Position Overview

Assistant Instructors work alongside a Lead Instructor with students in grades K-5, supporting ecoliteracy lessons both in the classroom and outdoors.

We are looking for candidates who are:

• ?        Passionate about environmental stewardship
• ?        Experienced in working with groups of children
• ?        Enthusiastic about learning, growing, and teaching in outdoor settings and in all weather conditions

Essential Functions/Duties Include But Are Not Limited To:

• ?        Assist the Lead Instructor in facilitating outdoor, hands-on, nature based programs aligned with California State Standards on public school campuses.
• ?        Support group management and conflict resolution.
• ?        Communicate regularly with the Lead Instructor and Earthroots staff.
• ?        Arrive 30 min before the first class to help unload and set up materials and stay 30 minutes after the last class to clean up and reload materials
• ?        Independently lead small groups of up to 15 students at a time
• ?        Support the Lead Instructor with larger groups of up to 35 students.
• ?        Lead nature-based games or activities with small groups
• ?        Assist with topics including (but are not limited to): gardening, watershed ecology, natural building, ancestral skills, cooking, animal tracking, life cycles, and composting

Qualifications & Requirements

• ?        Commitment to the mission, vision and core values of Earthroots Field School
• ?        Knowledge of California plant and animal life highly desirable
• ?        Knowledge of California Indigenous peoples highly desirable
• ?        Ability to comfortably lift up to 50 lbs (bags of soil, EZ-ups, bins of materials, etc)
• ?        Ability to be on your feet for four or more hours per day
• ?        Ability to use hand tools (hand saws, pruning shears, and loppers); training provided
• ?        Ability to bend, weed garden beds, kneel, and sit on the ground
• ?        Ability to walk on uneven surfaces and hike steep trails
• ?        Ability to make independent decisions and respond to immediate needs of students, emergency situations, and program needs
• ?        Willingness to work outside in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures
• ?        Ability to manage quick transitions in a fast-paced environment, including set-up and clean-up
• ?        Ability to communicate via email on a consistent basis, and respond to emails and phone calls from supervisors in a timely manner
• ?        Ability to communicate effectively in the English language, in both oral and written forms

Once hired, the Assistant Instructor will be required to:

• ?        Obtain CPR/First Aid Certification
• ?        Provide valid driver’s license or state-issued ID
• ?        Complete LiveScan Fingerprinting verification process
• ?        Shadow an Earthroots class
• ?        Have regular access to a working cell phone
• ?        Have regular access to a computer with internet
• ?        Have regular access to a reliable vehicle
• ?        Attend staff training and monthly staff meetings

This is a part-time position for the Spring 2026 semester, averaging approximately 5–10 hours per week. Program hours generally fall between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM and may vary slightly by school site. There is potential for additional hours in the Fall 2026 semester as the program expands. This role may also grow into a Lead Instructor position in Fall 2026, with a pay rate of up to $35 per hour. Substitute and extra hours may be available throughout the year.

Applicants may be invited to observe a class as part of the hiring process

Equal Opportunity Employer: Earthroots encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+SGL, people with disabilities, and those from working-class backgrounds.