Learning Gardens Seasonal Educator, Spring

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 four boroughs. 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 a Part-Time Educator 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 May. 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 Learning Gardens School Day Program Manager.

COMPENSATION: $25.00 - $27.00 per hour (15-20 hrs/week)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a part-time educator for Learning Gardens school day elementary program spanning February - May with regularly scheduled classes 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 
• Help to shape curricula by providing relevant feedback
• Assist in maintaining education department resources including gardening tools, and supplies
• Implement assessment tools to measure the learning outcomes of the program
• Complete general administrative duties as needed including record-keeping and reporting requirements 
• Assist with maintenance tasks in Learning Gardens growing spaces as needed for school day programming including weeding, transplanting, direct seeding, compost, etc
• Continually investigate best practices through your own professional development in topics such as child development, environmental studies, and pedagogy

 

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Agriculture, Sustainability, Environmental Education/Science, Environmental Studies or equivalent direct experience in environmental science education in non-formal settings
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience with outdoor and experiential learning 
• Demonstrated elementary and/or middle school classroom management skills including the ability to instruct different types of learners
• Demonstrated success working with diverse students, especially youth from low-income communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication as well as problem-solving skills
• Strong proficiency in Google Drive and Office applications (docs, sheets, slides, sites)
• Interest in teaching culturally relevant gardening lessons and promoting sustainable eating
• Willingness to travel alone on public transportation to sites throughout New York City
• Driver's license and willingness to drive in NYC a plus
• Willingness to work outdoors in sometimes uncomfortable weather conditions
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team is essential
• Self-starter with a positive, can-do attitude and consistent follow-through

ABOUT 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.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. City Parks Foundation does not offer visa sponsorship.