Forest Kids Education is seeking a passionate, reliable, and creative educator to lead our outdoor Forest Kids Pinecones program that runs 9:30-2:30, for children ages 4-7. This is a contract position for someone who truly loves nature, enjoys working with young children, and is excited to deliver engaging, memorable + hands-on outdoor learning experiences. We are looking for an educator who has a deep appreciation of the natural world, and has the moral foundations to guide good character - all important values in our program.
Our programs focus on nature connection, explorations, creativity, and risky play. We are looking for an educator who aligns with the Forest Kids philosophy and wants to be part of a supportive, adventurous + nature loving team.
Position Overview:
- Teach September - June, outdoor Forest Kids classes for ages 4-7
- Optional: Opportunity to teach summer camps
- Teach 2, 3, or 4 days a week
- Follow the Forest Kids nature based curriculum, values + brand standards
- Engage and connect with kids through hands-on play + exploration
- Take photos of the days activities + write short summaries
- Contract term: 1 year commitment (with opportunities to continue beyond 1 year)
Required Qualifications:
- Certified Teacher
or
2. Minimum 5-10 years of experience working with children in:
- Education
- Outdoor programs
- Early childhood setting
- Nature based or experiential learning environments
Additional Requirements:
- Valid criminal record check (including in the vulnerable sector)
- Personal liability insurance with Katie Balon and Forest Kids Education Inc. named as an additional insured (insurance is approx. $100 per month)
- Current First Aid certification + valid drivers license
- Comfortable working outdoors year round, in all weather conditions (proper good quality gear is a must)
- Creative, hands-on teaching style
- Strong + respectful communication skills with children, parents and team members
- Ability to work collaboratively and follow the Forest Kids brand + program structure
Ideal candidate is someone who:
- Feels at home in the outdoors, in all seasons
- Loves connecting with young children
- Enjoys story telling, nature crafts + creative lessons
- Is organized, responsible + self motivated
- Has excellent classroom management skills
- Values character development + personal responsibility
- Appreciates traditions
- Enjoys mentoring students in a positive and respectful environment
- Believes in the importance of preserving childhood as a time of curiosity, wonder, and outdoor exploration
- Has a strong respect for family and community
Responsibilities:
- Plan + prep creative nature based lessons that you will teach to the Pinecones group, weekly (Katie provides a weekly nature based curriculum for you to follow, with weekly themes and teaching ideas, but you have flexibility to be creative in your lessons as long as weekly nature themes are taught)
- Collect parent/guardian signatures at drop off and pick up
- Carry a backpack with teaching supplies, hand washing water + first aid kit
- Teach on your own outside in all weather conditions, with a positive attitude, and excitement to teach kids how to have fun and love nature, in all seasons
- Establish a strong connection + respect with your students through playing alongside them, asking thoughtful and inquisitive questions, teaching leadership skills, following routines and consistently enforcing Forest Kids rules
- Take photos daily to share with parents in a WhatsApp chat group, along with a description of your day (what kids learned/ special moments)
Contract Pay + Invoicing Requirements:
Forest Kids provides the full program infrastructure - branding, registration, curriculum, marketing, structure, administration, permits, seasonal equipment + family programming - so instructors can focus on delivering high quality outdoor education.
Program ration is max 1:10.
You will invoice Forest Kids at the end of each month at a set rate, per day/per student, registered in your class. The set rate will vary depending on your experience and certifications.
We believe educators should be well compensated for their expertise and dedication. Forest Kids offers competitive, professional-level compensation for qualified instructors. Details will be shared during the interview stage.
Holidays:
We follow the public school calendar for holidays, including Christmas + Spring break.
You can take summers off, or have the opportunity to run summer camps in July and August.
If you need time off during the school year, it is possible, as long as you tell me now, so I can schedule that into your class registration/program dates.
Forest Kids Provides:
- Strong brand recognition + community trust
- All marketing, registration + payment processing
- Weekly nature curriculum + ideas
- Winter equipment (warming tent)
- Location permits, business license, registration forms + waiver
- Admin, logistics + parent communication systems
- Website + social media platforms
- Planned Forest Kids family fun nights + optional field trips and adventures
- Overall program structure + reputation
- Professional credentials
Additional Teaching Requirements:
- Teacher is responsible for filing their own taxes as a subcontractor
- Teacher needs to shadow alongside Katie at least 3x before teaching their own classes
- Teacher will need to sign a 1 year contract and agree to all terms and conditions laid out within the contract
- Teacher will need to follow all Forest Kids Policies, as described in the Safety Handbook, Parent Handbook + Teacher Handbook
- It is expected that the teacher will maintain regular weekly communication with Katie and communication will be clear, respectful, and done within a timely manner
- Additional Forest Kids family fun nights and Forest Kids field trips are optional for you to attend - not a requirement. You will not be paid for attending these events.
- Teacher will supply their own:
- teaching resources/ supplies for crafts and/or experiments
- outdoor gear + clothing
- backpack to carry required first aid supplies + other teaching materials
*These are all things that you can write off as a business expense
Katie will provide training prior to September and you will have opportunities to shadow and teach with me this Spring.
Benefits of Teaching Outside (compared to a public school setting):
- Improved mental and physical health + happiness from spending time in nature
- Significantly smaller class sizes for authentic teacher-student connections
- Enjoy teaching in different environments
- More freedom to teach creatively through hands-on exploration based lessons (no strict curriculum requirements)
- No report cards
- Child centered and child led, which creates more meaningful lessons
- Nature inspires creativity
- Not overstimulating (calms your nervous system)
- A greater sense of purpose and impact
- More daily movement
- Less administrative burden + paperwork (I cover the admin, so you can just focus on the actual enjoyment of teaching!)
- Children are calmer and more engaged learners in an outdoor setting, allowing you to form stronger relationships with students
- Your work feels more impactful as you teach about nature connection, leadership and real life skills
- More positive parent relationships, as parents are more engaged, supportive and appreciative
- Greater connection to the community as Forest Kids attracts families who share similar values and we love spending time together in Forest Kids family fun nights or on filed trips!
- Being a sole-proprietor allows you to write off your teaching supplies as a business expense, instead of paying out of pocket
**No AI responses. I want to hear from you, the actual human. ;) Thanks!