Position Overview:

Reporting to the Youth Director, the full time, year-round position of Youth Education Assistant assists in the instruction, organization, and creation of programming and opportunities for young people. This position also supports the Youth Education Director in managing all aspects of Hildene’s apiary.

Based in the Lowerre Family Youth Education Center, Hildene’s youth education department provides year-round programming in natural science, agriculture, and history for predominantly elementary-aged students in the region through field trips and summer day camps.

All the Youth Education programs are standards-based and are designed to provide experiential learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to become investigators and questioners. They learn by doing, whether feeding baby goats, dissecting a flower, using a telegraph, or sorting macroinvertebrates. Students practice skills they will use throughout their lifetime such as asking relevant questions, making careful observations, and constructing evidence-based questions.

We seek an energetic, upbeat, and engaging educator who can start on March 3, 2025. The ideal candidate is charismatic, nature-loving, driven, and excited about creating joyful learning experiences.

(Full-time, year-round, hourly position of 40 hours per week starting March 3, 2025.)

Responsibilities:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Leads and implements standards-based, experiential, and inquiry-focused natural science, agricultural, and historic programming for kindergarten-6th grade, outdoors and indoors. 
• Assists in developing new educational programs, including updating program content to reflect current research and knowledge.
• Assists in the scheduling, communication, and invoicing of school programs and summer camps.
• Assists in the seasonal updates of communication and promotional materials.
• Maintains education materials and inventory. 
• Works with other departments on projects and tasks to advance education at Hildene.

Required Skills

• Familiarity with Vermont state learning standards including Next Generation Science Standards, College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, and Common Core.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills. 
• Willingness and ability to speak publicly to diverse audiences of all sizes.
• Highly self-motivated, able to make decisions and work as a team and independently.
• Comfort working around farm animals and farm environments. 
• Willingness to learn beekeeping and assist the Youth Education Director in managing Hildene’s apiary. 
• Ability to be flexible in a dynamic work environment.

Physical Requirements

• Valid Vermont driver’s license
• Ability to position and reposition self to work with students.
• Consistently works in a variety of weather conditions.
• Traverse uneven terrain from one job location to another.
• Ability to move objects weighing up to 50 lbs.

Required Experience

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Education, Environmental Studies, or related field.
• 3-5 years of experience delivering interdisciplinary, experiential outdoor education programs with elementary and middle school-aged children.