NOTE: Local candidates only, because we regrettably do not have housing to offer. We are looking for an instructor to teach all spring and ideally through the coming summer and fall as well.

This position begins as soon as possible, and not later than March 2024

We teach natural science and outdoor education through direct, student centered investigations in the natural world, and creative projects. Our approach is to use connection to small local wild places and to plants and animals as touchpoints for understanding science, building community, and nurturing emotional health. All our programs are focused on original observations, thoughtful understanding, and students’ ideas. We are silly and playful and also very serious about learning and teaching.

All instructors must be fully vaccinated against covid.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with other education staff to custom -build experiential science and nature programs for schools and other groups
• Facilitate outdoor, in person ecology programs for students in preschool through high school, to be custom designed for each group
• Cultivate students’ science process skills and ecological literacy; mentoring them to ask and answer questions, and to use direct observation, analytical thinking, and collaborative design to do so. Learning comes from the natural world and within the learners, rather than knowledge being simply imparted by adults.
• Facilitate the development of outdoor skills such as fire crafting, compass navigation, and shelter building, using our ForestBook Skills Tracker.
• Maintain excellent group management and build a strong learning culture that values ideas, creativity, real science, and inclusion
• Care for student physical and emotional safety in outdoor settings
• Travel to sites to instruct programs, in your own vehicle
• Pack up supplies and thoroughly clean, disinfect, and organize them when finished using them

Other relevant tasks as needed

Qualifications

Undergraduate or advanced degree in education or environmental field, or equivalent experience. A degree is not necessary if you have relevant experience and other qualifications

• CPR/First Aid current certification, lifeguarding certificate preferred but not required
• Strong knowledge of New England Natural History, or the natural history of a similar region. We strongly prefer a candidate who has an area of expertise or at least basic comfort with natural history.
• At least a year of experience teaching children in classroom and/or field settings, or teaching children in other settings
• An understanding of education as a process that comes from an authentic relationship between learner, teacher, and the world, and is not a matter of simply presenting information.
• Willingness to relinquish some predictability and control in favor of authentic student voice and genuine inquiry
• Comfort handling small, harmless wildlife, including insects, amphibians, and reptiles.
• A supportive and non-punitive approach to group and behavior management
• A willingness, confidence, and ability to strongly enforce rules and boundaries
• Ability to carry up to 30 pounds, and to walk uphill on or off trails up to 2 miles a day, in all weather
• An appreciation of all living things and the natural environment, and a hardy willingness to properly prepare for and enjoy outdoor explorations in any weather
• Your own reliable vehicle with ample empty space for transporting teaching equipment, and a clean driver's license. (We pay for your mileage and hours to and from job sites, starting from the office)
• Ready willingness to accept both positive and constructive feedback, and to be part of a culture that values supportive feedback and constant professional growth for all
• Be an invested member of a small team working on exciting new initiatives, including the possible development of a nature education facility

Our Instructors should have strong naturalist and/or outdoor skills. For naturalist skills, we are looking for instructors who, when they arrive at a wild place in Eastern Massachusetts, will be able to identify by sight many of the living things they encounter. You certainly don't need to know everything, but should know at least a few categories out of these: Trees, plants/wildlflowers, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, tracks, etc. For outdoor skills, any of the following are helpful: Primitive fire building, navigation, knot tying, wild edibles, wildlife tracking, carving or tool making), as well as a solid understanding of outdoor education and group management for children. Again, it is certainly not necessary to posses all of knowledge and skills above, but we are looking for instructors who have some of them.

You must be vaccinated and be willing to observe all our other covid prevention protocols.

To Apply: Email a resume and cover letter, detailing why you are interested in Kestrel specifically, and how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.

About Kestrel: Kestrel Educational Adventures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based out of Beverly, Massachusetts. We offer place-based natural science adventures for schools, family groups, and the general public. Our participants learn through direct experiences in the local natural world, guided by qualified instructors with flexible plans. We believe in building a better and more sustainable world through excellent, student – centered natural science education. Our program instructors guide children in developing their abilities to make and share original discoveries and understand complex natural systems, or sometimes just to find nature connection nearby. We believe that everyone should develop their own values through experience, and that this is the most powerful route to sustainability and conservation action. We teach everyone that they should wander, explore, touch, imagine, and live in the natural world. Because of our small size, we do not have any any staff housing facilities. We do have a great place to work and lots of opportunities to learn. While most of our programs are in or near Beverly, our current office is in Magnolia Village (Gloucester, MA).

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Do you have naturalist knowledge of New England, and in what areas of study (plants/trees, birds, marine, herpetology, insects, water quality, geology, etc.)?
• Are you fully vaccinated against covid-19 and willing to provide your vaccination records to confirm?

Experience:

• Teaching: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• CPR/First Aid certification? (Preferred)

Work Location: Multiple locations