Outdoor Preschool Pod Guide & Teacher

A little family with 109 acres in Williamson Co & Davidson Co (near Fairview) Tennessee is starting a  Preschool Pod. 

Currently the pod is 4 sweet children, and will stay at 4 while the indoor classroom build and licensing are completed. Then the hope is to grow the group to 7 children through the end of May.

The Lead Teacher supports young children as they learn through outdoor play, exploration, storytelling, practical life experiences, and seasonal rhythms.

This role is ideal for someone who sees themselves as a guide and mentor rather than a traditional classroom instructor.

The successful candidate is warm, kind, strong, dependable, flexible, physically active, comfortable in the woods, and passionate about both child development and the natural world.

Administrative duties such as family communication, a bi-monthly newsletter with updates, and occasional meetings are part of the teacher’s work.

Non-teaching administrative work can be added to make this a full-time position.

Primary Responsibilities

Child Guidance & Care

• Foster a safe, nurturing environment for children ages 2–6
• Support children's social-emotional development
• Guide conflict resolution with respect and empathy
• Observe and respond to children's interests and developmental needs
• Encourage independence and confidence

Outdoor Learning

• Lead nature walks and exploration
• Lead river play (the school is a few hundred yards from a river)
• Facilitate child-led discovery and inquiry
• Support outdoor play in all seasons and weather conditions
• Help children develop respect for nature and living things
• Maintain awareness of outdoor safety considerations

Program Activities

• Self-guided play
• Storytelling
• Nature crafts
• Seasonal celebrations
• Songs and movement
• Gardening
• River
• Practical life activities
• Cooking (as appropriate)

Communication

• Maintain positive relationships with families
• Communicate children's experiences and growth
• Participate in occasional meetings and planning
• Contribute observations and documentation

Site Stewardship

• Assist with setup and cleanup
• Maintain outdoor learning spaces
• Monitor areas for safety
• Help care for materials and equipment

Desired Qualifications

Required

• Early Childhood Education experience
• Genuine love of nature and outdoor learning
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Strong communication skills
• CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Ability to lift, bend, hike, and remain active throughout the day
• Clear background check

Preferred

• Forest School experience
• Waldorf training or experience
• Nature-based education experience
• Homeschool or microschool experience
• Wilderness First Aid certification
• Gardening, naturalist, or outdoor skills

Physical Requirements

This position requires:

• Arriving 30 minutes before class begins, and staying 30 minutes after to clean up
• Walking on uneven terrain
• Standing for extended periods
• Lifting up to 50 pounds
• Working outdoors in rain, cold, heat, and mud
• Active participation in outdoor activities

Administrative Requirements

This position requires:

• Monitoring weather conditions
• Communication with families: answering questions, sharing developmental milestones and observations, 
• 2 Newsletters per month
• Evaluate and refine the curriculum throughout the year (the first year of curriculum is provided)
• Develop lesson plans around the curriculum according to weather/children’s interests
• Plan daily and weekly activities
• Communicate weather-related closures/emergencies or schedule changes
• Maintain first aid kits
• Document incident and injuries, and share with parents
• Adapt lessons to children's interests and developmental needs
• Perform daily site safety checks
•  Share photos and learning highlights (with permission)
• Schedule and conduct parent conferences once in fall, once in spring
• Organize and maintain indoor and outdoor materials 
• Ensure proper ratios and supervision
• Reflect on and improve teaching practices
• Attend one training or conference each year (budget permitting)
• Prepare the outdoor classroom for changing seasons