Spring Educator

TEVA Spring Educators 

Teva (nature) is the name of the environmental education programming we do at Pearlstone. Fellows will focus on a school program for Jewish day-schools called Shomrei Adamah (Guardians of the Earth). A Teva Educator is nature-inspired, creative, playful, flexible and hard-working. We are looking for educators who are excited to take part in this mission by leading, developing and creating transformational experiences in nature, the AHA moment. 

About YOU: 
We are looking for Teva educators with a diversity of backgrounds and skills for our program.  Musicians, teachers, wilderness leaders, artists, mentors, performers, athletes, scholars and lovers of life are invited! All Teva educators are hired because they have demonstrated strong skills in working with children through prior experience. Teva educators are patient, kind, creative, curious, good listeners and are eager to learn. 

About Pearlstone and Hazon: 
Pearlstone Retreat Center and Outdoor Education Campus, on 180 acres, is located about 30 minutes north of Baltimore, MD. We have a low and high ropes course, lake, hiking trails, basketball courts, wilderness area, meandering creek, pool, farm and animals. We are proud to be an agency of The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. Pearlstone cultivates a vibrant and sustainable Jewish community for all. We are in final merger negotiations with Hazon. Hazon shares our mission to lead a transformative movement weaving sustainability into the fabric of Jewish life, in order to create a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable world for all. 

Please check out our website to learn more about us:  
https://www.pearlstonecenter.org/   
https://hazon.org/   

About Teva: 
Teva is the premier Jewish environmental education program in the country. Our four-day Shomrei Adamah program provides transformational experiences in nature for Jewish day school students. Teva was founded in 1994 with the goal of immersing participants in the natural world by providing structured experiences that sensitize participants to nature’s rhythms, help them develop a more meaningful relationship with nature, and deepen their personal connection to Jewish practices and traditions. Teva aims to inspire environmental awareness and activism and engage youth in Jewish culture and tradition. Educators spend their day outside with a group of students, and lead interactive curriculum that focuses on awareness, interconnectedness, ecology, and responsibility. Teva has served over 450 day-schools, congregations, camps, JCCs, youth groups, and other Jewish institutions. More than 100,000 individuals have benefited from Teva’s programs, spanning all Jewish denominations including secular and interfaith groups. Teva educators are sought as an asset in staffing work in the Jewish communal field. Teva’s engaged alumni network are often inspired to careers in environmental, outdoor, farming, and Jewish communal leadership roles. In 2021 Pearlstone became the national home for Teva’s powerful program. In addition to school-based programming, Teva has become the umbrella of environmental educational programming at Pearlstone.
  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZclZEhy54w 

https://www.pearlstonecenter.org/programs-events/all-programs-events/teva/ 

Program Dates: 
The Teva spring season is from April 3 – June 2nd.

Responsibilities during Teva:  

• Introduce students to the natural world through exploration of the forest, farm and campus of Pearlstone.  
• Plan and lead outdoor learning blocks and electives to teach ecological and Jewish concepts, either solo or with a co-educator    
• Lead Camp Teva children’s programming during Hazon and Pearlstone holiday retreats    
• Work collaboratively with supervisors and colleagues     
• Participate in theatrical presentations, large scale games, evening programming and song sessions    
• Support programming at meals for students and chaperones    
• Participate in Shacharit (morning prayer services) with the participants and add creative educational elements    
• Assist with development of curriculum, skits and program materials    
• Participate in staff training and development (1/3 of total work time) and learn Teva’s curriculum    
• Prepare the site for the week, includes programming materials, set-up and take-down    

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Educators will be paid $500/week 
• Communal living in an incredible staff communal housing building  to create a vibrant community away from work 
• Housing with a kosher vegetarian kitchen (meat may be grilled outside), meals when program is in session and other meals when available 
• Opportunities to connect and network with dynamic Jewish and environmental leaders  
• Develop a supportive, thoughtful engaged community  
• Participation in select weekend/holiday programming at Pearlstone   
• Professional development and networking opportunities throughout season    
• Opportunity to develop hands-on teaching skills in a creative experiential setting    
• Participation in cutting-edge ecologically based Jewish community of Pearlstone Retreat Center 

To Apply:   
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled; please apply expeditiously. Any questions please contact Eli: Ebass@Pearlstonecenter.org   

How to apply:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled; please apply expeditiously.

Any questions please contact Eli: Ebass@Pearlstonecenter.org   

Please email resume to Teva Program Director: Eli Bass Ebass@Pearlstonecenter.org 

Calls with interest or questions are welcome: 410-500-5372