Nature School Teacher

OVERVIEW

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center’s mission is to conserve our land’s diverse habitats on Lake Michigan and provide meaningful experiences and environmental education for all. Located nine miles north of downtown Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan, the Center offers six miles of trails that take visitors through 185 unique acres of forests, wetlands, prairies, ravines, bluffs, and shoreline. Each year, Schlitz Audubon reaches over 161,000 community members and nearly 20,000 children participate in our nature science programs. Over 155 preschoolers are enrolled throughout the school year in our nationally recognized Nature School. In addition, thousands of adults and families attend a variety of environmental education programs. The Center’s education building / visitor center received the first Gold LEED certification award in Wisconsin. Schlitz Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Nature School Teacher will share Schlitz Audubon Nature Center’s mission, working as a full-time teacher of nature-based early childhood programming for children ages 3-5. The Nature School Teacher will co-lead one half-day K4 class and one half-day preschool class, teach summer camps, and contribute to the overall support and well-being of the school. The teaching schedule includes office hours and paid planning time.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The statements below reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the position and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements related to the position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Work collaboratively with co-teachers and staff to fulfill the mission of the Nature School
• Lead classes in outdoor learning year round in all types of weather
• Assume responsibility for the health, safety, and welfare of all children in the group
• Ensure that the program classroom operates within the guid­­elines of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and meets best practices in nature-based early childhood education
• Supervise children outdoors, throughout the seasons, and in all types of weather and terrain
• Respond quickly and professionally to unsafe conditions that may put children at risk
• Facilitate communication and positive relationships with parents and coworkers
• Participate in Parent-Teacher conferences, orientations, and occasional school events outside regular classroom hours
• Occasional weekend teaching for general public early-childhood programming
• Collaborate with staff to periodically review Nature School policies and procedures
• Participate in regular school team meetings
• Abide by the Center’s health and safety protocols

• Teach early childhood summer camps between June and August for children ages 3-5

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Assure the safe, beautiful, and stimulating atmosphere of the indoor and outdoor classrooms by organizing and caring for the room and its contents, including live herpetological animals (turtles, salamanders, frogs)
• Participate in Center-wide planning, meetings, initiatives, and events as required
• Document children’s daily activities using digital photography
• Provide general support of the Nature Preschool during weekly office hours
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred
• Minimum of two (2) years teaching experience in early childhood or Nature Center setting preferred

QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Environmental Education a plus
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors year-round in all weather
• Must possess, or be willing to acquire, First Aid and CPR certification within 30 days of hire
• Must be able to pass a fingerprinting and background check and annual background checks thereafter
• Must be willing to undertake 25 hours of ongoing professional development per year
• Able to work independently, but also be able to develop and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships
• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate and respond to both internal and external customers professionally and in a timely manner.  Must be able to communicate with children at an age-appropriate level.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task, prioritizes, and work with frequent interruptions.  Must have the ability to professionally respond to variations in schedules and plans.
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Proficiency in Outlook, and Word, as well as a willingness to learn other platforms such as Google Photos, Adobe Spark, Zoom, etc. 
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential information
• May be required to work outside of regularly scheduled hours

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requires the ability to perform tasks requiring physical exertion, outdoors, in all weather conditions and on difficult terrain.  Must be able to freely move throughout the facility.  Must be able to occasionally work on a computer.  Regularly required to stand, sit, stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders.  Must be able to lift and/or move 10-25 pounds frequently and occasionally lift and/or carry children up to 50 pounds.  Must have the ability to speak and hear.  Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and color vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment is primarily outdoors and is subject to all weather conditions and difficult terrain.  There are occasional indoor classroom activities and administrative tasks in an office environment.

The noise level is usually moderate and occasionally loud.

HOURS

Non-exempt, full-time 40 hours per/week, reporting to Nature School Director

TO APPLY

Send cover letter and resume to Patti Darby pdarby@schlitzaudubon.org with Nature School Teacher in the subject line.