Youth Instructor - Summer Camp

SUMMARY: The Education department at The Gardens on Spring Creek aims to build connections and inspire stewardship in every program participant. Youth Instructors support the Education Department in implementing 9 weeks of Summer Camp. From June through August, this position will supervise and teach children (ages 5-11) in a day camp setting while facilitating creative, hands-on, interactive, garden-based lessons.  Lessons focus on topics of ecology, horticulture, STEM, cooking, nutrition, art, music, crafts, team building and general outdoor education.

We are hiring 4 positions. Positions start mid-May and run through mid-August.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  The Gardens on Spring Creek is the community botanic garden of Fort Collins.  It is supported by the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek.  The mission of The Gardens is to enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture.  The Friends of the Gardens is a non-profit organization that supports The Gardens through fundraising and advocacy. 

The facility includes a Visitor’s Center and 12 acres of gardens.  A detailed description of the Gardens on Spring Creek and its programs can be found at www.fcgov.com/gardens.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary function of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Teach Garden’s summer camps.
• Independently facilitate experiential, interactive, cross-disciplinary environmental education lessons.
• Work as a team to coordinate lessons, schedules and logistics.
• Organize and execute daily set-up and clean-up of lessons.
• Coordinate with other staff and volunteers regarding daily/weekly activities.
• Manage and delegate small groups of adult and youth volunteers.
• Communicate professionally with parents regarding their children.
• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for participants and address first aid issues.
• Keep accurate records of attendance, safety, and other matters as needed.

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS:  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the necessary functions of this position.

•  Experience supervising and leading children in a variety of environments.
• Enthusiastic and outgoing personality.
• Excellent interpersonal skills when interacting with a diverse public including age, race, class, ethnicity and disability.
• Self-directed, quick learner, responsible, dedicated, uses good judgment, detail oriented, positive attitude and a good team-player.
• Knowledge or interest in plant science, environmental education or horticulture.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  Bachelor’s degree completed or in progress in education or related field from an accredited college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, volunteers, or business community members. Ability to effectively present information to management and employees.

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Able to make sound decisions under pressure.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:  CPR and First Aid required but can be provided by the City of Fort Collins.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to outside weather conditions.  Some work is performed in a standard office environment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet when teaching the work environment can me noisy and busy.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 
 The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities.  Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.