Call for Applications: Director of Youth Education

Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary seeks a full time Director of Youth Education to advance program implementation, curriculum, and professional development. The Director of Youth Education is responsible for ensuring youth programs and staff adhere to and further the principles and mission of Sage Mountain, while providing high quality child care, a safe environment, and enrichment opportunities in accordance with Vermont State childcare regulations, insurance, STARS and SPARQ criteria, and all Child Development Division regulations. Our ideal candidate will have a breadth of experience and demonstrated success in the field of youth education for middle ages and experience in nature based learning, with exceptional verbal and written communication and strategic thinking skills, along with organizational skills to manage themselves and lead others in achieving our shared mission. The position oversees the Sage Mountain Afterschool in Nature and Summer Camp in Nature programs, serving twenty youth in grades 4 through 8, and is supported by the Executive Director and a staff of support team within the program and throughout the organization.

About Sage Mountain Youth Education:

Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary is a nonprofit conservation education center providing environmental stewardship programs for families since 1987. Sage Mountain’s Afterschool in Nature program is hosted at our 600-acre nature reserve located in Orange, Vermont, on the edge of Groton State Forest, with twelve miles of trails, a pond, gardens, and numerous outdoor classroom spaces. Afterschool in Nature is entering its third year during the 2024-2025 school year, serving middle-school aged youth Monday through Friday, 3:00-5:30 pm. Our complementary Summer Camp in Nature program offers six weeks of outdoor enrichment 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Our Afterschool in Nature curriculum intimately follows the cycle of the seasons, wildlife, and local flora. Youth will explore this ancient rhythm by splashing in mountain streams, helping to grow delicious and healthy foods in the garden meadow, and experiencing quality time outdoors through a variety of different activities. In the process, they will learn not only about the natural communities that surround them, but also about themselves, their peers, and the world at large.

Our activities are guided by youth-led learning and nature immersion while integrating STEM objectives, creative arts, and social-emotional learning. Our program provides students with a foundation of physical and mental wellness through land-based, hands-on, outdoor learning and play. Our outdoor educators support youth with their combined decades of nature education experience and trauma-informed training.

Afterschool in Nature offers a sliding scale tuition and scholarships to make this program accessible for all families. We are licensed by the Child Development Division of the Vermont Department of Children and Families, and accept Child Care Financial Assistance. We facilitate transportation from local schools in Orange and Washington Counties for those in need. Our program follows state health and safety guidance.

Job Summary

The Director of Youth Education position is a shared-leadership role, working closely with the Executive Director, program facilitators, and all other staff. In this role, you will be one of the guiding voices for Sage Mountainʼs transformative afterschool and summer camp education programs. This role will engage with surrounding communities and will be responsible for overseeing and managing the following: family communication, advising and adhering to all safety protocols, and mentor support for Sage Mountainʼs year-round nature education programs. In addition, the Director of Youth Education will work together with the Executive Director and other staff to plan, develop, implement and expand Sage Mountainʼs education programs, as well as partnerships with community organizations, agencies, programs and schools.

Location

Position will be fully in-person at our facility in Orange, Vermont, with access to Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary’s youth education facilities, office, kitchen and trails.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may change based on adaptations and needs of the program, and include the following areas:

Education Leadership

Maintain high-quality nature mentoring programs with integrity to Sage Mountain’s future curriculum and overall broad vision, while incorporating Sage Mountain’s core community values.
Mentor and support field staff, providing respectful and empowering management and supervision in order to execute high quality, consistent care and enrichment for our youth.
Provide excellent communication with families regarding program-related topics, questions and concerns.
Continually think of and share ways to strengthen, adapt and expand Sage Mountain’s education programs, as well as community-based partnerships.
Collaborate with all staff regarding ongoing professional development opportunities including relationship to land, equity, and inclusion, trauma informed practices, accessibility, personal growth and development and more.

Program Administration

Implement Sage Mountain’s safety and health guidelines for all programming.
Review and contribute to updates in the Program Manual and Staff protocol and policies.
Collaborate and communicate with staff to facilitate program registration.
Respond to all communication (phone, text, email, etc) in a timely and thorough manner.
Execute program in adherence to annual budget, processing expenses in a timely manner in accordance with organizational bookkeeping procedures
As needed, research and advise on materials and equipment needed in a timely manner and in accordance with the Sage Mountain’s Afterschool and Summer Camp budget.
Maintain current administrative records such as student files, supply inventory, transportation, incident reports, nutrition and attendance
Coordinate enrollment, attendance and transportation activities, including hosting interviews, reporting to BFIS and CCFAP, and ensuring an efficient and family-friendly registration process
Support the individual and collective needs of youth in our program, ensuring all issues related to behavioral, emotional, cognitive or physical challenges for youth and families are assessed and addressed promptly in the best interest of the child
Ensure quality of program implementation in accordance with Sage Mountain’s mission and in compliance with Vermont Childcare regulations and STARS criteria
Monitor facility and grounds maintenance in collaboration with organization staff to meet the needs of safety and enrichment for program youth

