POSITION TITLE: Garden Youth Instructor - Fall Season (Hourly)
REQUISITION #: req8180
DEPARTMENT: Cultural Services
LOCATION: GARDENS ON SPRING CREEK
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Variable Hourly View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Part-Time Hourly
HOURLY RATE: $17.00 per hour
SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3: 00 p.m. MT on 8/24/2025.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check required. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

SUMMARY: The Education department at The Gardens on Spring Creek aims to build connections and inspire stewardship in every program participant. Fall Youth Instructors support the Education Department in implementing Early Childhood Education Programs and School Programming from Sept through November as hours allow, this position will support staff in providing lessons for children (ages 2-11) in an outdoor setting while facilitating creative, hands-on, interactive, garden-based lessons. Lessons focus on topics of ecology, horticulture, STEM, cooking, nutrition, art, music, crafts, team building and general outdoor education.

We are hiring 1 positions for on average 9 hours a week from September through November.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Gardens on Spring Creek is the community botanic garden of Fort Collins. It is supported by the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek. The mission of The Gardens is to enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture. The Friends of the Gardens is a non-profit organization that supports The Gardens through fundraising and advocacy.

The facility includes a Visitor's Center and 12 acres of gardens. A detailed description of the Gardens on Spring Creek and its programs can be found at www.fcgov.com/gardens.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary function of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
-Teach Garden's School Programs and Early Childhood Education Programs.
-Independently facilitate experiential, interactive, cross-disciplinary environmental education lessons.
-Work with staff to help coordinate lessons, schedules and logistics.
-Organize and execute daily set-up and clean-up of lessons.
-Manage and delegate small groups of adult volunteers.
-Communicate professionally with parents and teachers regarding their children.
-Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for participants and address first aid issues.
-Keep accurate records of attendance, safety, and other matters as needed.

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the necessary functions of this position.
-Interested or passionate about teaching our community about food, plants, butterflies and their local ecosystems
-Enjoys working with children
-Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and creative
-Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
-Able to learn new skills and follows directions well
-Ability to work with children and the public in a professional and engaging manner
-May assist with programming on weekends
-No plant or butterfly knowledge required, but interest in learning more is necessary
-Excellent interpersonal skills when interacting with a diverse public including age, race, class, ethnicity and disability.
-Self-directed, quick learner, responsible, dedicated, uses good judgment, detail oriented, positive attitude and a good team-player.
-Knowledge or interest in plant science, environmental education or horticulture.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree completed or in progress in education or related field from an accredited college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, volunteers, or business community members. Ability to effectively present information to management and employees.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Able to make sound decisions under pressure.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: CPR and First Aid required but can be provided by the City of Fort Collins.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounterswhile performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to outside weather conditions. Some work is performed in a standard office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet when teaching the work environment can me noisy and busy.
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

POST OFFER BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED. (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.SUMMARY: The Education department at The Gardens on Spring Creek aims to build connections and inspire stewardship in every program participant. Fall Youth Instructors support the Education Department in implementing Early Childhood Education Programs and School Programming from Sept through November as hours allow, this position will support staff in providing lessons for children (ages 2-11) in an outdoor setting while facilitating creative, hands-on, interactive, garden-based lessons. Lessons focus on topics of ecology, horticulture, STEM, cooking, nutrition, art, music, crafts, team building and general outdoor education.

We are hiring 1 positions for on average 9 hours a week from September through November.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Gardens on Spring Creek is the community botanic garden of Fort Collins. It is supported by the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek. The mission of The Gardens is to enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture. The Friends of the Gardens is a non-profit organization that supports The Gardens through fundraising and advocacy.

The facility includes a Visitor's Center and 12 acres of gardens. A detailed description of the Gardens on Spring Creek and its programs can be found at www.fcgov.com/gardens.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary function of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
-Teach Garden's School Programs and Early Childhood Education Programs.
-Independently facilitate experiential, interactive, cross-disciplinary environmental education lessons.
-Work with staff to help coordinate lessons, schedules and logistics.
-Organize and execute daily set-up and clean-up of lessons.
-Manage and delegate small groups of adult volunteers.
-Communicate professionally with parents and teachers regarding their children.
-Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for participants and address first aid issues.
-Keep accurate records of attendance, safety, and other matters as needed.