The Montana Audubon Center in Billings, Montana is looking for a part-time educator to work in its Fledglings Nature Preschool. Our preschool uses emergent-curriculum principles and the students spend 80% of their time outdoors at the Center, which is in an upper riparian area near the Yellowstone River. Class size is limited to 8 students and are 1/2 days for two or three days/week. Position is for the 2019-2020 school year but may be combined with summer work at the Center.

The Montana Audubon Center is seeking a responsible, enthusiastic professional to teach in our Fledglings Nature Preschool and other pre-K programs. As one of the only Nature Preschools in Montana and a member of the Natural Start Alliance, Fledglings is founded on the idea that kids learn best through play and hands-on experiences.

Position Duties:

• Supervision and instruction of groups of up to 12 youth, ages 2-5, in the outdoors and in the classroom.  
• Provide a safe and positive environment for all program participants, including awareness of physical abilities, environmental hazards, and group dynamics.  
• Assistance with program registration, processing of payment and other administrative duties related to education programs.  
• Development and/or adaptation of early childhood curriculum and programming for day, week, month, and year-long program sessions.  
• Progress evaluation of students, including academic and non-academic areas.  
• Coordination and communication with parents/guardians of program participants.  
• Communication with the general public about Center programs and mission.
• Maintain a quality program, including regular evaluations of both successes and failures in programming, approach, equipment, or other aspects, and enhance or adapt as necessary.

Qualifications: 

• Comfort leading and teaching youth ages 2-5 in outdoor settings, including emphasis on risk management and other executive functions, and learning that emerges from play.  
• Experience in Montessori, Interest-led Flow Learning, Reggio, Inquiry Learning, Place-based, emergent curriculum, or similar educational pedagogies.  

Ability to:

• Engage in outdoor activity and supervise others in a variety of weather conditions
• Walk for long distances, crouch, lift up to 50 pounds, and wrangle small children unaided  
• Interest and/or specific knowledge of natural history subjects, particularly in the local area.  
• Responsible, dependable, and enthusiastic.  
• Team-oriented approach as well as the ability to self-motivate and work independently.

Wages start at $10/hr.