Seasonal Education Instructor, Early Childhood Fellow

Position Title: Seasonal Education Instructor Early Childhood Fellow

Department: Education

Reports to: Childrens Garden Co-Coordinators

FLSA Status: Part-time Seasonal Non-Exempt

Compensation: $23 per hour

Position Description:

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Childrens Education programs are renowned for teaching hands-on gardening and plant science to young people. Childrens Garden education fellows spend the growing season (springsummerfall) in BBGs Childrens Garden teaching children to grow harvest and cook their own food care for the environment and explore the natural world.

Early childhood fellows teach age-appropriate gardening lessons to 11 young children with the help of two to three teen apprentices from our Garden Apprentice Program during the summer season. During spring and fall early childhood fellows co-teach hands-on gardening lessons to a group of 10 young children (24 years old) and their adult partners. Prior to each teaching season fellows participate in a comprehensive paid training program covering seasonal content pedagogy and horticultural skills.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is looking to hire two early childhood fellows to teach in our Childrens Garden. This is a seasonal position from March 17 to October 31 2026.The commitment is18 hours per week in the spring and fall and 2230 hours per week in the summer. During spring and fall the schedule is WednesdaySaturday. During summer the schedule is TuesdayFriday.

Schedule:

Mandatory Onboarding and Training:

• Tuesday March 17 9 a.m.1 p.m. (Remote Onboarding)
• Wednesdays March 18 & 25 9 a.m.1 p.m.
• Thursdays March 19 & 26 9 a.m.3:30 p.m.
• Fridays March 20 & 27 26 p.m.
• Saturdays March 21 & 28 9 a.m.3:30 p.m.

Spring:

• Wednesdays April 1May 20 8:30 a.m.1 p.m.
• Thursdays April 2 May 21 8:30 a.m.1 p.m.
• Fridays April 3June 5 26 p.m
• Saturdays April 4June 6 9 a.m.3:30 p.m.

No work shifts May 23 and 24

Summer:

• TuesdayFriday schedule June 9August 14
• Training: June 9July 2 9:30 a.m.3:30 p.m.
• Programs: July 7August 14 8 a.m.4 p.m.

No work shifts August 15September 1

Fall:

• Fall training date: Thursday September 3 9 a.m.4p.m.
  • Fridays September 4October 30 26 p.m.
  • Saturdays September 5October 31 9 a.m.3:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays September 9October 21 8:30 a.m.1 p.m.
  • Thursdays September 10October 22 8:30 a.m.1 p.m.

Responsibilities:

• Lead an age-based group (ages 45)of 11 children in hands-on gardening instruction in a half-acre food garden.
• Assist and co-teach hands-on gardening lessons to a group of 10 young children (24 years old) and their adult partners.
• Mentor two to three teen apprentices and a program assistant who assist instructors with their group.
• Develop age- and seasonally appropriate lesson plans and lead supplementary enrichment activities such as seasonal cooking nature crafts nature exploration or science experiments.
• Ensure that assigned garden plots are maintained according to weekly task lists (including planting weeding mulching watering and more).
• Lead activity stations for Family Gardening Hours a program for children of all ages and adult caregivers.
• Assist in teaching other education programs as needed.
  

Qualifications:

• Formal or nonformal early-childhood or elementary education experience ideally in a classroom or outdoor setting
• Comfort with imaginative play singing songs cooking and exploring nature with young children
• Passion for plants and gardening
• Horticulture experience preferred but not required
• Ability to perform physical labor and work outdoors in various weather conditions
• Outgoing and welcoming personality; responsible punctual and professional
• Experience and comfort working with a diverse group of youth and staff
• Willingness to incorporate constructive feedback into lesson planning garden maintenance and teaching practice
• Flexibility to take on a variety of tasks; ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative environment

Benefits:

• BBG offers certain benefits to part-time employees including:
  
  
  • Up to 56 hours of sick leave
  • Short-term disability/New York Paid Family Leave
    
    
• As a 501(c)3 BBG is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer
• Museum Pass which provides employees the opportunity to enter many museums in New York City for free

To be considered for this position please submit an application by clicking Applybelow. Applications submitted without a résumé and cover letter will not be considered.

No telephone calls for position inquiries please.Applicants with disabilities who need assistance with the online system or who may require a reasonable accommodation during the application process should contact Human Resources at.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.