Outreach

Collaborate with Sage Mountain staff on clear and consistent language when representing the program in your community engagement activities.
Maintain excellent communication with Sage Mountain’s constituents including schools, businesses, and the community.
Participate in outreach for programs including program recruitment efforts, including recruitment of campers, students and staff, and staff-in-training.
Maintain consistent and frequent communication with parents, including pre- and post-program surveys, weekly parent newsletters, incident reporting, behavior conferences, and other communication to insure family participation and integration

Program Development

Stay informed and collaborate in exploring, developing and implementing decolonization, diversity, equity and inclusion practices in all education development efforts.
Make curriculum and program schedule available and accessible for participants and staff
Work closely with all staff during the initial onboarding period to develop curriculum, work plan, communications procedures, and program implementation
Participate in weekly team meetings with all staff, and coordinate weekly meetings with program staff
Coordinate seasonal events for family outreach at our facility
Lead the staff team in exploring, developing and implementing additional youth education programs, such as growing current capacity, expanding age capacity, hosting seasonal experiences and teen overnight camps, volunteer and work opportunities for high schoolers, etc.
Participate in continued education per Individualized Professional Development Plan, and oversee program staff IPDP progress
Work with Executive Director on developing and implementing program-wide Continual Quality Improvement plan

Required Qualifications

A passion for nature, community, teaching and education.
A joy in empowering youth voice through guided curriculum that emphasizes developmentally appropriate nature-based learning
A relationship and familiarity with Vermont’s outdoor landscape in all four seasons
Two years of demonstrated experience in the field of nature education, community building, or other related fields.
An enthusiastic team member whose values align with Sage Mountain’s vision and prioritize according to the best interest for everyone and the program overall.
Experience with facilitation, supporting other staff, and shared leadership structures.
Outstanding interpersonal communications skills and partnership building abilities.
A willingness to learn, commit to, and practice the principles of decolonization, racial justice, accessibility, and inclusiveness as it pertains to the largely marginalized economic, BIPOC, and LGBTQ community student populations that Sage Mountain will serve.
The ability to be empathic and a willingness to integrate these above practices into your work at Sage  Mountain
Ability to comprehend and plan strategically to develop curriculum, maintain STARS ratings, and meet Vermont Child Care Licensing requirements
Openness to self-reflection and feedback.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of youth, families, and staff
Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks and be self-motivated and organized
Creativity, innovation, sense of humor, flexibility and team spirit.
Comfort using a range of technological applications (Airtable, Google Suite, social media platforms) and willingness to learn and train
Familiarity with Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram, and ability to create effective content on these platforms.
Experience and comfort communicating with diverse groups of people, including supporters, coworkers, parents, community members and collaborators.
Ability to manage staff effectively and respectfully
Skills of organization, attention to detail, and program implementation
Some teaching experience, as well as ability to learn further on and off job
Regular access to reliable transportation, and valid driverʼs license

Preferred Qualifications

An intention to integrate into this community and be with Sage Mountain’s youth and nature program long-term
Some understanding of and further willingness to learn via training in decolonization, equity, trauma-informed, and social justice approaches to learning.
Previous association with nature-based and/or youth-based education programs and/or organizations
Bachelor’s Degree OR demonstrated equivalent life experience in related field (education, nature- or wilderness-based learning or therapy, etc.)

Physical Requirements

Willingness and ability to spend significant time outdoors in all weather conditions, leading and supporting field staff, interacting with youth and families
Willingness and ability to spend significant time in an office setting to collaborate with leadership team and carry out administrative job responsibilities
Occasional off-site travel as needed for outreach efforts, program delivery and special events
Willing to be regularly exposed to fire, smoke, water, and outdoor risks, which may include exposure to extreme temperatures, weather, ticks and other hazards

Compensation Information

Initial position period will begin upon hire with the Afterschool in Nature program, and continue through the Summer Camp in Nature, ending August 15 2025. The position may be renewed for an additional annual contract period at that time. The full-time (exempt) position is offered with a starting annual salary of $55,000, commensurate with experience, paid biweekly. The Director of Youth Education must be available weekdays on site from 1 pm until 6 pm, with additional on-site or off-site availability outside of these hours. The position will include two weeks of paid training, ongoing professional development opportunities, and paid school holidays. Benefits will include paid vacation, tuition discounts for children, and an HSA contribution, available after 90 days of employment.

Application Process

To apply, please submit an application at this link. Additional support documents, including a resume, cover letter and letters of recommendation can be emailed to info@sagemountain.com.

Sage Mountain provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants, and will not discriminate against any potential employee on the basis of age, race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, marital status, gender, veteran status, military status, political service, affiliation or disability.