Garden and Environment Educator - Living Classrooms Foundation

Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students (BUGS) is an after-school and summer environmental education enrichment program serving students in 6th-8th grades at The Crossroads School, both Living Classrooms Foundation programs. This program is designed to help get Crossroads students outside for educational and recreational programming to strengthen their environmental literacy. BUGS is looking for enthusiastic individuals who can be a role model for urban youth, and who care about the environment.

About BUGS -

BUGS (Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students) is an outdoor environmental education program that focuses on the urban environment. Students at The Crossroads School learn about gardening, urban ecology, the watershed, environmental and social justice issues, sustainability, and cooking and nutrition through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) style learning. BUGS complements the school day and gives Crossroads students the opportunity to develop and apply new knowledge and skills to real-world situations relating to the environment around them through hands-on activities and project-based learning. The mission of the BUGS Program is to provide purposeful, nature-based education to youth in their local environment, encouraging them to understand, respect, connect to, and enjoy the natural world around them. As part of the Living Classrooms Foundation, BUGS students are “Learning by Doing”, and using the manmade, natural, and maritime environments as "living classrooms." BUGS provides students with meaningful opportunities to apply academic and social skills and allows time and space for students to grow as individuals and as a community influenced by the world around them.

The Garden and Environment Educator will teach about best growing and cultivation practices; innovative garden and habitat building practices; benefits and sustainability of various crops, other plants, agricultural resources, and food sources; land and water environments in regard to agriculture and human interactions with them; agricultural and gardening practices that affect the health of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding habitats; how to protect and restore native habitats in an urban setting; climate change and climate resilience in regards to food sources and habitats; and help students develop plans to implement action projects, conservation activities, or stewardship projects that benefit the health and well-being of people, plants and animals, and the surrounding environment.

This position reports to the BUGS Program Director. General responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• This program requires all staff to participate in the BUGS Annual Student-Run Farmer’s Market, which is always held on a Saturday

Create engaging and meaningful hands-on garden and other outdoor and environmental based instruction, activities, and lesson plans that provide opportunities for skill mastery, social, and academic enrichment.

• Create and maintain a positive, friendly environment for all students that is accessible, prepared, and conducive to hands-on learning.

• Lead students through the program day. Provide good classroom management by holding students accountable for their behavior using positive behavior management techniques.

• Daily and seasonal care and maintenance of program growing facilities including the greenhouse, vegetable and herb gardens, pollinator and flower gardens, and compost bins.

• Collaborate with students to create a year-round growing plan for the vegetable gardens and the greenhouse, accounting for student preference, cooking class, food pantry staples, plants that represent different cultures and growing regions, plants to be used for lessons or experiments, and plans that experiment with new plants or growing techniques.

• Plan and execute general environmental education lessons to include habitats, watersheds, urban environments, etc.

• Partner with Crossroads teachers, across multiple disciplines, to create and co-teach collaborative lessons based on the Crossroads curriculum that also integrate environmental education.

• Help plan and lead environmental-based enrichment activities for a 6-week summer program.

• Manage planting, care, and inventory of all Farmer’s Market plants and produce.

• Help maintain native pollinator garden, oyster cages, and other ecosystems on campus. 

Help coordinate major program events such as field trips, summer programming, and the Farmer’s Market.

• Recruit and coordinate long-term volunteers to help in the greenhouse, garden beds, and with chicken coop maintenance.

• Monitor and post program updates to BUGS social media platforms.

• Communicate with parents on a regular basis regarding student achievement, behavior, program activities, and upcoming events.

• Facilitate and monitor student-led projects.

• Minor grant writing and reporting.

• Assist with upkeep of databases and administrative duties.

• Other duties deemed necessary by the Program Director. 

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of various growing techniques and gardening practices including raised-bed gardening, in-ground gardening, vertical gardening, greenhouse gardening, crop rotation, regenerative gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, aquaculture, and composting.

• Drive to facilitate a positive and exciting learning environment for students.

• Must take initiative to help create a strong program and collaborative space for students and fellow educators.

 Familiarity and basic knowledge of native plants, animals, ecology, habitats, and natural history of the area.

• Must enjoy working with students.

• Must effectively work and communicate with a diverse population of students.

• Must be willing to work outdoors year-round and in all weather conditions.

• Good public speaking skills, and oral and written communication skills.

Requirements:

• Must pass a background check

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien

• Must have a license, good driving record, and be willing to drive students in large program vehicles.