Early Childhood Educator- Little Birds Teacher and
Preschool AfterCare Aide

Irvine Nature Center

Irvine Nature Center is an environmental education non-profit based on over 200 acres in Owings
Mills, MD. In addition to its educational programming, Irvine has an interactive exhibit hall and hiking trails. The Nature Preschool at Irvine is a MSDE licensed and NAEYC accredited childcare program for children 3-5 years old that spends almost the entire day outdoors learning foundational skills through hands-on experiences.

Position Summary:

Joyful, fun-loving educator who will lead and assist in a variety of early childhood education programs for children from birth through 5 yrs old. They will take the lead in teaching two sections of our Little Birds Caregiver and Child program and also our very popular weekly free story hour and animal encounter, Tales and Tails. They will also assist with Fern Club AfterCare for our licensed Nature Preschool. The educator should be experienced working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-age students and have a love of nature and hands-on learning. The ideal candidate will thrive outdoors and in all things silly and fun but also be comfortable working with parents and caregivers. Animal handling, song, nature appreciation, and messy arts are all integral to embracing being outdoors no matter the weather for these children and their families.

This educator reports directly to the Director of Early Childhood Education.

Time Commitment:

- August 16, 2023- June 15, 2024
- Must be available Mon/Wed afternoons, Tues/Thurs mornings, and Friday all day
- Monthly weekend hours required for weekend Little Birds (once a month)
- Available for orientation Aug 16-19 (9-4pm)
- 18-30 hrs a week while both Little Birds and Fern Club in session (Fall and Spring)
- More hours may be available for the right candidate with other Irvine programs.

Responsibilities:

- Lead two week-day sections of Little Birds Caregiver and Child classes for children birth to 3 yrs old for Fall and Spring semesters (total of 26 weeks)

- Lead monthly weekend sessions of Little Birds classes, September through June
- Assist the AfterCare lead teacher in teaching a group of no more than twenty 3-5-yr olds, who have already attended a full-day of Preschool, in Fern Club AfterCare
- Co-plan with the Little Birds/AfterCare lead teacher hands-on, developmentally appropriate nature-based lessons that include song, movement, process art, hikes, animal handling, and playful inquiry

- Ensure caregivers participating in Little Birds feel empowered to engage with their young child in nature and provide them with knowledge and tools to do so

- Encourage Little Birds caregivers to meet the needs of their child during class, even if that may differ from the groups’ activities

- Create an environment of joy, appreciation, and wonder through word, action, and presence
- Approach teaching during Little Birds and Fern Club as a facilitator/guide, allowing children to take the lead
- Encourage and supervise child-led nature play
- Foster problem solving, collaboration, and imagination by providing scaffolding

- Regularly observe children during all activities to inform future planning and to ensure a safe learning environment for children to flourish physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively in nature

- Plan and lead weekly story times that feature song, movement, a read-aloud, and animal visit
- Maintain supplies through routine cleaning, including possible state-mandated disinfection
- Authentically reflect and evaluate self-practice and programs
- Attend and contribute to regular staff meetings
- Attend required on-going professional development courses as required by MSDE
- Contribute to/participate in special Preschool events (about 2 per year outside of school hours)
- Possibly attend outreach events geared towards parents of young children to help promote nature exploration and play for the youngest of children and Early Childhood Education programs (participation in outreach events off-site would be compensated with paid hours outside of the regular hours)

Qualifications

- Experience working with children birth-5 yrs old and an understanding of child development.

- Experience working in an outdoor setting with children
- Comfortable with meeting children where they are on a given day at their pace, flexing to allow engagement in a variety of forms

- Flexibility to deviate from a lesson plan

- Willingness to get dirty and handle live creatures

- Excellent communication skills with young children, their caregivers, and co-workers

- Comfortable speaking in front of large groups

- Strong group management skills

- Basic computer experience (i.e., Word processing, Outlook, digital photos, etc.)

- Current First Aid and CPR certification or ability to complete by mid-October 2023

- Dedication to self-reflection and a desire to continually improve your craft

- Physical ability to walk up to 2 miles a day, in all weather, and lift objects of up to 50 lbs

- Your own reliable transportation

- Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or an approved medical and religious waiver

The ideal candidate:

- Has a college degree or is pursuing a college degree in Early Childhood Education, Child
Development, Elementary Education, Environmental Education, or related fields

- Is curious, flexible, and creative

- Has a strong base knowledge of local flora and fauna or a willingness to learn

- Is experienced with emergent curriculum, planning loosely, and teaching “off script”

- Has a back pocket of ideas for engaging students, redirecting behavior, and activities, especially songs

- Approaches challenges with calm and a sense of humor

- Loves to sing, act, or play an instrument

Salary: part-time hourly starting pay of $17 an hour

To Apply: Send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:
Katie Rooney, Director of Early Childhood Education, 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills,
MD 21117 or email HR@ExploreNature.org

Please note, employment is contingent upon completing and passing a criminal background check and fingerprinting.

Irvine is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by federal state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• No nights
• No weekends

Work Location: In person

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