Children’s Garden Education Fellow

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: 03/16/2023  Compensation: $20/hour

Position Title:             Children’s Garden Education Fellow
Department:                Children’s Education
Reports to:                   Children’s Garden Coordinators
FLSA Status:                Part-time Seasonal, Nonexempt
Compensation:             $20 per hour
Available Positions:      8

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Children’s Education programs are world-renowned for teaching hands-on gardening and plant science to young people. Children’s Garden Education Fellows spend the growing season (spring–summer–fall) in BBG’s Children’s Garden, teaching children to grow, harvest, and cook their own food, care for the environment, and explore the natural world. Fellows teach age-appropriate gardening lessons to a group of up to 12 children with the assistance of two to three teen apprentices from our Garden Apprentice Program. Prior to each teaching season, Fellows participate in a comprehensive paid training program, covering seasonal content, pedagogy, and horticultural skills.  

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is looking to hire eight Fellows to teach in our Children’s Garden. Commitment is 10 hours per week in the spring and fall, and 30 hours per week in the summer.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Lead an age-based group (ages 4–6, 7–9, or 10–13) of 12–15 children in hands-on gardening instruction in a half-acre food garden.
  • Mentor two to three teen apprentices who assist instructors in facilitating their group.
  • Develop and lead supplementary enrichment activities, such as seasonal cooking, nature crafts, or science experiments.
  • Ensure that assigned garden plots are maintained according to weekly schedule (including planting, weeding, mulching, and watering).
  • Assist in teaching other education programs as needed.

Mandatory Paid Training: 
Spring

  • 3 Fridays, March 17, 24, 31 | 2–6 p.m.
  • 3 Saturdays, March 18, 25, April 1 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

 
Fall

  • Fall training date, TBD | 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

 
Children’s Gardening Program Schedule:
Spring 

  • 7 Fridays, April 7–June 2 (no program April 14 and May 26) | 2–6 p.m.
  • 7 Saturdays, April 8–June 3 (no program April 15 and May 27) | 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

 
Summer

  • 2 weeks, Tuesdays-Fridays, June 13–23 | 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
  • 8 weeks, Tuesdays –Fridays, June 27–August 18 | 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • No program Tuesday, July 4

 
Fall

  • 7 Fridays, September 8–October 27 (no program October 6) | 2–6 p.m.
  • 7 Saturdays, September 9–October 28 (no program October 7) | 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
  • Other end-of-season events, as needed

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Formal or non-formal teaching experience; experience with plants, horticulture, and/or botany
  • Experience teaching children, ideally in a classroom or outdoor setting
  • Some gardening experience preferred; professional horticulture experience not necessary so long as the individual is eager to learn
  • Flexibility and willingness to take on a variety of tasks along with ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment
  • Experience and comfort working with youth and staff from diverse backgrounds
  • High level of responsibility, reliability, and motivation
  • Ability to perform physical labor and work outdoors in various weather conditions
  • Passion for education, gardening, and fun

To be considered for this position, please submit an application by clicking
 Apply below. Applications submitted without a résumé and cover letter will not be considered. 

 No telephone calls for position inquiries, please. Applicants with disabilities who need assistance with the online system, or who may require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, should contact Human Resources at hr@bbg.org.  

Additional Information

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 
Brooklyn Botanic Garden requires all employees to be vaccinated and therefore, new hires must provide proof of vaccination prior to their first day of employment. If you believe that you may have an exemption from the vaccine mandate by federal or state law, please contact HR. 

Benefits

  • BBG offers certain benefits to part-time employees including:
    1. Up to 56 hours of sick leave
    2. Short-term disability/New York Paid Family Leave
  • As a 501(c)3, BBG is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer
  • Museum Pass which provides employees the opportunity to enter many museums in New York City for free

Contact Information

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Email: hr@bbg.org
Website: Apply Online