Museum & Planetarium Tour Guide & Educational Specialist

Museum & Planetarium Tour Guide & Educational Specialist

The Student Worker Tour Guide & Educational Specialist delivers high-impact, hands-on learning experiences for museum and planetarium visitors. Beyond leading gallery tours and planetarium presentations, this role facilitates interactive curriculum-aligned workshops, inquiry-based STEM activities, and specialized educational programs for visiting K–12 schools, campus classes, and community groups.

Responsibilities:

• Interactive Workshop Facilitation: Prepare, lead, and adapt grade-banded, hands-on educational workshops and STEM labs for visiting K–12 classes, camp groups, and scout troops using inquiry-based instructional strategies.
  
• Exhibit Tours & Group Instruction: Deliver structured, engaging tours across wildlife, natural history, and space science displays tailored to diverse age brackets and learning needs.
  
• Planetarium Presentations: Operate digital planetarium projection equipment and multimedia consoles to run recorded shows and facilitate live night-sky talks.
  
• Educational Materials & Activity Prep: Set up, maintain, sanitize, and inventory workshop materials, pop-up carts, discovery boxes, and tactile learning stations.
  
• Visitor Services & Floor Safety: Greet groups, manage check-in and admissions procedures, answer visitor questions in person and by phone, and monitor galleries to protect exhibits and ensure collections safety.
  
• Program Support & Operations: Assist with facility opening and closing procedures, adhere to uniform and shift coverage protocols, and support special campus-wide events or educator receptions.
  

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student eligible for Federal Work-Study.
  
• Demonstrated confidence in public speaking and group management, especially with young learners and children.
  
• Familiarity with or passion for hands-on, inquiry-based teaching, science communication, and nature exploration.
  
• Strong verbal communication, interpersonal agility, and teamwork skills.
  
• Technical comfort or willingness to learn planetarium audiovisual systems and multimedia setups.
  
• Availability: Consistent availability for weekday morning and afternoon field trip blocks, alongside rotating weekend public hours or special evening functions.
  
• Preferred Academic Majors: Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Middle Level
  Education, Secondary Education, Science Education or related disciplines.

Additional Information: 

• Hourly rate of pay $12.00

Employment Eligibility & University Commitment

Must be at least 18 years old and have English literacy skills. Employment with ESU is contingent on the selected candidate passing a thorough background check that includes: FBI fingerprinting, PA Child Abuse, and employment/degree verifications. We are proud ESU is an equal-opportunity employer. For more information on President Long's 10-point plan, click here: https://www.esu.edu/president/10-action-plan.cfm