NaturalistForest School TeacherEnvironmental Educator PT

New Haven Ecology Project Inc; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

New Haven Ecology Project Inc in Connecticut is seeking a Naturalist/Forest School Teacher for a part-time, year-round role. You will work across our programs including SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, NATUREYEAR FOREST SCHOOL, and weekend events with children from preK through 8th grade.

In NatureYear, teachers lead outdoor, nature-based activities from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on select days, while field trips occur 3–5 mornings per week with flexible scheduling and 9:30 AM - 12 PM blocks.

Qualifications

• Significant experience planning and leading nature-based lessons for groups of children.
• Experience meeting social and emotional needs of children and managing group routines.
• Ability to balance teacher-led learning with supervision of play and child-led activities.
• Strong communication with children, adults, and coworkers.
• Flexibility to adapt plans for ages, weather, and day requirements.
• Commitment to inclusivity with diverse urban communities.
• Comfort working with farm animals and native wildlife.
• Physical ability for outdoor teaching in varying weather.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead nature-based lessons for groups of children.
• Support social and emotional development and establish routines.
• Balance teacher-led instruction with supervision of play and exploration.
• Communicate clearly with students, parents, and staff.
• Collaborate with the teaching team to adapt activities for weather and age.
• Care for animals and outdoor spaces as part of program operations.
• Attend scheduled staff meetings and participate in ongoing professional development.

Skills

Nature-based education

Outdoor teaching

Child engagement

Communication skills

Adaptability

Attendance reliability

Job description

Job title: Naturalist/Forest School Teacher (part time, year round)

Job Description:

This position is eligible to work in any of our programs for children. Currently hiring for: SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, NATUREYEAR FOREST SCHOOL, and WEEKEND BIRTHDAY PARTIES & EVENTS

About the work:

Our SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS welcome classes of children from local schools to Common Ground to connect with nature! We serve preK through 8th grade. Trip topics include hikes, farm to table pizza making, campfire cooking, farm tours, wetland science, nature based play, sheep and wool, maple sugaring, and other seasonal specialty topics. An outline and learning concepts are provided for each trip and field trip teachers also draw on their own knowledge of the natural world to enrich the participant experience. SCHEDULE: Field Trip staff set their availability and may be scheduled within their availability for 3 - 5 days per week (minimum availability of 3 mornings per week required). Staff typically work between 9:30 AM - 12 PM. Limited additional work in afternoon trips (between 12:30 - 2:30) may be available.

The NATUREYEAR FOREST SCHOOL PROGRAM creates small communities of children and staff who learn and play in nature from Sept - June for one full day each week. Like Kids Unplugged, NatureYear operates outside in all (safe) weather. NatureYear is a full day, with children attending from 9 AM - 3 PM, so there is time for more structured, content based activities as well as for imagination, exploration, and play. NatureYear Teachers may have skills in a variety of areas including naturalist skills, cooking, building and tinkering, nature arts, cooperative games and community building, outdoor and survival skills, and more! NatureYear includes children ages 4 - 15+, so staff who are especially skilled with a specific age range (early childhood, elementary, middle school) are all needed. SCHEDULE: Staff work from 8:30 AM - 3:30/4 PM. Currently hiring for TUESDAYS.

Position requirements and responsibilities:

• Significant experience with planning and leading nature based lessons and activities for groups of children


• Significant experience meeting social and emotional needs of children, including positive behavior management, setting group routines and group culture, and modifying to meet the needs of individual children.


• Enthusiasm for both teacher led learning and for supervising play, imagination, and child-led activities, understanding that both of these are important parts of the program.


• Use excellent communication skills, including speaking with children, adults, and coworkers.


• Use strong critical thinking and problem solving skills and sound judgment as part of routine daily work.


• Willingness to be flexible and work with the day’s teaching team to adapt plans to the ages, weather conditions, and other needs of the day


• Commitment to working joyfully and inclusively with children and adults of all identities, with much of our work serving a racially and economically diverse urban community.


• Commitment to child centered teaching and behavior management, with the ability and desire to consider and seek to meet the needs of individual children.


• Work in a setting with farm animals as well as native wildlife including insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds.


• Engage in the physical requirements of this role, including being physically active for the majority of a scheduled work shift, safely navigating outdoor terrain that includes uneven and unpaved surfaces, sitting on the ground, carrying a backpack with teaching supplies, and teaching outside in weather conditions including heat, rain, cold, and snow.


• Verifiable record of consistent attendance and punctuality at previous workplaces

Additional responsibilities:

This position is part of the Community Programs Team and is supervised by the Director of Community Programs. Additional position responsibilities include:

• Participation in ongoing staff development and meetings as scheduled for the Environmental Education team (as possible within personal availability for meetings that may sometimes be outside of routine work hours)


• Ongoing commitment to anti-bias and anti-racist work, including participation in professional development and implementation of any new curriculum, policies, or ways of working together and with our community.


• Work to support the overall operations of the non-profit programs as needed and available. This may include animal care, maintenance of program teaching and play areas, garden care, and working in additional programs for children and families.

Pay: $22.50 per hour