Hiring Seasonal Welcome Center Host/Naturalists

JOB DESCRIPTION (Revised September 2026)

WELCOME CENTER HOST/NATURALIST (Friends of Sax-Zim Bog)

As a Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Host you will meet and greet visitors who come through the Welcome Center. You will be the face of our organization, and your goal will be to make every visitor’s trip to Sax-Zim a memorable experience. Answering questions will be a big part of your job, as well as maintaining the Welcome Center, outhouse, and bird feeders.

Seasonal Position

Season 1: December 1 through mid-March

Season 2: June 1 through September 30 (Due to a reduced staff, not all naturalists work in the summer.)

(Applicants must re-apply each year.)

Wage: 

$17/hour starting

Benefits: 

Flexible scheduling

Free field trips

Free Fleece vest “uniform”

Paid on-the-job training for natural history skills, etc

Working in a natural setting

Employees making over $3000 a year qualify for a 3% match in a simple IRA if they choose to participate.

Paid medical leave and earned safe and sick time as specified by MN State law.

—FOSZB would like employees to limit time-off requests during peak times of Season 1 (mid Dec to mid 
    March). 

Home work location: Welcome Center in the Sax-Zim Bog  near Cotton, Minnesota (about 50 minutes from Duluth).

Mileage/Meals: No reimbursement for travel to and from Home work location (Welcome Center). Mileage reimbursed for approved work-related travel away from Home work location (Welcome Center) including, but not limited to: filling feeders, boardwalk maintenance, purchasing materials, tabling at events, construction projects in and around the Sax-Zim Bog.

Hours: Variable; Welcome Center Manager will schedule host/naturalists with consideration to host/naturalists needs and availability. Work load may vary from week to week and month to month. Typically employees work 5-20 hours a week in the Winter Season.

Welcome Center Host/Naturalists report to Welcome Center Manager.

EDUCATION

High school degree or equivalent. 

PERSONAL TRAITS

• Love of our natural world and dedication to preserving it for future generations
• Effective communication skills 
• Takes initiative with a “can do” attitude
• Able to work with a wide range of individuals
• Comfortable talking and sharing info with the public
• Motivated to be productive with minimal supervision

EXPERIENCE

An appropriate level of relevant work experience is required

BONUS EXPERIENCE

• Environmental education skills
• Retail sales
• Natural history knowledge
• First Aid/CPR qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

• Must have reliable transportation
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds, and 10 pounds overhead

TO APPLY

Send Resume and Cover Letter to info@saxzim.org. Interviews will be held in late September. Positions will be closed when filled.

WELCOME CENTER HOST/NATURALIST DUTIES

Welcome Center Host/Naturalist will meet and greet visitors who come through the Welcome Center. You will be the face of our organization, and your goal will be to make every visitor’s trip to Sax-Zim a memorable experience. Answering questions will be a big part of your job, as well as selling merchandise, maintaining the Welcome Center, outhouse, and bird feeders.

Welcome Center Host/Naturalist will also perform other duties as assigned.

WELCOME CENTER HOSTING

All duties associated with keeping the visitor experience positive at the Welcome Center

Including, but not limited to:

• Greeting and engaging visitors in conversation
• Answering questions about the Sax-Zim Bog
• Sharing locations to view certain species, suggesting boardwalks to visit, etc
• Selling merchandise via Point-of-Sale software
• Inventorying merchandise, food & drink, cleaning supplies, bird seed, etc
• Storage and pricing of merchandise
• Communicating with WC Manager about items that need ordering/reordering
• Stocking brochures, maps, calendars, annual reports
• Vacuuming, sweeping, washing windows, general cleaning, organizing
• Setting up chairs and tables for events, workshops, programs
• Assisting Head Naturalist with in-building programs
• Working with and assisting volunteers
• Other duties as assigned

MAINTENANCE

All duties associated with keeping the exterior of the Welcome Center neat, clean, safe and welcoming

Including, but not limited to:

• Regular maintenance outside the Welcome Center (as directed by WC Manager)
• Mowing lawns, weed-whipping along sidewalks, parking areas, around signage (Summer only)
• Bird feeders: hanging, filling, cleaning (Winter only)
• Sweeping and Snow shoveling of Welcome Center sidewalk
• Outhouse cleaning 
• Pollinator Garden weeding (Summer only)
• Filling hummingbird feeders (Summer only)
• Shoveling/Snow-blowing boardwalks
• Bird feeders: hanging, filling, cleaning all FOSZB properties (Winter only, as directed by WC Manager)
• Other duties as assigned

SOCIAL MEDIA

(Optional and as approved by WC Manager)

Including, but not limited to:

• Taking photos and video clips of WC and FOSZB “shareworthy” items, including wildlife/bird sightings, event and field trip photos, weather-related news, etc
• Posting to “Friends of Sax-Zim Bog” Facebook Page and Group, and Instagram. 

TO APPLY

Send Resume and Cover Letter to info@saxzim.org. Interviews to be held toward the end of September. Opening/s will be closed once filled.