Garden Educator

Bok Tower Gardens Inc; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Bok Tower Gardens is seeking a Garden Educator to develop, plan and teach educational programs for all ages, spanning gardening, environment, history and art. You will work with BTG staff and volunteers, coordinate training, and support the Children's Garden operations.

The role emphasizes connecting learners with nature, ensuring safety, maintaining records, and fostering a welcoming environment for diverse audiences, including families and teachers.

Qualifications

• Understanding of connections between child development, education and environmental education.
• Genuine love of nature, education, and youth.
• Strong organizational, communication and people skills.
• Ability to adapt learning to changing schedules and needs.
• Integrity, good judgment and appropriate humor for all ages.
• Experience with gardening and a connection to the natural world.
• Appreciation for arts, music, architecture and writing.
• Commitment to inclusion of diverse audiences and populations.
• Self-motivation, attention to detail and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement educational programs and seasonal programming for all ages.
• Coordinate, supervise and train volunteers; support horticulture staff in Children's Garden.
• Maintain accurate program records and manage supplies and resources.
• Assist with operations on event or high-volume days and ensure safety procedures.
• Communicate effectively with families, volunteers, staff and guests.

Skills

Child development understanding

Love of nature and youth

Excellent organizational skills

Strong interpersonal communication

Adaptability and flexibility

Team player

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, natural sciences, horticulture, or related field

Two years teaching and youth program leadership experience

Knowledge of environmental education principles

Current First Aid and CPR Certification preferred

Clean background check

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. **