Outdoor Educator and Administrative Assistant Sprouts Nature School

Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Sprouts Nature School in Madison, WI is seeking a dependable, organized, and enthusiastic individual to join our small team in a combined outdoor education and administrative role. The position balances hands-on outdoor activities for children ages 4–12 with administrative tasks such as registrations, communications, records, and grant research, offering meaningful work in a small, growth-focused program.

This part-time role promotes outdoor learning, safety, and warm, professional interactions

Qualifications

• Experience working with children is required.
• Experience in environmental education, teaching, childcare, camps, outdoor recreation, administration, communications, or grant writing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and assist with outdoor programs for children ages 4-12
• Supervise children safely in parks, natural areas, on hikes, and during field trips
• Lead activities such as hiking, nature exploration, outdoor cooking, gardening, art, games, science activities, and outdoor skills
• Help manage transitions, behavior, group dynamics, and safety
• Communicate warmly and professionally with children, families, and other teachers
• Assist with school pickups and transportation for after-school programs when scheduled
• Help prepare, organize, and transport program supplies
• Responding to routine parent inquiries and helping with family communication
• Organizing registrations and enrollment information
• Preparing invoices and tracking payments
• Maintaining spreadsheets and program records
• Updating schedules, rosters, forms, and program documents
• Helping organize staff information and paperwork
• Researching grant opportunities and assisting with grant applications
• Drafting newsletters, program announcements, and other communications
• Helping organize supplies, receipts, reimbursements, and mileage records
• Assisting with social media or outreach when needed
• Other administrative projects that help Sprouts operate and grow

Skills

Dependable

Punctual

Initiative

Organized

Written and verbal communication

Outdoor childcare

Team communication

Feedback receptiveness

Nature education interest

Flexibility

Job description

Sprouts Nature School is looking for a dependable, organized, and enthusiastic person to join our small team in a combined outdoor education and administrative role.

Sprouts provides hands-on outdoor programs for children ages 4-12 through homeschool programs, after-school programs, No-School Days, and summer camps. Our programs focus on nature exploration, outdoor skills, environmental education, creativity, movement, and giving children meaningful time outside.

This position is a good fit for someone who loves working with children but also enjoys organization, writing, communication, and helping a small business run smoothly.

Position Responsibilities

Outdoor Education

• Lead and assist with outdoor programs for children ages 4-12
• Supervise children safely in parks, natural areas, on hikes, and during field trips
• Lead activities such as hiking, nature exploration, outdoor cooking, gardening, art, games, science activities, and outdoor skills
• Help manage transitions, behavior, group dynamics, and safety
• Communicate warmly and professionally with children, families, and other teachers
• Assist with school pickups and transportation for after-school programs when scheduled
• Help prepare, organize, and transport program supplies

Administrative Support

Depending on experience and interest, administrative work may include:

• Responding to routine parent inquiries and helping with family communication
• Organizing registrations and enrollment information
• Preparing invoices and tracking payments
• Maintaining spreadsheets and program records
  
• Updating schedules, rosters, forms, and program documents
• Helping organize staff information and paperwork
• Researching grant opportunities and assisting with grant applications
• Drafting newsletters, program announcements, and other communications
• Helping organize supplies, receipts, reimbursements, and mileage records
• Assisting with social media or outreach when needed
• Other administrative projects that help Sprouts operate and grow

Schedule

This is a part-time position with a combination of scheduled program hours and flexible administrative hours.

After-school programming generally takes place on weekday afternoons, while homeschool programming takes place during the school day. Some administrative work can be completed on a flexible schedule.

There may also be opportunities for additional hours during No-School Days, school breaks, and summer camps.

Compensation

$22-24 per hour, depending on experience, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Hours and responsibilities may grow over time based on availability, reliability, and the needs of the program.

Qualifications

We are especially interested in someone who is:

• Dependable and punctual
• Comfortable taking initiative and working independently
• Organized and able to keep accurate records
• A strong written and verbal communicator
• Warm, patient, and confident working with children
• Comfortable spending several hours outdoors in a variety of weather
• Able to communicate and problem-solve effectively with coworkers
• Comfortable receiving feedback and following established safety procedures
• Interested in nature, environmental education, outdoor recreation, education, or youth development
• Experience working with children is required. Experience in environmental education, teaching, childcare, camps, outdoor recreation, administration, communications, or grant writing is a plus.

Transportation and Safety Requirements

For positions that include transportation, applicants must have:

• A valid driver's license
• A reliable vehicle
• A safe driving record
• Auto insurance that permits the required work-related use of the vehicle
• Comfort transporting children as part of scheduled Sprouts programming
• All Sprouts educators are required to maintain current CPR/First Aid certification, including emergency epinephrine administration training.

About Sprouts

Sprouts Nature School was founded in Madison in 2024 and has served more than 250 local families. Programs are intentionally small and relationship-centered, typically with approximately a 1:7 educator-to-child ratio.

We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys being part of a small, growing program and wants to contribute both directly with children and behind the scenes.