Nature-Based Early Childhood Teacher

The Neighborhood ELC, a licensed nature-based early learning center in West Simsbury, CT, is hiring a full-time Nature-Based Teacher for fall 2026. Our program is grounded in Reggio Emilia principles and nature-based pedagogy: children learn primarily outside, following their own curiosity, with teachers observing and guiding rather than directing.

This role works with our older preschoolers, with a path to grow into a lead teaching position as the school expands to a larger location. You'll help shape a mixed-age, small-ratio classroom, build on children's individual interests, and use our grounds, a creek, trails, and natural play spaces, as the primary teaching environment.

We're looking for someone with real ECE experience and genuine familiarity with the Reggio Emilia approach and outdoor, nature-based practice, someone who can assess risk versus hazard in a natural setting and trust children with both.