Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment.

Since 1914, children have been growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs and learning firsthand about the natural world in Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Children’s Garden. With a focus on greening the urban environment through education, sustainable practices, and stewardship, BBG encourages young people to be participants, not just spectators, in community horticulture and conservation.

Here, children 2 to 17 years old can plant their own crops and flowers and harvest them under the guidance of garden instructors. Younger children combine planting, tending, and harvesting with craft making and creative play. For older children, lessons in science and urban ecology accompany the gardening, and teenagers who successfully complete the program can go on to become junior instructors. Over a thousand youngsters now garden in the Children's Garden every year.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is seeking part-time seasonal instructors for spring programs in the Children’s Garden. The world-renowned Children’s Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been a leader in providing children and teens with hands-on gardening experience for more than 100 years. Spring instructors develop and teach age-appropriate gardening lessons to a group of up to 12 children with the assistance of two to three teen apprentices. Instructors must participate in all training sessions prior to teaching in the Children’s Garden program. Hiring is contingent upon participant enrollment.
 

Work Schedule: Mandatory trainings take place on three Fridays: March 3, 17, 24 from 2–6 p.m.; and three Saturdays: March 4, 18, 25 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Teaching activities take place March 31–May 20, 2017: Fridays from 2–6 p.m.; Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (No programs April 14, 15, 29.)

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead an age-based group of up to 12 children in hands-on instruction in an edible garden.
• Develop seasonal, inquiry-based lesson plans featuring horticultural tasks, science experiments, cooking activities, and/or nature crafts.
• Mentor two to three teen apprentices.
• Perform weekly horticultural maintenance of several assigned garden plots growing edible plants.

Qualifications:

• College-level studies or career experience in education, urban agriculture, nutrition, botany, or environmental or biological sciences
• Experience teaching children
• Experience and comfort working with youth and staff from diverse backgrounds

Compensation: $13.50 per hour