Available seasonal, part-time, and full-time positions
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Summer Camp Staff - Help children build deep connections to nature!
Position Summary
Lime Hollow Nature Center is seeking outgoing, organized and motivated educators who love working with kids outdoors! Summer camp staff play an essential role in connecting children in the central NY area to nature. Our staff are responsible for developing and implementing fun and engaging nature-based activities and for the health and safety of our campers.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with a team of counselors and directors to implement cohesive and exciting outdoor nature-based summer camps for children ages 3-12.
Provide high quality outdoor education program instruction.
Help maintain a safe and functional outdoor school learning environment.
REQUIRED Qualifications
Prior experience working with youth, preferably in an outdoor setting
Must love being outside and able to work in various weather conditions including heat, humidity, rain, etc.
Interested in sharing a love of nature with others
Highly enthusiastic, outgoing, motivated
Must be creative, responsible, organized and be able to work on their own and in small teaching teams with little oversight.
CPR and First Aid Certification required before starting work. Lime Hollow will provide training prior to the start of camp if needed.
In accordance with NY State guidelines and Lime Hollow policy, all summer staff must provide a current and complete record of immunizations.
Preferred Skills
Knowledge and experience in many of the following areas:
General Naturalist Studies including flora and fauna identification for Central New York (or similar skills from another bio-region)
Basic Wilderness/Outdoor Skills
Ancestral skills i.e. fire by friction, basketmaking, tracking, etc.
Hazards of Central New York
Experience, knowledge, or coursework in child development, behavior management, various teaching philosophies and methods (i.e. Conscious Discipline).
Familiarity with Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature, 8 Shields Institute, or other nature connection philosophy.
Pay/Hours
We prefer if applicants are available to work the full camp season (All Staff Training Days AND July 1st - August 30th) but will work with individual staff to meet their needs. Each staff member will get at least one (unpaid) week off during the summer.
Paid Training: Training will take place with an overnight campout on the weekend of June 8 - 9, followed by a full week of training Monday, June 24 - Friday, June 28.
Pay rate: $15.00-$19/hour depending on experience.
Summer Camp starts on Monday, July 1st and runs until Friday, August 30. A typical camp day lasts 8-9 hours for staff with campers onsite from 8am-5pm Monday to Friday.
This position requires staff to stand, walk, kneel and be outdoors for long periods of time. Applicants must be able to carry a backpack or pull gear up to 75lbs.
Lime Hollow is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Lime Hollow makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
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We are seeking Substitute Teachers who are self-motivated and directed with strong leadership abilities; excellent organizational, communication, and teaching skills; the desire to listen and speak with children effectively and with compassion; the flexibility to operate independently and as part of a team; has an engaging personality; and a genuine interest in learning and teaching of young children, working with families, and cultivating community connections.
Teachers supports children’s learning in nature by facilitating emergent (child-led) curriculum, modeling respect for the creatures we encounter and each other, choosing peacemaking, and expressing gratitude. We are committed to creating an environment that fosters a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity and a sense of belonging for the families in our community.
Responsibilities
Follow children’s passions to help facilitate learning and experiences
Work collaboratively with a team of other lead and assistant teachers
Use appropriate behavioral management with students to resolve conflict
Embrace the weather! Lime Hollow Forest Preschool is outdoors 95% of the time including during meals and naptime. Teachers model how to dress appropriately for the weather and maintain a positive attitude to provide immersive nature experiences.
Maintain a safe and healthy environment by understanding and adhering to safety protocols. This includes helping children stay warm and dry.
Gracefully and professionally communicate with parents and caregivers, both formally and informally, individually and in groups.
Regularly communicate children’s learning to parents on Storypark app
Read, learn and integrate lessons from the Coyote’s Guide to Connecting With Nature into everyday experiences.
