Seeds to Trees Seasonal Lead Educator

POSITION SUMMARY

For over 20 years, CPF Education has promoted experiential learning in environmental science, connecting kids to parklands as learning laboratories. Through intensive partnerships with schools and community partners, our vision is to foster year-round, long-term engagement of youth from targeted, underserved communities in five program areas: Seeds to Trees, Learning Gardens, Green Girls, Coastal Classroom, and High School Internships.

City Parks Foundation seeks a Part-Time Environmental Educator to work during the school year with theSeeds to Trees program. Seeds to Trees focuses on educating elementary and middle school students about urban ecology, forest ecology, marine ecology, parks stewardship, and conservation. This program blends hands-on classroom sessions and outdoor field experiences in parks and offers professional development for partner teachers.

The Part-Time Educator would be in charge of implementing established lesson plans in CPFs current curricula as part of the school day and afterschool programs from October-June. This includes sessions in the classroom and outdoors as part of field experiences. The Part-Time Educator reports to the Associate Director of Environmental Education.

Start Date: October 2026

End Date: June 2027

Compensation: $25-28 per hour

Employment Type: Seasonal, Part-Time (20-28 hours/week)

REQUIREMENTS

• Provide direct instruction using the Seeds to Trees curriculum in elementary schools for the school day programs spanning October-June with regularly scheduled classes in parks, and school classrooms
• Contribute to workshops and professional development sessions with Seeds to Trees partners
• Work with the Associate Director of Environmental Education and other staff to help shape curricula by providing relevant feedback
• Work with the Associate Director of Environmental Education and other staff to implement program evaluation and student assessment strategies and tools
• Continually investigate best practices through your own professional development in topics such as child development, environmental studies, and pedagogy
• Assist in maintaining education department resources including educational gear, and supplies as well as animals in the living collection

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Environmental Education/Science, Environmental Studies or equivalent direct experience in environmental science education in non-formal settings
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience with outdoor and experiential learning desirable
• Strong experience with elementary school-age students desirable
• Demonstrated success working with diverse students, especially youth from low-income communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication as well as problem-solving skills
• Strong proficiency in Google Drive and Office applications (docs, sheets, slides)
• Willingness to work outdoors in sometimes uncomfortable weather conditions
• Willingness to work a limited number (2-4) of saturdays throughout the school year
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team is essential
• NYS Drivers License and the ability to travel throughout NYC including using the public transit system
• Self-starter with a positive, can-do attitude and consistent follow-through

Only potential candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

Community engagement includes Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, which supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances. We also administer the NYC Green Fund, a regranting program for parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations.

We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City.

We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens.

Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. City Parks Foundation does not offer visa sponsorship.