Assistant Guide (Teacher's Assistant)

If you enjoy the outdoors and engaging with children in a fun, supportive environment, this could be your happy place!

This is a great opportunity for students majoring in health sciences (especially occupational therapy), psychology, or education.

It’s also an excellent fit for a paraprofessional or an experienced empty-nester looking for a purposeful way to invest their time while earning a little supplemental income.

In just 5 hours per week, this role offers meaningful experience and the opportunity to make a real difference in children’s lives. This role has potential to continue into next school year with increased hours up to 10-15/week.

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About Us

Nourished Oaks is a disability inclusive nature-based homeschool enrichment group based in Waynesboro, VA. Our programs are designed for children ages 6-12.

Our Homeschool Enrichment Group offers children an opportunity to learn natural sciences, art, and more. Our main group meets 100% outdoors.

Our neurodiverse Interest-Based Clubs provide kids with fun, organic opportunities to build social and communication skills while doing activities they mutually enjoy. These clubs meet indoors at churches and/or community centers.

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Our Mission

(1) Provide integrated social learning opportunities that are accessible and enjoyable for children who struggle in traditional classroom settings due to differences in sensory processing, attention, and related needs - thus so that are welcomed in to belong, grow, and thrive.

(2) Cultivate an inclusive community of learners and families that brings together people from a range of backgrounds, skills, and support needs.

(3) Provide abundant opportunities for outdoor time and unstructured play, recognizing these as essential to children’s healthy development, creativity, and well-being while also helping families make regular outdoor play possible.

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Job Summary

We're seeking a fun, dedicated, reliable, nature-loving Assistant Guide for our outdoor Homeschool Enrichment group.

The Assistant Guide is responsible for assisting with activities and helping manage the day-to-day operational activities of a group of 8-10 students ages 6-12 in a nature-based (outdoor) environment.

The Assistant Guide must maintain appropriate, positive, caring behavior when interacting with children, parents/caregivers, and staff. They also must assist with daily tasks, and provide support in all transitions of the daily rhythm.

Our group is adaptive and disability inclusive. Our Guides must therefore understand that some of our students may have a range of disabilities and support needs and must be willing to learn how to best support each student in individualized ways.

Additionally, the Assistant Guide must be willing to provide individual one-on-one support for some students on a regular basis, if needed.

Paid training will be provided at a time agreed upon prior to the first day of class if scheduling allows. Further training will be through self-paced materials and on-the-job guidance.

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Hours

***Hours are set and applicants must be reliably available. Please only apply if you're available during this window of time.***

During the 2025-2026 school year: Tuesdays, 9:30 - 2:30

Dates for Spring 2026: March 24, 2026 - May 26, 2026

Pay Rate: Starts at $14/hour

(Continuation into the 2026-2027 school year is possible, pending mutual agreement after the Spring 2026 Term. The 2026-2027 school year role may also increase to up to 10-15 hours per week if plans to add an additional meeting day come together.)

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Responsibilities

The Assistant Guide supports the Director/Lead Guide in maintaining a safe, supportive, engaging, and inclusive learning environment aligned with the values of Nourished Oaks.

Responsibilities Include:

• Assisting with daily program logistics, including setup, cleanup, organization of materials, and transitions between activities. This assistance may sometimes take the form of physically setting up/cleaning up and sometimes take the form of actively “holding space” for the children while the Lead Guide and/or parent volunteers perform the physical tasks.
• Supervising and engaging with students during both structured and unstructured learning times, including outdoor play, exploration, and group activities.
• Participating in child-led, nature-based, and project-based activities while supporting students’ curiosity, independence, and collaboration.
• Actively observing students’ play, engagement, and well-being in order to support safety, inclusion, positive group dynamics, and growth.
• Providing one-on-one support to students as needed, including assisting children who benefit from additional support with regulation, participation, or social interaction.
• Supporting group agreements and assisting with conflict resolution using respectful and developmentally appropriate approaches.
• Communicating effectively with all children, parents, caregivers, volunteers, and staff
• Ensure a supportive environment - including cultivating an overall culture of inclusion, recognizing when children need support and meeting their needs, recognizing and responding to self-advocacy from the children, and teaching/modeling disability etiquette and inclusive language and behavior
• Ensure a healthy outdoor classroom environment – including conducting safety checks and risk assessments, and maintaining appropriate hygiene and cleanliness standards.
• Modeling curiosity, kindness, flexibility, and sound judgment. Collaborating with the Director/Lead Guide to uphold the program’s philosophy and values.
• Assisting with other reasonable tasks that support the safety, care, and smooth operation of the program, as needed.
• As our Tuesday program is held outdoors, you must be willing, prepared, and able to complete outdoor activities with children in all kinds of weather, and be able to to hike on uneven terrain.

The ideal candidate demonstrates reliability, good judgment, and a willingness to collaborate and grow within a small, mission-driven educational program.

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Skills / Qualifications

• Good communication skills
• Reliability
• 1 years of experience in childcare
• At least 18 years old (exceptions could be made for a mature, qualified person age 16-17)
• Genuine enjoyment interacting with children
• Ability/Willingness to refrain from using your phone during our meetings, except for class purposes
• Be prepared and have appropriate clothing for outdoor activities in all kinds of weather
• Knowledge or experience in the outdoors through personal interest, hobbies, and/or education
• Ability to work well with others (staff, children, and parents) and to foster a team environment with others of diverse backgrounds and worldviews
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to assist in behavior management techniques using approved neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed methods
• Adaptable, friendly, outgoing, and excited about Nourished Oaks’ mission and values!

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Physical Requirements:

• Be prepared for outdoor activities daily in all kinds of weather.
• Be able to lift a minimum of 35 lbs.
• Be able to hike on uneven terrain.

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Benefits

• Be part of a community-centered organization that’s making a difference, one life at a time!
• Gain unique experiences and skills that add to your resume
• Written summary and recommendation for those who would benefit
• ONE of the Assistant Guide’s children (or a sibling/close family member in the age range of the program) may attend the program for which the Assistant Guide is employed without payment of the annual registration fee or regular tuition. Only the term’s materials fee will be required. Additional children may participate at the current discounted rate for children whose parent volunteers.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $14.00 - $16.00 per hour

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Location:

• Waynesboro, VA (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Waynesboro, VA (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14 - $16