Employment
Year Round Science/Nature Program Instructor
$20-$23 per hour depending on experience. The salaried position comes with benefits. We also are hiring a per diem instructor with similar pay and responsibilities and a more flexible schedule.
Benefits for the salaried position include paid time off and health insurance.
Local candidates only as we regrettably do not have any housing to offer
Apply Now. Begins Immediately.
Please note that we are looking for someone who can make a commitment to the position for at least six months, and ideally a full year.
The Science/Nature Program Instructor will co-design and lead science adventures for kids in K-12th grade at outdoor sites throughout the North Shore. Classes are largely outdoors, with some indoor project components. The instructor will also be core instructional staff at our wilderness nature camps in the summer and during vacation weeks. As Kestrel is a very small organization, the instructor will work with the Program Director on major initiatives such as creating new programs, and possibly planning for opening a nature education center. This position has a great deal of responsibility as well as opportunities for creativity and leadership. We're looking for someone excited to take on the challenge.
We teach natural science and adventure education through direct, student centered investigations in the natural world, and creative projects. Our approach is to use connection to small local wild places and to plants and animals as touch points for understanding science, building community, and nurturing emotional health. All our programs are focused on original observations, thoughtful understanding, and students’ ideas. We are silly and playful and also very serious about learning and teaching. Our instructors are skilled naturalists who understand and are unendingly curious about the natural world, and about our students and their ideas. We use a constructivist, inquiry based learning model and child-led learning. We do not use "turnkey" activities with pre planned outcomes, or lecture type teaching. We allow the natural world itself to inspire care and passion for conservation, rather than teaching values explicitly. Our programs are fun, exploratory, messy, muddy, sandy, wild, and different every day.
Some programs may be one hour and occur only once, while others will involve working with groups regularly throughout the semester. All programs are custom tailored to the audience.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Collaborate with other education staff to custom -build experiential science and nature programs for schools and other groups
Collaborate with other staff to write curriculum for and instruct wilderness day camps in both the summer and winter, using original stories to tie together learning about the natural world and outdoor survival skills
Facilitate outdoor ecology programs for students in preschool through high school, to be custom designed for each group. You will be teaching about pond life, predator ecology, forest ecosystems, and lots more. We teach place specific programs, not general concepts, so you will need to know the plants and animals of the area.
Cultivate students’ science process skills and ecological literacy; mentoring them to ask and answer questions, and to use direct observation, analytical thinking, and collaborative design to do so
Facilitate the development of outdoor skills such as fire crafting, compass navigation, and shelter building, using our ForestBook Skills Tracker.
Maintain excellent group management and build a strong learning culture that values ideas, creativity, real science, and inclusion
Care for student physical and emotional safety in outdoor settings
Commit to working against racism, homophobia, and other forms of systemic injustice through culturally responsive teaching and group management practices
Travel to sites to instruct programs, in your own vehicle or in our equipment van
Pack up supplies from our office and storage shed, and thoroughly clean, disinfect, and organize them when finished using them
Participate fully in preparation and thorough debrief of each day of classes
Other tasks relevant to the operation of programming, possibly to include organization and care of equipment, ordering and purchase of materials, basic care of grounds and building, assistance with enrollment, registration, and outreach, care of small animals, upkeep of website, and maintenance of social media presence. (Most of these tasks are shared among our small staff, as we have only program staff and no executive or maintenance staff).
Qualifications
Undergraduate or advanced degree in education or environmental field, or equivalent experience
CPR/First Aid current certification required, lifeguarding certificate strongly preferred but not required - Can be acquired after hire at own expense
Fully vaccinated against covid-19, including booster shots, as well as having all childhood vaccines required of educators in Massachusetts. (MMR, Polio, Tetanus)
Strong knowledge of New England Natural History, or the natural history of a similar region. We strongly prefer a candidate who has an area of expertise or at least basic comfort with natural history. (Ability to recognize and identify at least some categories of local organisms)
2 or more years experience teaching children in classroom and/or field settings, or experience as a field naturalist or field biologist along with a natural affinity for education and a high comfort level instructing groups of young children
Experience or comfort level teaching in - depth, cumulative science skills and natural history, ideally using essential questions and adapting lessons to students’ ideas, interests, skills, and spontaneous events in nature. This very different from presentations and front-of-room teaching.
A supportive and non-punitive approach to group and behavior management.
Willingness to work towards systemic equality
Ability to provide structure and boundaries to students to support positive behaviors
Ability to carry up to 30 pounds, and to walk uphill on or off trails up to 2 miles a day, in all weather (though we rarely walk more than a mile on any school program)
Strong concern for the natural environment and an interest in working towards its protection by educating young people
An appreciation of all living things and the natural environment, and a hardy willingness to properly prepare for and enjoy outdoor explorations in any weather
Your own reliable vehicle with ample empty space for transporting teaching equipment, and a clean driver's license. (We pay for your mileage and hours to and from job sites, starting from the office).
