Position Title: After School Nature Club Lead
Schedule: 32 hours/week, Monday-Friday
Start Date: August 18, 2025
Pay: $18.21/hour

Application Deadline: July 18th, 2025

Hartley Nature Center is seeking a passionate and experienced educator to lead our After School Nature Club (ASNC) program. This position is ideal for someone who is deeply committed to building positive classroom dynamics, has strong skills in behavior management, and is comfortable navigating both the teaching and administrative sides of youth programming.

This role includes developing and delivering curriculum, managing student behavior, supporting a small team of educators, and communicating with families. The ASNC Program Coordinator will join a supportive, mission-driven staff dedicated to inspiring lifelong connections with nature through education, play, and exploration.

About the Role & Additional Opportunities:
Though listed at 32 hours per week, this role offers additional optional hours to teach field trips, camps, birthday parties, and special events—particularly during the summer, fall, and spring. Up to 40 hours per week are available for 13 weeks of summer programming.

What Makes Nature Club Special & Who We’re Looking For:

Over the last three years, ASNC has become known for its meaningful impact on children's social-emotional growth. We are looking for an educator who prioritizes connection to the natural world and can foster a safe, joyful, and inclusive learning environment. This role is especially well-suited to someone with experience working with neurodiverse students and managing a range of behavioral needs with patience and skill.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage administrative tasks including rosters, medical forms, and email communication with families
• Develop and deliver engaging, age-appropriate environmental education lessons for ASNC and February Break Camp
• Lead the ASNC teaching team in risk assessment, student support planning, and group management
• Build strong, trusting relationships with families and maintain open lines of communication
• Create individualized behavior intervention plans as needed to support student success
• Mentor Environmental Education Interns in effective teaching and classroom management
• Collaborate with partner organizations and coordinate guest educators
• Attend weekly staff meetings and participate in ongoing professional development

Required Qualifications:

• Current certification in First Aid and CPR, or willingness to obtain
• Experience working with children ages 5-12
• Experience teaching and creating lesson plans in traditional or informal education settings
• Background in environmental education or outdoor recreation
• Demonstrated experience working with children with special needs or behavioral challenges
• Degree in education, environmental studies, natural sciences, or a related field — or equivalent experience
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading mixed-age groups
• Spanish or Ojibwe language proficiency
• Several current students attend Spanish or Ojibwe immersion school programs

Benefits

• Pay: $18.21/hour
• At  32 hours, this position gets RFT benefits:
• For RFT employees, holiday pay shall be a full days wages
•  two personal days per fiscal year, which are paid days off that employees may take at any time for any purpose.
• RFT employees are eligible to receive unlimited paid inclement weather days, provided they were scheduled to work.
• New RFT employees of Hartley Nature Center will begin to accrue paid vacation at a rate of 3.33 hours per semi-monthly pay period worked.
• Sick: accrue at 2 hours per semi-monthly pay period.