Learning Gardens Seasonal Lead Educator, Fall

POSITION SUMMARY City Parks Foundation Learning Gardens brings year-round, field and school-based garden science learning to NYC school children and community members. Our gardens are outdoor classrooms that provide vibrant green space in some of New York City's most densely populated neighborhoods. We provide programming in various community gardens in Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Using our garden partner sites, CPF presents engaging interdisciplinary lessons to expand student learning around urban ecology, horticulture, soil science, and sustainable urban food systems. Students in 1st - 8th grade and their teachers receive resource materials, curricula, and tools to enhance their understanding of ecosystem services and address the unique challenges of growing food in an urban environment. High School interns are trained in garden instruction and horticultural techniques throughout the spring and then work alongside Learning Gardens staff throughout the summer.  City Parks Foundation seeks Part-Time Educators to work this Spring with our Learning Gardens School Day program. The Part-Time Educator would be in charge of implementing established lesson plans in CPFs current curricula as part of the school day program through June. This includes sessions in the classroom and outdoors as part of field experiences for elementary grades 1st-5th and/or middle school grades 6th-8th.  The Part-Time Educator reports to the Associate Director of Environmental Education.COMPENSATION: $25-28 per hour; 24 hrs/weekRESPONSIBILITIESServe as a part-time educator for Learning Gardens school day elementary program spanning  October - May with regularly scheduled classes over approximately 25 weeks  in gardens and school classrooms  Implement a curriculum in person, which includes indoor and outdoor sessions with hands-on activities including small animal handling, gardening activities, and food preparation Contribute to workshops and professional development sessions with Learning Gardens partnersWork with the Associate Director of Environmental Education and other staff to help shape curricula by providing relevant feedbackContinually investigate best practices through your own professional development in topics such as child development, environmental studies, and pedagogyAssist in maintaining education department resources including gardening tools, and suppliesImplement assessment tools to measure the learning outcomes of the programProvide logistical support and complete general administrative duties as needed including record-keeping for reporting requirements Assist with maintenance tasks in Learning Gardens growing spaces including weeding, transplanting, direct seeding, compost, etc QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's Degree in Education, Agriculture, Sustainability, Environmental Education/Science, Environmental Studies or equivalent direct experience in environmental science education in non-formal settingsA minimum of two years of teaching experience with outdoor and experiential learning Demonstrable classroom management skills including the ability to instruct different types of learnersExperience instructing elementary and/or middle school-age students Demonstrated success working with diverse students, especially youth from low-income communitiesExcellent written and verbal communication as well as problem-solving skillsStrong proficiency in Google Drive and Office applications (docs, sheets, slides, sites)A strong interest in teaching culturally relevant gardening lessons and promoting sustainable eatingWillingness to travel alone on public transportation to sites throughout New York CityDriver's license and willingness to drive in NYC a plusWillingness to work outdoors in sometimes uncomfortable weather conditionsWillingness and ability to work both independently and as part of a teamSelf-starter with a positive, can-do attitude and consistent follow-throughABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities. Community engagement includes Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, which supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances. We also administer the NYC Green Fund, a regranting program for parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations. We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City. We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens. Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.Powered by JazzHR

Created: 2024-10-22