Part Time Garden Educator

The Garden Educator is a collaborative member of the Horticulture Department and helps connect visitors, students, and community members with the living landscapes of Old Salem. Based primarily in the Gardens Education Center, this position supports hands-on, place-based learning about historic gardening, agriculture, seed saving, natural history, ecology, and the documented Moravian landscape of Salem. This role is especially suited for someone who enjoys working with people, plants, history, and the outdoors. The ideal candidate will be comfortable engaging learners of different ages, curious about the relationship between people and plants, and interested in helping visitors understand how gardens can tell stories about food, culture, ecology, work, community, and place.

Applicants must be available to work Tuesday through Saturday, including mornings and afternoons, with occasional evenings for special events as needed. Standard work hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday during most of the school year, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. June through August, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays from February through December.

• Experience or strong interest in one or more of the following areas: museum education, K–12 education, environmental education, historic sites, public gardens, agriculture, horticulture, botany, natural history, ecology, farming, foodways, or community education.
• A genuine interest in plants, gardens, agriculture, and the relationship between people and the natural world.
• Comfort working with children, families, adult learners, and general museum visitors.
• Strong verbal communication skills and an interest in public speaking, teaching, storytelling, and visitor engagement.
• Good written communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• A collaborative work style and willingness to support a small, active, mission-driven team.
• High school diploma or GED required; college degree or relevant coursework preferred.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, push, pull, crawl, and sit on low chairs.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Ability to climb stairs and use ramps.

• Contribute to the development, preparation, and implementation of educational programs and activities for the Gardens Education Center.
• Lead and assist with garden-based learning experiences for K–12 students, families, general visitors, adult learners, and special program groups.
• Help develop seasonal educational programs that align with departmental goals and, when appropriate, North Carolina Essential Standards.
• Support hands-on interpretation related to historic gardening, agriculture, seed saving, botany, ecology, pollinators, native plants, foodways, and the Moravian landscape of Salem.
• Engage visitors in the Gardens Education Center through informal interpretation, activities, object- and plant-based learning, and conversation.
• Lead or assist with seasonal garden tours, school programs, adult workshops, special tours, and public programs.
• Assist with the creation of learning materials, interpretive resources, signage, activities, and visitor-facing content for the Gardens Education Center and Horticulture Department-managed spaces.
• Collaborate with other departments when Gardens Education Center research, plant collections, or horticultural interpretation support site-wide programs, tours, events, or exhibits.
• Attend quarterly Horticulture Department planning meetings and monthly all-educator meetings.
• Provide support to other Horticulture staff during special events, tours, programs, and departmental projects.
• Follow and help uphold OSMG safety policies and procedures.
• Help care for the Gardens Education Center as both a working educational space and a historic building.
• Use materials, tools, equipment, and activity supplies responsibly and safely.