The early childhood specialist assistant coordinator will lead hands-on education programming for visiting families, schools, and camp groups in a beautiful garden setting in the Discovery Garden. The assistant coordinator also supports the Discovery Garden coordinator and manager in developing engaging program content, managing materials and logistics, and training/mentoring the adult volunteers and teen apprentices who engage visitors at program stations.

The assistant coordinator will be responsible for developing and leading weekly early childhood drop-in programs for caregivers and children ages 2-5. They will also lead and support special programs, including special events, after school programs, and new special access programming designed to welcome low-income and emerging audiences in collaboration with community partners. The assistant coordinator will lead maintenance of Discovery Garden exhibits, including daily repairs, coordinating collection trips for natural materials, and assess needs for ongoing exhibit stocking and repairs.

Work Schedule:Part-time. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays, 24 hours a week, 6 hours per day.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Plan, facilitate, and support daily discovery programming for families, schools, and camp groups with support from the Discovery Programs Coordinator.
• Develop, lead, and coordinate Discovery Docents for First Discoveries, a drop-in program for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers on Tuesday mornings.
• Develop, lead, and coordinate Discovery Docent enrichment, including refreshers and events.
• Coordinate and lead collection trips with Discovery Docents for natural materials to stock Discovery Garden exhibits.
• Lead in daily exhibit maintenance including exhibit repairs, resetting, and assessing needs for ongoing exhibit stocking and repairs. Walk through the garden several times daily to ensure that it is clean and safe.
• Develop programs rooted in an inquiry-based and object-based learning approach that helps visitors and volunteers develop a personal connection with the natural world.
• Collaborate with the Discovery Garden Coordinator to develop program content and to develop and co-lead trainings for adult volunteers and teen apprentices.
• Supervise and mentor teen apprentices and adult volunteers in public speaking and environmental education as they facilitate stations.
• Ensure that visits to the Discovery Garden are welcoming, fun, and foster hands-on engagement and discovery. Warmly welcome and engage a diverse visitor audience on a daily basis and create an inclusive, fun, empowering culture for visitors of all ages, volunteers, teens, and staff.
• Manage volunteers' schedules and needs.
• Track attendance and evaluate program success. Purchase supplies as necessary.
• Assist with watering and basic horticultural maintenance.
• Assist Manager and Discovery Garden Coordinator with special projects throughout the growing season.

Qualifications:

• Punctual, reliable, flexible, driven, and a great team player
• Passion for science and the natural world; knowledge of plant science
• Bachelor's Degree in education, museum education, early childhood education, environmental education, science, or related field
• Two to three years' career experience and educational background in early childhood learning, child development, or family programming.
• Confidence supervising and mentoring adult volunteers
• Experience and comfort in mentoring youth from diverse backgrounds
• Willingness to work outdoors every day in various weather conditions and perform physical tasks to maintain exhibit spaces
• Ability to engage large school and camp groups in an informal learning setting
• Competency with Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work weekends and occasional evenings as required; Regular schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask
• Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds in order to perform program set-up, cleanup, and site maintenance