The Forest Kindergarten Educator will join a collaborative team who meet regularly to reflect and develop the emergent curriculum for our flagship program, our forest kindergarten at Sandy Creek Park in Athens, Georgia. Athens Forest Kindergarten Educators have a unique opportunity to be part of AFK’s growth and development, bringing their own passion and expertise to the table. In addition to our forest kindergarten program, we conduct scholarly research, teacher education, and advocate for access to play and nature. 

2021-2022 School Year Details: 
For the 2021-2022 program year, we are enrolling children ages 3-5. The program meets Tuesday thru Friday from 9:00-1:00. This position is for 20 hours per week, with the possibility of additional hours throughout the year. Training begins in August and the position requires a commitment through the end of April 2022.

Duties Include:

• Guiding play and discovery in the forest during school hours.
• Implementing an emergent curriculum for children ages 3-5. 
• Documenting and interpreting children's play and learning. 
• Completing regular site inspections to ensure the safety of children playing in the forest. 
• Assisting before and after school hours with set up and clean up.
• Collaborating with team members to plan activities and problem-solve issues that may arise.
• Communicating with families. 
• Assisting with writing reflections and creating posts on the AFK family portal.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or extensive experience in the field of Education
• Experience working with child-led, progressive, or holistic models of early childhood education
• A deep understanding of developmentally-appropriate education for young children
• Experience spending time in nature and sharing it with children
• First Aid and CPR training or willingness to obtain this training
• A desire to work collaboratively with a team of co-Educators
• A strong commitment to learning about anti-racist and anti-bias education and upholding those values in practice 
• Ability to squat, hike, and carry up to 40 pounds
• Availability during the hours of 8:00am-2:00pm, Tuesdays-Fridays.
• A commitment to adhering to current CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety precautions 
• COVID-19 vaccine is strongly encouraged prior to the commencement of the 2021-2022 school year.

​Strongly Favored:

• Naturalist knowledge
• Wilderness skills
• Musical abilities
• Familiarity with Reggio Emilia educational pedagogy 

Compensation: $16-20/per hour, depending on experience and qualifications