We're hiring an After-School Nature Club Assistant Teacher
For full consideration, please apply by August 12, 2019; interviews will begin August 15th.
Position Description:
We are seeking a part-time assistant teacher to help with our after school nature play program, which is expanding in Fall 2019. Prairie Flower's location in Ames is ideal for early childhood movement and connection to nature. PFCC began 20 years ago, and currently serves children in our beautiful cabin in the woods, with 14 wooded acres of streams, ravines and riverbanks to explore.
Poemtree is an outdoor club for children. Our main activity is free play and exploration in the woods, but on any given day you will find Poemtree children learning woods and garden care, along with hiking, foraging, woodworking, whittling, building fires, climbing trees, playing music and singing, hearing nature stories and making up our own, making maps, building forts and doing other outdoor projects. We will also be keeping a nature journal and the winter months find us doing more indoor projects, like baking and playing board games, as well as indoor crafting and handwork, like weaving, knitting, sewing, and painting, following the impulses and interests of the children.
Position Details:
The part-time assistant teacher will work on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. (children ages 5-12) and on Fridays from 3:45-6:15 p.m. (children ages 11-18). the position requires 7 hours weekly, from September to May, and follows the school-year calendar. This is a nine-month position from September 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020. This position is paid on an hourly basis at $11 per hour.
Responsibilities:
Alongside the lead teacher, the assistant:
Qualifications:
We seek an individual with a passion for the outdoors. We are looking for someone with patience, compassion, responsibility, reliability and flexibility. We seek someone who practices firm but kind boundary-setting, enjoys being with children and has an interest or skill in any of the following: board games, wildcrafting, foraging, nature, outdoor safety, cooking with children, handwork and crafting.
The individual also must have the ability to lift at least 50 pounds and to hike nearby rugged terrain; the ability to be outdoors daily during all seasons (sun, rain, snow, cold down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit); and excellent communication skills during frequent interactions with other teachers.
The ideal candidate would be available to work both days needed each week, who can commit to the school for the entire year or more and is interested in furthering his or her knowledge of outdoor education.
To Apply:
Send a cover letter and resume or CV to prarieflowercc@gmail.com by August 12, 2019. If you are passionate about helping children have access to the time, space and freedom this wonderful setting and school offers them, please apply!
Your cover letter should address the experiences and qualifications you bring to this job. You should discuss why you are applying, the strengths you would bring and especially what you know about how time in nature impacts children of this age group.
Prairie Flower Children's Center is a licensed Iowa child care center, and all teachers will need to complete (upon hiring) a background check and wilderness CPR/ first aid exam. We look forward to receiving your application!
For a deeper understanding of our mission, our values and what we do at PFCC: www.prairieflowercc.org.
For full consideration, please apply by August 12, 2019; interviews will begin August 15th.
Position Description:
We are seeking a part-time assistant teacher to help with our after school nature play program, which is expanding in Fall 2019. Prairie Flower's location in Ames is ideal for early childhood movement and connection to nature. PFCC began 20 years ago, and currently serves children in our beautiful cabin in the woods, with 14 wooded acres of streams, ravines and riverbanks to explore.
Poemtree is an outdoor club for children. Our main activity is free play and exploration in the woods, but on any given day you will find Poemtree children learning woods and garden care, along with hiking, foraging, woodworking, whittling, building fires, climbing trees, playing music and singing, hearing nature stories and making up our own, making maps, building forts and doing other outdoor projects. We will also be keeping a nature journal and the winter months find us doing more indoor projects, like baking and playing board games, as well as indoor crafting and handwork, like weaving, knitting, sewing, and painting, following the impulses and interests of the children.
Position Details:
The part-time assistant teacher will work on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. (children ages 5-12) and on Fridays from 3:45-6:15 p.m. (children ages 11-18). the position requires 7 hours weekly, from September to May, and follows the school-year calendar. This is a nine-month position from September 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020. This position is paid on an hourly basis at $11 per hour.
Responsibilities:
Alongside the lead teacher, the assistant:
- helps provide care and guidance for the children during our clubs
- assists with daily setup and cleanup for the program
- develops and deepens an understanding of Waldorf-inspired educational philosophy, and forest and outdoor school philosophies
- helps with other project planning.
Qualifications:
We seek an individual with a passion for the outdoors. We are looking for someone with patience, compassion, responsibility, reliability and flexibility. We seek someone who practices firm but kind boundary-setting, enjoys being with children and has an interest or skill in any of the following: board games, wildcrafting, foraging, nature, outdoor safety, cooking with children, handwork and crafting.
The individual also must have the ability to lift at least 50 pounds and to hike nearby rugged terrain; the ability to be outdoors daily during all seasons (sun, rain, snow, cold down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit); and excellent communication skills during frequent interactions with other teachers.
The ideal candidate would be available to work both days needed each week, who can commit to the school for the entire year or more and is interested in furthering his or her knowledge of outdoor education.
To Apply:
Send a cover letter and resume or CV to prarieflowercc@gmail.com by August 12, 2019. If you are passionate about helping children have access to the time, space and freedom this wonderful setting and school offers them, please apply!
Your cover letter should address the experiences and qualifications you bring to this job. You should discuss why you are applying, the strengths you would bring and especially what you know about how time in nature impacts children of this age group.
Prairie Flower Children's Center is a licensed Iowa child care center, and all teachers will need to complete (upon hiring) a background check and wilderness CPR/ first aid exam. We look forward to receiving your application!
For a deeper understanding of our mission, our values and what we do at PFCC: www.prairieflowercc.org.
