Location: Prospect Park East (Lincoln Rd & Ocean Ave entrance)
Brooklyn Trails is seeking a warm, grounded, and imaginative educator to join our team for select weeks during the summer season. We’re looking for someone who feels confident guiding groups of young children outdoors, collaborating closely with another educator, and supporting emergent, process-based experiences rooted in creativity, nature, and play.
The ideal candidate is observant, adaptable, playful, and able to stay calm and engaged in dynamic outdoor group settings. Educators with backgrounds in the arts, outdoor education, theater, movement, or experiential learning often feel especially at home in our environment.
Current teaching weeks include:
• July 6–10
• July 13–17
• August 10–14
• August 17–21
*Additional days and/or weeks may become available throughout the summer depending on enrollment and program needs.
Educators work as part of a two-teacher team and, at times, independently lead small groups of up to seven children.
Qualifications
• Minimum of 2 years experience leading groups of children
• Background in teaching, childcare, camps, or a related field
• Passion for outdoor education, play-based learning, and child-led exploration
• Strong communication skills with both children and adults
• Patient, collaborative, and grounded presence
• Confident leading groups independently while maintaining safety, emotional tone, and group flow
• Ability to make thoughtful, in-the-moment decisions while guiding open-ended experiences
Responsibilities
• Lead a consistent group of 15+ children throughout the day, supporting both safety and emotional well-being
• Plan and facilitate circle time, including games, songs, and group activities
• Guide daily nature journaling and creative exploration
• Support child-led, emergent experiences while maintaining rhythm and structure throughout the day
• Adapt plans in real time based on group dynamics, weather, and children’s needs
• Set clear, respectful boundaries using a calm, consent-based approach
• Foster a warm, inclusive environment where children feel seen, supported, and emotionally safe
• Support children with daily needs, including outdoor bathroom routines
• Collaborate closely with your co-teacher and share responsibility throughout the day
• Independently lead small groups during portions of the program
• Maintain strong awareness of safety and group positioning in an outdoor setting
• Communicate clearly and professionally with caregivers and team members
Program Details & Compensation
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm
Location: Prospect Park East (Lincoln Rd & Ocean Ave entrance)
Ages: 3–8
Pay: $25/hour
Current dates:
• July 6–10
• July 13–17
• August 10–14
• August 17–21
Brooklyn Trails is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees and families.
About Us
Brooklyn Trails is a child-led outdoor arts and nature camp on the east side of Prospect Park for children ages 3–8. Our days are spent outside exploring the park, making art, telling stories, singing songs, reading together, going on nature walks, and giving children ample time for imaginative, unstructured play.
At the heart of Brooklyn Trails is a belief that children learn best through curiosity, connection, and joyful exploration. Our approach centers consent, creativity, social-emotional development, and respect for each child’s voice and pace.
This is not a traditional classroom environment. We work outdoors in all kinds of conditions, move with the rhythms of the park, and embrace flexibility, spontaneity, and child-led learning. Educators at Brooklyn Trails are collaborators, facilitators, and thoughtful observers who support children’s ideas as they unfold in real time.
