**$500 SIGN-ON BONUS!**

Overview
Prairie Flower's mission for over 25 years has been to provide learning experiences that strengthen connections to the natural world and nurture children's innate capacities for imagination and wonder. What makes us unique is our nature school educational philosophy, which means we spend most of the day outdoors during warm seasons (in all weather, including rain!). We also emphasize unhurried daily rhythms and unstructured, child-led play time.

We are proud to offer summer programming this summer, for the first time in many years. Weekly camps will be capped to a small group (up to 15 kids max), and have a high staff to student ratio (three adults to 15 kids). Children will enjoy sunshine and fresh air while observing the beauty and wonder of nature, maybe getting a little dirty -- and above all, getting to enjoy being kids.

Job Description
We are looking to hire two school-age summer camp teachers who believe in play-based, nature-based programming, to help lead and support all facets of our summer 2024 school-age summer camp program, which runs for 11 weeks starting June 3 and ending August 22 (no camp on July 4, or the week of July 15-19).

The camp is for children entering 1st-6th grade. Camp will run from 8 a.m.-5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Hours needed are: Assistant 1: 9:00-2:30 Monday-Friday (until 4:30 on Thursdays for swimming), Assistant 2: 9:30-12:30, Monday-Friday. We can discuss other schedules, for applicants who meet the qualifications and share a passion for our mission.

The camp will have a different theme each week; see the summer camp for full details. The activities for each theme have been prepped and planned out by current Prairie Flower staff, so as a lead/assistant teacher, you will be responsible for carrying out these activities with the kids, such as activities to identify plants on a hike, learn first aid skills, play capture the flag, and more. During each day of camp, the themed activities will take place in the morning, and the afternoons will include swimming at Furman once a week, or taking a walk back to the woods or a Cy-Ride trip offsite for unstructured free-play time.

As an assistant teacher, you will:

• help provide care and guidance for children during the program
• assist with daily setup and cleanup for the program
• facilitate play during hikes in the nearby woods or field trips to other Ames parks
• supervise children during interactions and learning activities
• help with snack preparation and other project planning
• develop and deepen your understanding of nature school educational philosophy

If you enjoy working with children, or hope to gain more experience in the field of nature-based education, this position is for you.

We are located at 1517 Northwestern Ave in central Ames, which isn’t a far walk from nearby woods. We rent two classrooms (but are otherwise not affiliated with) Bethesda Lutheran Church.

Qualifications and Characteristics

• Age requirements: 16
• Compassionate, reliable, responsible and flexible
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills – able to communicate courteously and clearly with other teachers, children, parents and other people connected with center affairs
• A positive, playful and patient attitude
• Able to give and take constructive, respectful feedback
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to learn and adapt quickly
• Respect for each child’s unique personality and temperament, and able or willing to learn how to practice setting kind but firm boundaries, and to lovingly mediate classroom conflicts between children
• A commitment to creating an inclusive, welcoming classroom for all children and families
• Able to lift at least 50 pounds and to hike nearby rugged terrain
• Able to be outdoors daily during all seasons (sun, rain, snow, cold down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit)
• First aid and CPR certification, or a willingness to get certified before starting in the job

Bonus Additional Qualifications and Characteristics

• Prior experience working with young children, or a degree or coursework towards a degree in early childhood education or a related field
• Knowledge of and belief in the principles of nature-based education, or an interest in learning more about this approach to early childhood education
• Interest or skill in one or more of the following: outdoor safety, backpacking, camping, fishing, STEAM activities, wildcrafting, weaving, whittling, bushcrafting, board games, art, music, writing, fiber arts, theater, crafting or other area that would allow you to engage creatively with children in this age group (5 to 12 years old)
• Appreciation for and commitment to Prairie Flower’s mission

Benefits and How to Apply
This is a part-time position based in Ames, Iowa, that’s paid on an hourly basis at $13-$13.75 per hour, depending on experience.

There is a $500 SIGN ON BONUS; half to be paid upon hire and the second half to be paid at the end of the summer.

To apply, please email your resume and two professional references. We will review applications as they come in.

Questions? If you have questions about any aspect of the position or application process, please email us.

For a deeper understanding of our mission, values and what we do at Prairie Flower Children’s Center, please visit our website.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $13.00 - $13.75 per hour

Expected hours: 15 – 27 per week

Benefits:

• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Ames, IA 50010: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person