Title: Marine Heritage Education Trainee

Trainee code number: 3M

Responsible to: Educators at Living Coasts

Overall purpose of placement

Living Coasts is offering a position as a Marine Heritage Education Trainee. This placement presents a valuable training opportunity to gain skills and knowledge in order to further a career in UK marine heritage interpretation. The placement will undertake a broad range of heritage activities
that include: heritage interpretation of the local environment in order to create an awareness amongst the wider public and schools; species identification and survey of local marine life (e.g local Birds and other Marine organisms). In order to be able to interpret the local heritage, the trainee will gain vital skills in species identification and ecological understanding that are fundamental to be an interpreter. The trainee will be given opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in any areas of interest within this placement. The position involves working within the heritage education department at Living Coasts whose objectives include:

• To establish a recognised, marine heritage education service.
• To engage the general public by running themed educational biodiversity events
  
• Promote an increase in general awareness of UK nature conservation matters.
  
• For 2007 to establish a heritage educational outreach road show for schools in the local area

Main responsibilities & areas of learning:

Your application should clearly illustrate your potential to carry out these responsibilities and meet the Trainee Specification.

• Monitor and survey of local UK Heritage marine life by maintaining the Torbay Watch sightings
  scheme which involves identifying and recording marine/coastal biodiversity. Report results to
  interested parties via the ‘Seaquest’ sightings scheme’.
• Develop marine species and habitat knowledge by participating in species identification and
  survey related field work programmes within the Torbay area.
• Provide heritage interpretation of the local UK marine heritage and biodiversity in Torbay by
  leading wildlife cruises; and planning and running themed marine heritage education events
  during July/August/September.
• Assist with the Living Coasts Summer School by identifying and interpreting Torbay’s wildlife
  heritage and coastal features to local children.
• Assist with events run in partnership with Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, Devon WildlifeTrust and the Marine Conservation Society by providing live Heritage interpretation at both events on and off site.
  
• Organise the ‘Marine Mayhem’ heritage event and attract other marine/coastal NGO’s to attend
  the heritage road show in August 2007 to promote local marine heritage and biodiversity.
  
• Lead local beach clean surveys for the Marine Conservation Society - creating posters, sending
  out letters to volunteers and leading the cleans on the day, one per season.
  
• Assisting and or running interactive educational sessions e.g. indoor seashore safaris, touch
  trolley or puppet shows, giving the message of local & global wildlife and marine conservation.
  
• Help to create displays for the educational areas of Living Coasts.
  
• Assisting with school group activities.

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» Download trainee specification

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