Nature School Facilitator

Cocoplum Nature School is hiring a part-time Nature Play Facilitator for the aftercare program. The schedule will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 2:45 pm to 5:45 pm. Facilitators are also able to take on substitute teaching shifts and attend paid professional development. 

The primary purpose of Afternoon Nature Play Facilitators is to support children’s engagement in nature-based unstructured play and child-centric activities. Cocoplum Afternoon Nature Play is a valuable formative experience for the children who attend. It provides the time and space for children to forge new friendships and experience active, outdoor, liberating childhood fun. In Cocoplum's natural and nurturing environment, children self-direct their play and they engage in enrichment activities according to daily themes. 

Qualifications

• Three professional references
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., education, social work, psychology)
• 2+ years’ experience working with elementary age children (e.g., parenting, camp, school)
• Ability to work in the United States
• Level 2 Fingerprinting
• CPR and First Aid training

Skills

• Knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced in childcare
• Compassionate, confident, creative, and positive
• Conscious discipline
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Speaking and listening skills related to communicating with elementary age children
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with adults
• Reverence for and comfortable with nature and outdoor environments
• Knowledge of nature-based education practices preferred

Roles and Responsibilities

Afternoon Nature Play can be a valuable formative experience for a young child. For Cocoplum students, it’s a joyful extension of the school day. For students from other schools, it’s a time to forge new friendships and experience active, outdoor, liberating childhood fun. Afternoon Nature Play Facilitators (“Facilitators”) are part-time (typically 9-17 hours per week) employees of the school who plan and implement invitations and activities. Facilitators are expected to:

• Familiarize themselves with Cocoplum’s Mission, Vision, and language.
• Participate in employee orientation and ongoing professional development
• Implement Conscious Discipline practices
• Follow “instruct, connect, redirect, correct” approach to support prosocial behavior. Establish participation and behavior expectations in the very first session, reinforce them with consistency, and explicitly restate your expectations as often as needed. Support engagement, connect with children and build relationships, and redirect children’s behavior when necessary. For persistent disruptive behaviors, notify the on-site administrator.
• Maintain constant communication with co-facilitators and administrators about activities, head counts, supervision, and incidents.
• Maintain vigilant supervision of students.
• Communicate with enrichment teachers and facilitate transitions to and from enrichment activities
• Create conditions for learning including leading circles and facilitating engagement in invitations.
• Utilize natural, rescued/repurposed materials as often as possible.
• Model and encourage scientific inquiry and metacognition (including the phases of the scientific method) frequently.
• Model the dispositions we wish to cultivate in our students (see the Foundational Documents).
• Document incidents and follow procedures for communicating incidents to caregivers.
• Implement safety and security measures, including drop-off and pick-up procedures and safety drills, with fidelity.
• Communicate with caregivers as valued partners in the child’s development to create a positive and beneficial experience for the child.
• Organize classroom materials and maintain organization of hallway and classrooms.
• Contribute to maintaining orderly operations and facilities (e.g. watering garden daily, locking classroom doors, refilling water jugs, charging walkie talkies, tidying and light cleaning).
• Add facilities improvements and repair needs to the list in the office.
• Add supplies and material needs to the list in the office.
• Be dedicated to the growth, reputation, and health of the school in all activities, both in and out of the classroom.
• Report to Curriculum Director all program related matters.
• Assist day school teachers in the end-of-school transition for children staying after school, keeping a delimited space for Afterschool program to start on time.
• Other duties as assigned.