Ready willingness to accept both positive and constructive feedback, and to be part of a culture that values supportive feedback and constant professional growth for all
Willingness to work both collaboratively and independently, and to be part of a team that tries to balance everyone's workload
Per Diem Nature/Science Program Instructor (20-40 hours a week, instructor preference taken into account)
We are looking for skilled, experienced instructors to join our team and help develop and teach awesome outdoor science programs for children.
Our Instructors should have strong naturalist and/or outdoor skills as well as a solid understanding of outdoor education and group management for children.
We teach natural science and outdoor education through direct, student centered investigations in the natural world, and creative projects. Our approach is to use connection to small local wild places and to plants and animals as touchpoints for understanding science, building community, and nurturing emotional health. All our programs are focused on original observations, thoughtful understanding, and students’ ideas. We are silly and playful and also very serious about learning and teaching.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Collaborate with other education staff to custom -build experiential science and nature programs for schools and other groups
Facilitate outdoor, in person ecology programs for students in preschool through high school, to be custom designed for each group
Cultivate students’ science process skills and ecological literacy; mentoring them to ask and answer questions, and to use direct observation, analytical thinking, and collaborative design to do so. Learning comes from the natural world and within the learners, rather than knowledge being simply imparted by adults.
Facilitate the development of outdoor skills such as fire crafting, compass navigation, and shelter building, using our ForestBook Skills Tracker.
Maintain excellent group management and build a strong learning culture that values ideas, creativity, real science, and inclusion
Care for student physical and emotional safety in outdoor settings
Travel to sites to instruct programs, in your own vehicle
Pack up supplies and thoroughly clean, disinfect, and organize them when finished using them
Other relevant tasks as needed
Qualifications
Undergraduate or advanced degree in education or environmental field, or equivalent experience
CPR/First Aid current certification, lifeguarding certificate preferred but not required
Strong knowledge of New England Natural History, or the natural history of a similar region. We strongly prefer a candidate who has an area of expertise or at least basic comfort with natural history.
At least a year of experience teaching children in classroom and/or field settings, or experience as a field naturalist or field biologist along with a natural affinity for education and a high comfort level instructing groups of young children
Willingness to relinquish some predictability and control in favor of authentic student voice and genuine inquiry
Comfort handling small, harmless wildlife, including insects, amphibians, and reptiles.
A supportive and non-punitive approach to group and behavior management
A willingness, confidence, and ability to strongly enforce rules and boundaries
Ability to carry up to 30 pounds, and to walk uphill on or off trails up to 2 miles a day, in all weather (though we rarely walk more than a mile on any school program)
An appreciation of all living things and the natural environment, and a hardy willingness to properly prepare for and enjoy outdoor explorations in any weather
Your own reliable vehicle with ample empty space for transporting teaching equipment, and a clean driver's license. (We pay for your mileage and hours to and from job sites, starting from the office)
Ready willingness to accept both positive and constructive feedback, and to be part of a culture that values supportive feedback and constant professional growth for all
Ability to teach and make decisions as part of a collaborative team
Program Support/Office Manager (Part Time) $18-$20 per hour, 6-8 hours per week
Responsibilities
Manage enrollment for small afterschool clubs and camps
Compile and send out required program support files to teachers, parents, and other school staff
Manage program schedule on Google calendar
Keep photo uploads and other program files organized in Google Drive
Post program photos routinely on social media
Keep office and supplies neat and organized
Help pack and put away supplies after programs
Print teaching materials as needed
Assist with camp licensure paperwork
Qualifications
Excellent writing skills and communication skills
Highly organized; able to independently lay out tasks, outline a plan for completing them, and follow it
Proficient and experienced with Google suite (Google Drive, docs, sheets, calendar, photos) and social media
Ability to keep a space neat and organized
Available to work in person in Magnolia, MA, two half days or one full day each week
Interest in Kestrel’s mission and work
For All Positions:
You must be vaccinated against covid and able to provide records of all your vaccinations.
To Apply: Email a resume and cover letter, detailing why you are interested in Kestrel specifically, and how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.
About Kestrel: Kestrel Educational Adventures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based out of Beverly, Massachusetts. We offer place-based natural science adventures for schools, family groups, and the general public. Our participants learn through direct experiences in the local natural world, guided by qualified instructors with flexible plans. We believe in building a better and more sustainable world through excellent, student – centered natural science education. Our program instructors guide children in developing their abilities to make and share original discoveries and understand complex natural systems, or sometimes just to find nature connection nearby. We believe that everyone should develop their own values through experience, and that this is the most powerful route to sustainability and conservation action. We teach everyone that they should wander, explore, touch, imagine, and live in the natural world. Because of our small size, we do not have any any staff housing facilities. Also as a result of our small size, our staff all are involved in making big decisions and shaping Kestrel.