the NC State Park system? The Summit Environmental Education Center at Haw River State Park is the only residential environmental education program in the NC State Park system! The Summit is an environmental education center located at Haw River State Park, in beautiful Browns Summit, NC.

Our mission is to facilitate safe and fun outdoor “experiences” for all ages, while fostering a better understanding and appreciation for the environment.

We’re seeking individuals with experience working with children in an outdoor setting, who are dedicated to connecting children with nature. We look for creative, fun and high-energy individuals to become Summit Instructors. Summit Instructors work with children ages 7 to 18. The Summit offers programming ranging from 1-day experiences up to 3-day/2-night residential stays for school groups and youth organizations. Programs we offer include Piedmont Wildlife, Animal Adaptations, Wilderness Survival, Orienteering, Teambuilding, Soils, Forest Bathing, Box Turtle Biology, Dendrology and Wetlands Ecology.

The Summit team also engages adult groups through teambuilding programs, Grand Camps and public events. We will be hosting our fifth annual Park in the Dark, family Halloween event in mid-October with nocturnal environmental activities, costumes, and night hikes. This event is growing each year and is becoming a staff favorite.

Why work here instead of another environmental education center?  Our "classrooms" include several hundred wooded acres, pristine wetlands, a 6-acre lake, and the headwaters of the Haw River. The Summit creates and maintains the highest standards within the field of environmental education and offers staff training and professional development opportunities across the NC State Park system. 

The EE instructor positions are seasonal positions with the NC State Park System. A four-year degree is required for consideration and two years relevant experience. Start date is mid to late August 2025 – ending November 20th, 2025, with the potential of re-hire in February 2026. Your employment will include a salary of $18/hr. with a guaranteed 40-hour work week. Housing/utilities for only $30 a month if interested.  Living on property is not required.