Attend all staff meetings and trainings as necessary
Additional tasks may be assigned to meet the needs of the school
REQUIRED Qualifications
All Lead Teachers must meet the following minimum qualification for preschool teachers as determined by the NY State Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS):
an Associate degree in Early Childhood, Child Development or related field; OR
ONE (1) year of experience related to caring for children AND a Child Development Associate Credential or other OCFS recognized credential specific to the preschool developmental period; OR
TWO (2) years of experience related to caring for children AND 9 college credits in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field, with a plan of study leading to:
a Child Development Associate Credential, OR
other OCFS recognized credential specific to the preschool developmental period, OR
an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field;
All Assistant and Substitute Teachers must meet the following minimum qualification for preschool teachers as determined by the NY State Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS):
a high school diploma; OR
ONE (1) year of experience related to caring for children under 13
Additionally Applicants must possess:
Deep love and connection with children and the outdoors
Demonstrate an understanding of the developmental needs of young children.
Comfort in the outdoors in all seasons
Works well with a small team of creative educators who collaborate to support the learning of our students, plan activities, create routines, support each other and communicate well.
All Lime Hollow employees must be able to provide an up-to-date personal immunization schedule, have an updated TB booster and complete a medical form at time of hiring
Preferred Skills
Experience in teaching with place-based education, implementing emergent curriculum, Reggio Emilia, nature and/or environmental education and/or the arts.
Interest and knowledge of flora and fauna of Central NY, basic wilderness or outdoor skills, hazards of Central NY, etc.
Experience, knowledge, or coursework in child development, behavior management, various teaching philosophies and methods
Familiarity with Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature, 8 Shields Institute, or other nature connection philosophy.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.
Must be able to lift and carry children up to 75 lbs.
Must be able to walk, sit, run, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, pull, push and spend long periods of time standing
There may be physical demands based on physical, emotional and cognitive needs of particular children
Must cheerfully embrace being outdoors in all weathers, and show enthusiasm for animals, bugs and all of our natural environment.
Pay/Hours/Benefits
Pay Rate: $16-$19/hour (depending on experience and qualifications)
Seasonal or Year-Round: Depending on Lime Hollow’s needs, positions may be seasonal (for a designated period of time) or Year-round (an average of 35 hours per week.)
Benefits:
All seasonal staff receive: Paid pre-determined vacation days, paid training, paid sick time, worker’s compensation/disability benefits, and several unpaid weeks off depending on the season
All year-round staff receive: Paid pre-determined vacation days, paid personal days, paid training, paid sick time, worker’s compensation/disability benefits, and 4 unpaid weeks (Winter Break, Spring Break, and up to 2 weeks in the summer)
Specific dates will be outlined in the offer letter.
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Lime Hollow is looking for a people person who is committed to nature access for all! The Visitor Center Attendant helps visitors to Lime Hollow learn more about the trails and the many things that Lime Hollow has to offer, and facilitates the TrackChair program on the weekends.
The primary roles of this position include:
ensure that the Visitor Center (VC) is open to the public on the weekends 9am-4pm. Tasks include checking and cleaning bathrooms, sweeping and mopping interior of VC, maintaining exterior pathways and porch including sweeping, snow removal, etc.
answer visitor questions about trails, Lime Hollow, flora and fauna, make recommendations about hikes
serve as the weekend TrackChair Coordinator. Lime Hollow is only the 2nd nature center in all of NY State to offer the Action Trackchair, a battery-powered, all terrain “wheelchair” designed to make trails accessible for people with mobility challenges. The chair has tracks similar to a tank which can easily traverse uneven terrain and take people deep onto Lime Hollow's trails. The TrackChair Coordinator will:
Review and prepare for reservations on the weekends,
Conduct safety check of the TrackChair (TC) prior to reservation and stage it to await users,
Greet TC users and verbally assist caregivers in safely transferring participants
Conduct safety tutorial for the caregiver and participants and ensure that all safety protocols are followed and documented
Clean TC when it is back from the hike and prepare it for next reservation
Qualifications:
Must be a people person and interested in talking to visitors and helping them learn about Lime Hollow, its trails, history, and programs
Proactively helpful
Have an eye for cleanliness
Ability to use/be trained on cash register, digital TrackChair reservation software, email
This position will require sitting, standing, speaking, walking, lifting of items up to 25lbs.
Hours and Shifts:
Weekend open hours of the Visitor Center will be 9am-4pm.
The hours may be split into shifts (approximately 9am-12pm and 12pm-4pm), as well as days (Saturday and Sunday).
This is a year-round, hourly position.
Anticipated start: September 2023
Hourly Rate:
$14.50- $16/hour
Lime Hollow is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Lime Hollow makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.