School Year Program Instructor at Vida Verde Nature Education

MISSION STATEMENT

Vida Verde is a nonprofit that promotes educational equity by providing free, overnight, environmental learning experiences for students who don’t otherwise get the opportunity.

The instructor position is well suited for folks with experience in outdoor education, classroom teaching and/or engaging and supporting low-income and students of color.

We are looking for someone who wants to be challenged and work hard towards educational equity and who can handle a lot of responsibility and details. The position is best suited for a driven, positive and independent worker.

Instructor Responsibilities

This is a full-time, school-year (late August-early June) position

General Program Expectations

• Be committed to the Vida Verde mission and vision; embody the Vida Verde values at work (see values below)
• Manage student groups to success utilizing Vida Verde’s positive-reinforcement group management techniques. Create an awesome space and team each week with a classroom of high-potential human beings.
• Lead games and activities, practice conflict resolution, be a role model.
• Collaborate with the instructor team to develop an emotionally safe and supportive learning environment for the students
• Ensure students’ physical safety
• Respect and engender understanding for the diversity of our staff and students
• Connect with and understand students as individuals, take time to learn about them and their communities
• Facilitate safe and positive interactions between students
• Embrace a culture of feedback via peer-to-peer observations, teacher evaluations, video recordings, team debriefs, monthly meetings with your manager and quarterly goal setting
• Drive safely and learn the particulars of driving & attending to the Vida Verde vehicles
• Interact positively and professionally with donors and site visitors
• Be willing to take on responsibility for unexpected challenges and opportunities that arise
• Arrive on-time to all work engagements, including program shifts, meetings, etc
• Support and direct classroom teachers & chaperones
• JEDI work: Contribute to an inclusive culture and commit to the org's JEDI statement. Work to achieve goals outlined in the Org-wide JEDI plan which are applicable to your position
   

Traditional Overnight Program Work

All of the below is describing our in-person, 3-day and 2-night camp program

Program Work is three consecutive & long days per week (Tues-Thurs)

• Instruction includes leading six core programs: (1) Goat Milking & Cheese Making (2) Redwood Hike (3) Tidepool, Marsh & Beach Exploration (4) Organic Farm Activities (5) Campfire (6) Night Hike
• Cook & facilitate meal prep/cooking with students (instruction provided)
• Perform first aid for students in the case of injury or illness
• Lead games, songs & stories intermittently throughout week
• Facilitate two camper’s choice activities per week (1 hour and 2 hours)
• Set up, tidily maintain, cleanup & takedown camp each week
• Work outside in varying weather conditions
• 90%+ work time on feet. Hike/walk up to 4 to 6 miles in a day.
• Lift heavy objects up to 50 lbs
• Long work days during program days (~10-12hr workdays)

Outside of Program Work

Typically Mondays and Fridays:

• Participate in weekly, half-day student management/professional development workshops
• Participate in and prepare for fundraisers, donor events, and site work days
• Teambuilding and communication: attend staff meetings, professional development, and proactively keep up with work communications (email, etc.)
• Support Vida Verde in its ongoing efforts to create and implement the org JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) plan

Camp Caretaker Work*

Instructors will be responsible for a subset of the following Farm and Facilities chores (typically completed Mondays and Fridays).

• Raking pasture for compost and feeding farm animals
• Cleaning chicken coop and maintaining chicken flock
• Hot tub maintenance
• Program and farm shopping in town
• Recycling and trash runs
• Restroom cleaning
• Possible garden/landscaping work
• Vehicle maintenance/cleaning
   

*Each weekend, one instructor is on animal/greenhouse duty for about three hours/weekend, on a rotating basis (approximately one weekend/month).

To apply:

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume via email to the following three recipients:

Daniel Rodriguez (Daniel@vveducation.org), Raffelina Grano (Raffelina@vveducation.org), & Arturo Cervantes (Arturo@vveducation.org)

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