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| Title: | Nature Preschool Assistant Educator |
| Reports to: | Nature Preschool Lead Educator |
| Status: | Exempt, up to 40 hours a week Mid-August – Mid-June; option to work summer |
| Salary: | $15.00 an hour |
| Posting date: | March 31, 2022 |
| Starting date: | Week of August 15, 2022 |
| Apply now! |
Overview:
Founded in 1978, Eagle Bluff is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As a year-round residential environmental learning center, we provide accredited education programs and outdoor adventures to over 16,000 children, adults, and families each year. We are located in rural southeastern Minnesota, just a few miles from the small historic town of Lanesboro in Fillmore County. Through hands-on learning in nature, we aim for people to leave Eagle Bluff with experiences that stick with them and inspire them to become lifelong stewards of the environment by:
- Fostering a sense of respect, stewardship and community
- Imparting life skills such as teamwork and problem-solving
- Increasing environmental awareness & academic literacy
- Promoting positive outdoor experiences
- Sparking curiosity and appreciation for the natural world
Eagle Bluff’s newest program is a Nature Preschool is a partnership with Semcac Head Start. Our classroom is a mix between 10 students enrolled through Head Start and 7-10 students enrolled through Eagle Bluff. Our kindergarten readiness program for children ages 3-5 uses environmental education to support the development of the whole child. Head Start is in session Monday-Thursday and Eagle Bluff students are enrolled Monday-Friday.
Summary:
Eagle Bluff is seeking an Assistant Nature Preschool Educator to share their passion for the outdoors with young children, ages 3-5 who attend our licensed child care program 5 days a week. The Nature Preschool Assist Educator will work closely with the other teachers to facilitate outdoor experiences that align with the curriculum. Our nature preschool aims to nurture a child’s relationship with the outdoors through play, trail walks, games, off-trail exploration, animal encounters, song, and art. An ideal candidate will have a variety of life experiences, patience, previous early childhood experience, sense of humor, and knowledge of the natural world. Preschool is in session from 8 am-3 pm. A typical work week is 40 hours.
Essential Functions
- Primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of children in attendance with the help of co-teachers. Our student to teacher ratio is 5:1.
- Pickup breakfast and lunch from the dining hall and bring to the classroom. Take the lead with mid-day cleanup.
- Co-lead outdoor exploration activities (on and off trail) to groups of no more than 20 children in mixed age classes of 3-5 year olds.
- Approach teaching as a facilitator/guide, allowing children to take the lead.
- Encourage and supervise child-led wild, on and off-trail nature play.
- Embrace outdoor exploration in most weather conditions including cold, snowy conditions in winter.
- Help create an environment of joy, appreciation, and wonder through words, actions, and presence.
- Foster problem solving, collaboration, confidence building and imagination by providing just enough scaffolded assistance to children.
- Collaborate with Nature Preschool Lead Educator in preparing environments and materials to support learning opportunities.
- Develop strong positive partnerships with families, students, and co-teachers.
- Communicate clearly, empathetically, and regularly with other staff, families, and interns.
- May assist with bathrooming.
Minimum Qualifications
- Experience in early childhood education and/or outdoor/nature education programs preferred, but not necessary.
- Self-motivation, flexibility, enthusiasm, creativity, collaboration, and patience
- Strong emotional intelligence, including empathy and listening skill set.
- Demonstrates working knowledge of hazards and risk assessment as related to the environments of young children.
- Physically able to walk up to 2 miles a day, in all weather, and lift objects of up to 50lbs.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification or ability to complete by the end of August, 2022.
- Comfortable with meeting children where they are on a given day at their pace.
- Your own reliable transportation.
- Must clear background check.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
Physical Requirements:
Communication, detecting, traversing, and operating skills are needed. The physical demands of this job will vary but typically require:
- Constant movement and use of limbs including but not limited to typing, hauling, bending, pushing, and pulling
- Frequent traversing to a significant degree (2 miles) up/down hills
- Navigating a variety of surfaces, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, climb stairs or ramps, and carry up to 50 lb.
- Frequent communication (speaking and hearing) and information exchange in person and digitally on computers, phones, and radios.
- Frequent interaction with non-living and living creatures not limited to birds, insects, reptiles
- Frequent exposure to weather elements, such as low and high temperatures, precipitation, wind
Benefits:
- Optional health insurance coverage through BCBS (Eagle Bluff pays 60% of the premium) and participation in a medical expense plan (HSA)- Eagle Bluff matches up to $70 a month
- If not enrolled in EB health insurance, a fringe benefit to cover health care coverage of up to $140 a month- need to show proof of coverage and amount
- 100% coverage of Short Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance ($10,000)
- Retirement contribution at 4% of gross wages- begins at 1 year of employment
- Daily Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and snack)
- 7 holidays, and 5 Flex days
- Mental Health Benefits valued at up to $305 annually
- Professional development funds
To Apply:
Cover letter expressing interest and current resume, emailed as PDF to colleenf@eaglebluffmn.org
Eagle Bluff ELC does not sponsor work visas, thus, in compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. Employment will require the selected candidate to pass all background, criminal record, fingerprinting, and reference checks.
Eagle Bluff ELC is an equal opportunity employer that promotes and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of their positions. The essential functions listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or other or which impose undue hardship on the organization.
Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
