Join our Instructional Team!

Learning Outside is committed to providing children with quality outdoor learning experiences led by seasoned, knowledgeable, child-centered instructors who align with our mission, vision and teaching approach. Below is information both about our programs and about our recruitment process for instructors interested in joining Learning Outside’s amazing teaching team!

Our Programs
Learning Outside offers programs throughout the year including after school nature clubs, a Forest Kindergarten, summer camps as well as programs for individual schools. All programs are held entirely outdoors and are offered on Triangle Land Conservancy's 269-acre Irvin Nature Preserve. This beautiful protected natural space offers diverse eco-systems for children to experience and learn from.

All programs are designed around small group sizes, ranging from 12 youngsters in our school-year programs to 20 - 24 youngsters in our summer camp programs. Our low student/instructor ratio allows us to provide personalized support for each child.

Our Instructional Team
Learning Outside’s programs are led by a small team of dedicated educators. We are naturalists, artists, musicians, and/or primitive skills specialists, committed to helping children develop a love of nature and confidence in self-expression and inquiry-based learning. 

Exploring, learning, and creating in the wild require that children develop and utilize a complex set of skills including self-awareness, group awareness, clear communication, team work, focused attention and inquiry. Instructors fully integrate the support and guidance children need in order to build these foundational skills. This is just part of what we believe makes Learning Outside an optimal environment for the social and emotional growth of children.

Learning Outside’s instructors work with our programs as independent contractors; some co-lead multiple programs while others may work with us in just one program or one summer camp. Each instructor is mentored around our unique approach to outdoor learning to assure continuity of experience for all of the children we serve through our programs.

Our Hiring Process
Individuals interested in being considered for positions need to follow the following steps:

• Review our website to learn more about Learning Outside’s mission, vision, approach to outdoor learning and its programs
• Visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LearningOutside to see our programs in-action and to read narratives that provide a deeper understanding of the experiences we provide for children
• Send a current resume to Learning Outside’s Director, Wendy Banning, wendy@learningoutside.org.
• Strong candidates are contacted to complete the next steps in our hiring process; a tour of the site and an interview. Candidates need to come prepared with 3 references.  

Questions
We welcome your questions as part of our ongoing work to come to know prospective instructors better. Questions can be sent to our director, wendy@learningoutside.org.