About this role
Environmental Educator
Project Description: Mexico is seeking individuals with a passion for environmental education to help build a more adaptive, resilient future.
Many rural communities across Mexico face growing environmental challenges, including soil degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and inadequate waste management. Limited access to environmental education and technical tools can make it difficult to respond to these issues, affecting livelihoods, food security, and long-term well-being. As a result, Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) has prioritized environmental education and sustainable resource management to meet the country’s long-term goals.
As an Environmental Educator, you will collaborate with SEMARNAT staff, schools, and community members to adopt practical solutions for long-term environmental resilience. Through educational activities, you’ll build skills in water conservation, soil protection, gardening, waste reduction, and biodiversity stewardship. Over time, these actions reinforce food security, protect ecosystems, and improve household sustainability.
Required Skills: Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles). OR Bachelor's degree in any field. OR High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
Living Conditions: Volunteers will be assigned to small, rural communities or small- to medium-sized towns, primarily in central Mexico. Volunteers will live with host families during training and at least the first three months of service. Travel to a larger shopping town could take up to two hours by vehicle, depending on road conditions. All Volunteer communities have some form of communication, whether landline or cell phones, or internet access, although service may be slow or intermittent.
Activities: Develop environmental education resources to strengthen community understanding of environmental challenges and promote informed stewardship.
Facilitate educational activities to foster an appreciation for nature.
Provide training on environmental resilience techniques, such as vegetable gardening for food production or cistern construction to harvest and store rainwater.
Support sustainable soil and water conservation practices.
Support basic practices for responsible waste management, such as composting and recycling.
Support the implementation of biodiversity conservation practices, such as biodiversity monitoring via camera traps and creating pollinator gardens.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as art clubs and youth sports.
Training: As an Environmental Educator, you will be trained on topics like environmental education, waste management, soil conservation, and biodiversity conversation practices. Peace Corps/Mexico will teach you Spanish to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You will also receive language resources and learn regional vocabulary.
After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural community or medium-sized town where you will collaborate with public sector officials, teachers, and community associations. You will work with the community to assess the environmental needs and develop solutions based on their environmental needs and priorities.
Job Highlights: Build technical abilities in soil and water conservation, waste management, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental education, and strengthen Spanish language skills through daily interactions and collaborations.
Immerse yourself in Mexico’s rich culture and form meaningful connections with host families, colleagues, and your community.