At a state park in New Jersey, crowds of children and adults watch as a team of educators talk about snakes, box turtles, lizards, and birds of prey. Several hawks and owls are on display, and one educator walks through the crowd holding a boa constrictor, showing off its lovely patterns and talking about its features and habits. He has the attention of even the youngest members of the audience. Hands are raised and questions are answered.

Environmental educators show up in a lot of places. They work in national and state parks, at zoos and wildlife centers, and at schools. Their job is to teach the public about animals and their environments. One impacts the other, and the field is opening up because of the concern about global warming and the environment.

Environmental education is a hot topic today, thanks in part to the media and to our government leaders. Al Gore, former vice president, has used his influence to call attention to this issue with his documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. While documentaries and books about global warming reach a large audience, environmental educators for the most part work on a smaller level. They usually spread their message to a smaller audience, reaching fewer people but leaving a large impact.

At the New Jersey state park, environmental educators talked about the animals and their habitats, and how the changes in those habitats affect us. By bringing the message home, educators help people to understand the problem. Once it impacts them, change can occur. It starts with seeing an animal up close. The educator has the audience's complete attention. Then he can start talking about why change is needed.

Having a teaching degree with a major in science, animal science, or environmental science is a sure way to get a job in this field. You also can start out as a volunteer, giving lectures about animals at environmental centers and parks. Classroom teachers at parks and environmental centers tend to work full-time. If you want to work in a park setting, you can find out if there is a full-time position open for you. Some of the larger parks and environmental centers do have full-time educators on staff. Or you can contact the parks, museums, and other centers to see if they would be interested in booking your services on a for-hire basis. It's a bit like acting. You have to call, make an appointment, show up, and let the organization know what you can do. In this case you will also have to travel with the animals, which means having enough space at home to care for them.