Seasonal Early Childhood Lead Instructor, Children's Garden

Position Title: Seasonal Early Childhood Lead Instructor Childrens Garden

Department: Childrens Education

Reports to: Childrens Garden Co-Coordinators

FLSA Status: Part-time Seasonal Non-Exempt

Compensation: $25 per hour

Position Description:

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Childrens Education programs are renowned for teaching hands-on gardening and plant science to children. The early childhood lead instructor will guide children to learn how to grow maintain and harvest vegetables herbs and flowers make simple recipes with garden produce care for the environment and explore the natural world.

The early childhood lead instructor will oversee and co-teach the Trees and Saplings program for toddlers and their caregivers during spring and fall. The lead instructor will also develop and teach summer drop-off programming for ages 45. This includes horticulture and bed maintenance cleanup lesson planning acquiring grocery items preparing simple snacks and gathering and prepping program supplies. The lead instructor will also assist with other educational programming as needed.

This position is 4 days a week 2630 hours per week March 17 through October 31 2026. During spring and fall the schedule is Wednesday through Saturday. During summer the schedule is Tuesday through Friday.

Schedule:

Mandatory Remote Onboarding: Tuesday March 17 9 a.m.1 p.m.

Spring and Fall:

March 18June 6 and September 2October 31

• Wednesdays & Thursdays 8:30 a.m.3:30 p.m.
• Saturdays 9 a.m.3:30 p.m.
• Fridays 11 a.m.6 p.m.

Summer:

• TuesdayFriday schedule
• Training: June 9July 2 9:30 a.m.3:30 p.m.
• Programs: July 7August 14 8 a.m.4 p.m.
• August 1828 flexible hours

Responsibilities:

• Design prepare and teach hands-on gardening lessons to a group of 10 young children (24 years old) and their adult partners.
• Design prepare and teach hands-on gardening lessons to a group of 12 children ages 45 on their own.
• Develop and lead supplementary enrichment activities such as seasonal cooking nature crafts and science exploration.
• Mentor two to three teen apprentices and a program assistant who assist instructors with their group.
• Ensure that assigned garden plots are maintained (including planting weeding mulching watering and more).
• Prepare set up and clean up all program materials.
• Acquire inventory and order supplies and groceries for weekly lessons.
• 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 leading imaginative play singing songs cooking and exploring nature with young children ages 25
• 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.