Garden Educator

Bok Tower Gardens, Inc.; Lake Wales (FL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Bok Tower Gardens, Inc. is seeking a Garden Educator to develop, plan, and teach educational programs across gardening, environmental, history, and cultural disciplines for visitors of all ages.

You will work with staff, volunteers, parents, and teachers in the Children’s Garden. You will coordinate, supervise, and train volunteers, support horticulture staff, and ensure safe, engaging experiences while maintaining records and adapting to guest needs.

Qualifications

• Understanding of connections between child development, education, environmental education, nature, and youth programming.
• Love of nature, education, and youth.
• Organizational, communication, and people skills.
• Ability to manage diverse groups and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and teach educational programs and events for all ages, including gardening, environmental, cultural, and multi-disciplinary topics.
• Coordinate, supervise, and train volunteers; support horticulture staff in the Children's Garden.
• Maintain program records and monitor supplies and safety procedures.
• Adapt schedules to guest needs while upholding program goals.

Skills

Child development

Education

Experiential education

Environmental education

Nature

Gardening

Youth programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in education

Experience teaching youth programs

First Aid/CPR certification

Job description

Description

Bok Tower Gardens is part of a growing movement connecting people to the natural world, to the stories we tell to understand the world and to our food systems. The Garden Educator is a position that offers critical support to connect and engage learners of all ages through quality programming that fosters appreciation, builds knowledge, and cultivates a sense of wonder around nature.

JOB SUMMARY:

Develop, plan and teach educational programs and events for all ages including gardening, plant, environmental, history, cultural, art and multi-disciplinary programs. Work with BTG staff, volunteers, parents, and teachers. Coordinate, supervise, and train volunteers. Support the and horticulture staff inside the Children's Garden.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement educational programs and seasonal Programming to engage visitors of all ages.
• Ensure all programs are completed with quality.
• Assist with operations on event or high-volume days
• Be flexible with the program schedule to meet the immediate and changing demands of guests while adhering to the goals and flow of the program.
• Ensure the maintenance of accurate program and administrative records.
• Responsible for monitoring the supplies of educational resources, and the opening and closing of the Children's Garden.
• Assist with general upkeep and maintenance as needed in the Children's Garden
• Enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
• Assist with horticulture duties inside the Children's Garden to maintain a connection with horticulture.
• Be a leader in communicating and maintaining positive working relationships.
• Assist with Supervising educational program volunteers.
• Exercise effective and personable communication with everyone at the Gardens: families, volunteers, staff, and other guests.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Understanding of the connections between child development, education, experiential education, environmental education, nature, gardening, and youth programming.
• Possess a genuine love of nature, education, and youth.
• Possess a sense of adventure balanced with a strong sense of responsibility.
• Possess excellent organizational, communication, and people skills.
• Exemplify and model a general attitude of helpfulness, support, and growth.
• Possess integrity, sound judgment, and a sense of humor appropriate to all ages.
• Flexibility and ability to make learning shifts that provide a safe and effective learning environment.
• Personal experience in gardening and a personal connection to the natural world.
• Appreciation for artistic expression in visual art, music, architecture, and the written word.
• Acceptance of diverse audiences in gender, race, religion, ethnicity, age, and mental and physical development.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations including youth and adults.
• Self-motivated, detailed-oriented, team player.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in education, natural sciences, horticulture, or a related field preferred
• Minimum two years of experience in teaching and leading youth programs including program delivery and program management preferred
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, goals and objectives of environmental education.
• Current Basic First Aid and CPR Certification preferred.
• Clean background check.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Continuous standing and moving including bending, kneeling, squatting, lifting, twisting, walking, getting up from the ground without support.
• Must be able to perform work outdoors in the Florida weather conditions all year-round.
• Must be available to work varying schedules including weekends, holidays, and evenings as needed.

***Bok Tower Gardens reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the company desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "At-will." Qualified employees who, because of a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits a major life activity, require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position should notify their manager or Human Resources. **