Nature-Based Summer Camp Assistants (preschool / school-age)

• $500 SIGN-ON BONUS!
• Overview Prairie Flower Children Center's mission for over 25 years has been to provide learning experiences that strengthen connections to the natural world and nurture children's innate capacities for imagination and wonder.

What makes us unique is our nature school educational philosophy, which means we spend most of the day outdoors during warm seasons (in all weather, including rain!). We also emphasize unhurried daily rhythms and unstructured, child-led play time

• and we practice supervised "risky play" by climbing and exploring, which is important for children's development in many ways. We offer summer camp programming from June
• August for children entering 1st-6th grade, as well as summer preschool for children 3
• entering kindergarten
• both with week-by-week enrollment for families.

Each week is capped to a small group (up to 15 kids max for preschool; 17 for school-age), and has a high staff to student ratio (three adults per each group of kids). Job Description We are looking to hire school-age summer camp teachers and summer preschool teachers who believe in play-based, nature-based programming, to help support all facets of our summer camp 2026 programs, which run for 10 weeks starting June 8 and ending August 20 (center is closed July 4 and the week of July 13-17). Our operating hours are 8 a.m

• 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We have several different schedules available for positions for the summer
• all are Monday-Friday, with shifts at the same time each day (except slightly longer for afternoon shifts on Tuesdays, as this is the day we go swimming at Furman Aquatic Center).

The positions are part-time to nearly full time, ranging from 17 hours per week to 36 hours per week. When applying, please let us know if you have a preference for morning hours, afternoon hours , or either , as well as if you have a minimum number of hours per week that you desire. We can also discuss other schedules, for applicants who meet the qualifications and share a passion for our mission. As an assistant teacher, you will: help provide care and guidance for children during the program assist with daily setup and cleanup for the program facilitate play during hikes in the nearby woods or field trips to other Ames parks supervise children during interactions and learning activities. For school-age summer camp, this includes leading themed activities, for each week of camp

• e.

g. activities to identify plants on a hike, learn first aid skills, play capture the flag, and more. See summer camp webpage for details. Lesson plans and materials for the themed activities will be provided, but assistant teachers are encouraged to take ownership in presentation and guiding children in the activities. For preschool, we use a style of curriculum called emergent curriculum, in which teachers observe the curiosities and interests of the kids while in nature, and plan activities for them around that. The Lead Teacher will train and explain more about this. Assistant teachers will help engage and lead children in activities and explorations, both in the moment and planned with the help of the lead teacher. help with snack preparation and other project planning develop and deepen your understanding of nature school educational philosophy If you enjoy working with children, or hope to gain more experience in the field of nature-based education, this position is for you. We are located at 1517 Northwestern Ave in central Ames, which isn't a far walk from nearby woods. We rent two classrooms (but are otherwise not affiliated with) Bethesda Lutheran Church.

Qualifications and Characteristics Age requirements:

16+ Compassionate, reliable, responsible and flexible Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• able to communicate courteously and clearly with other teachers, children, parents and other people connected with center affairs A positive, playful and patient attitude Able to give and take constructive, respectful feedback Able to work independently and as part of a team Able to learn and adapt quickly Respect for each child's unique personality and temperament, and able or willing to learn how to practice setting kind but firm boundaries, and to lovingly mediate classroom conflicts between children A commitment to creating an inclusive, welcoming classroom for all children and families Able to lift at least 50 pounds and to hike nearby rugged terrain Able to be outdoors daily during all seasons (sun, rain, snow, cold down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit) First aid and CPR certification, or a willingness to get certified before starting in the job Bonus Additional Qualifications and Characteristics Prior experience working with young children, or a degree or coursework towards a degree in early childhood education or a related field Knowledge of and belief in the principles of nature-based education, or an interest in learning more about this approach to early childhood education Interest or skill in one or more of the following: outdoor safety, backpacking, camping, fishing, STEAM activities, wildcrafting, weaving, whittling, bushcrafting, board games, art, music, writing, fiber arts, theater, crafting or other area that would allow you to engage creatively with children in this age group (5 to 12 years old) Appreciation for and commitment to Prairie Flower's mission Benefits and How to Apply This is a part-time position based in Ames, Iowa, that's paid on an hourly basis at $13.

50

• 15 per hour, depending on experience and level of responsibility of the role.

There is a $500 SIGN

ON BONUS

; half to be paid upon hire and the second half to be paid at the end of the summer. To apply, please submit your resume. We will review applications as they come in. Questions? If you have questions about any aspect of the position or application process, please email us. For a deeper understanding of our mission, values and what we do at Prairie Flower Children's Center, please visit our website.

Job Types:

Full-time, Part-time Pay:

$13.50

• $15.

00 per hour

Benefits:

Professional development assistance

Work Location:

In person