Forest School Mentor

Retribe; Underhill (VT); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A nature-focused educational organization is seeking a Forest School Mentor for the 2026-2027 school year. The role involves mentoring students in various outdoor and traditional living skills while managing group dynamics in a forest setting. Candidates should have experience in child mentorship and a passion for fostering community values. The position is located in Underhill, Vermont, operating 29 hours a week with group meetings and after-school programs included.

Qualifications

• Experience in mentoring children and managing groups.
• Knowledge of outdoor education practices and naturalist skills.
• Ability to foster a love of nature and community values.

Responsibilities

• Mentor in traditional living skills and naturalist knowledge.
• Facilitate child-driven outdoor play activities.
• Manage group dynamics and conflict resolution.

Skills

Mentorship in traditional living skills

Naturalist skills and knowledge

Community building and leadership skills

Conflict resolution skills

Creativity in outdoor play

Job description

We have an opening for our 2026-2027 School year Forest School Mentor position.

We are accepting Applications for a Mentor Position in our Forest School and Afterschool program. Our program runs September-December 2026 and March-June 2027. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Underhill and Fridays in Richmond, Vermont.

We are located at the base of Mount Mansfield on 80 acres of land with a pond, a mountain brook, fields to play in and beautiful diverse forests.

Our Forest School's capacity is 24 children per day and runs 3 days per week with a staff team of 4 mentors. Additionally, the position includes working with our Afterschool program on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-6pm. ReTribe offers other programs as well, including summer camps, teen rites of passage retreats, and adult programs. The ReTribe land is also home to an intentional community of 15 people. You can learn more about us on our website.

29 hours/week. Team Planning Meetings: Mondays 1:30-2:30pm

Wild Woods Afterschool: Mondays & Thursdays 3-6pm

Forest School: Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 8:30am-3:30pm

Dates

Fall Semester: September-December 2026

Spring Semester: March - June 2027.

Forest School Areas of Focus

• Traditional living skills: shelter and fort building, carving and wood crafts, lashing, cordage making, wild edibles/medicinals, cooking, fire by friction and one match fires, ancient hunting techniques.
• Daily ritual, seasonal ceremonies, reverence for the natural world.
• Naturalist skills and knowledge: seasonal rhythms and attunement to seasonal changes, plant and tree identification, tracking, animal taxonomy, bird language, geology, geography, history.
• Community building: leadership skills, problem solving, communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Modeling and practicing community values: trust and respect for others and nature, ability to trust oneself, love of nature, social equity, sustainability.
• Creativity: song and rhythm, art, craft, imagination, drama, role play.
• Child-driven outdoor play.
• Outdoor physical recreation: hiking, climbing, snowshoeing, running, jumping, river play.

We are seeking staff who can offer mentorship in these areas as well as general group management, conflict resolution, and an enthusiasm for wild play in the forest.

Please send resume to Julia Hunt [e-mail]