Discovery Programs Seasonal Instructor

Discovery Programs at Brooklyn Botanic Garden offer hands-on programming for children of all ages and their caregivers, connecting our diverse community with the natural world. Volunteers in the Discovery Docent program engage visiting groups and families on a daily basis with hands-on specimen, story-reading, and tools for exploring the Garden grounds, featuring a different seasonal topic each week. Families are invited to dig more deeply into these garden topics through free, weekly drop-in Discovery Workshops with a planting or craft element. Discovery Workshop stations are facilitated by teen Garden Apprentices with leadership and support from Discovery staff.

The Discovery staff also maintains an educational greenhouse, featuring a hands-on collection of tropical, temperate, and desert plants for use in BBG's many education programs. The Coordinator and Seasonal Instructor work with special needs high school students and adult volunteers who help maintain this space and benefit from horticulture therapy.

Duration: March-October 2013

Responsibilities: Assist the Discovery Garden Coordinator with education and horticultural responsibilities. The Seasonal Instructor takes the lead in planning and executing the seasonal series of Discovery Docent stations and Workshop activities, with support from and collaboration with the Discovery Coordinator. The Seasonal Instructor will also supervise and mentor teen apprentices and adult volunteers who facilitate these programs, and welcome and engage Garden visitors. A range of horticulture tasks in the Education Greenhouse will include watering, repotting, propagating, and other support in helping to keep the collection healthy, well-labeled and organized.

Qualifications:

Passion for the natural world and eagerness to share this with others.
Career background or college-level coursework that demonstrates an interest and commitment to hands-on education and informal science learning.
Experience working with children of all ages.
Experience mentoring youth and comfortable supervising adult volunteers.
Horticulture experience preferred for greenhouse work, or an interest in developing horticulture skills.
Work Schedule: varies by season, 4-5 days per week, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Must work Saturdays during Spring and Fall

Compensation: $14.00/hour

MORE / LESSHOW TO APPLY
Application Requirements: Please send resume, cover letter with details pertinent to the position and the names of 2 references with contact information to personnel@bbg.org.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer