OUTDOOR LEARNING /  TEACHING JOBS 

Position: Primary Educator
Organization: Ground Learning
Location: Edwin County Farms, Prince Edward County, Ontario

Are you passionate about working with 5-9 year olds? Do you long to weave your love of outdoor learning, interdisciplinary teaching and community building into a newly emerging nature-based school set on a family farm?

Have you reimagined what learning looks like and desire to build it with our dynamic learning community? Do you love emergent, agile learning set in nature? Then, this may be the role for you ...

Ground Learning (full time farm program affiliated with Wildhearts Forest School) is seeking a multi-talented educator to co-create our first Primary-age program this September.

This is a startup! So we are looking for someone who is collaborative, understands the importance of strong interpersonal relationships and who thrives in a changing, innovative and agile environment.

Role overview:

You will play a vital role as a community builder/contributor and an educator. Your involvement will be instrumental in growing and participating in our small community and executing our vision for primary years learning.

Our educators co-design play-based learning experiences, facilitate nature and discovery-based workshops, provide learners one-on-one assistance, and collaborate with colleagues and community members to craft purpose-inspired, experiential and community-engaged learning experiences for all. Most importantly, our educators cultivate and nurture a loving environment.

What is truly unique about this opportunity:

• Learning with children on a family-run farm, surrounded by nature and engaged community
• Co-creating a school from the ground up, where educators’ creativity and curriculum agility are valued
• Building out a curriculum based on forest and farm activities using a flexible framework created by our wonderful sustainability education consultant, Sarita Pockell (who is available to continue coaching us all as needed! More on Sarita here)
• Support from Director and Co-Teacher, Julie Fowler
• Professional and personal development are encouraged and supported - for all involved: students, educators, parents, admin, broader community
• Accommodation available if needed: reasonably priced housing available in town, about 15 minutes drive from the farm

We are looking for someone who:

1. Understands the importance of cultivating and nurturing a loving environment where children are free to connect with themselves, others and nature - and from this place, develop and foster their natural genius
2. Is inspired by a Wall-less learning community. Breaking down the walls between subjects, ages, nature and indoors, school and life.
3. Wants to join a collaborative team and create a space for ongoing learning for students, parents and educators alike!
4. Adores being outdoors, interacting with and drawing inspiration from nature
5. Is excited to explore learning with multi-age cohorts
6. Is courageous and willing to step outside the box and create something new

In your role, you will:

• Be the primary point of contact for a given group of learners acting as a guide, coach, mentor, counselor, passion pusher, facilitator, curator, and whatever else our learners need us to be for them.
• Bring innovative curriculum to life by using a variety of teaching methodologies.
• Provide parent communication and engagement.
• Support learning on a variety of topics in a variety of contexts; be a generalist.
• Co-develop systems for creating portfolios with learners for authentic assessment.
• Co-create, review, and advise on documents that pertain to the Learning Program.

Teacher Expectations:

• 3-5 years experience working with 5-9 year olds, most of which is in inquiry, outdoor education and/or play-based learning.
• Waldorf Teacher certificate and/or Bachelor of Education and Ontario College of Teacher’s certification
• Up to date Vulnerable sector police check
• Up to date Standard First Aid and CPR-C
• Outdoor/environmentalist/naturalist experience is preferred
• Must be able to maintain a balance of teaching core skills while providing real-life opportunities for the children to explore and consolidate these skills.
• A love for the outdoors, and a flexible and positive attitude while performing teaching duties regardless of weather.
• Comply with the established policies and procedures of the school as stated in the Educator/Parent Handbook
• Capacity to build strong, positive relationships, and to identify what role you need to play for each learner.
• Developing and implementing creative curriculum that is thoughtful and engaging
• Patient and empathetic with learners of all ages as well as their parents.
• Ability to work collaboratively and creatively in an agile environment.
• Willingness to learn from failure, ask for help when you need it, embracing an iterative process.
• Skilled in problem solving, critical thinking, planning and organization.
• The courage and willingness to step outside the box, truly connect with yourself, others and the natural world and build something new with us!

Who we are:

• Nick and Claire, Founding Parents
• Julie Fowler, Director, Co-Teacher, Founder of Wildhearts: A PEC Forest School.
• Set on Nick’s family’s 700-acre organic farm where together with Nick’s brother and the small farm team we have 60 head of organic beef cattle, a few pigs and chickens, a 2-acre market garden, maple syrup production, a large pond and many acres of forest
• Over the past 3 years, Nick has been developing a native tree nursery on the farm and intends to work with educators to weave this program into the curriculum - he envisions educators and children collecting tree seeds around the farm with him in the fall, sorting and storing them appropriately for winter, planting them in the spring once they’ve germinated and transplanting them out around the farm and community. We believe strongly in the potential of this program to educate and enrich the students’ learning experiences in deeply meaningful ways
• We are dedicated to co-creating this nature-based school and community alongside educators and families

Details:

• Location: Edwin County Farms, Northport, Prince Edward County, Ontario
• Start: ASAP (Full time or part time negotiable)
• End: June 20, 2024 (with possibility of extending to August 2024)
• Possible Future Opportunity: Full time salaried position with benefits beginning September 2024
• Compensation:
  • day rate negotiable depending on experience
  • Reduced tuition rates for children attending the school

If this sounds attractive and you are keen to learn more, please email Julie at groundlearning.pec@gmail.com ASAP with:

1. A brief letter that outlines the story of why you’re interested in Ground Learning
2. Your CV and/or portfolio - we’re interested in your passions and skills, a rough history of your relevant work experience, and anything else you’d like to share with us - however you’d like to present it!

**we’re looking for someone to join our team asap!

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