Our first requirement for a job at Nature's Classroom Institute is that you have a love for children. Children are the reason for our programs existence. You must have the desire to help them learn -- learn about themselves, other people, the reason why they're in school, and the environment around them. If you cannot stand your nieces and nephews, the kids next door, or the kids you student taught, forget it! YOU MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK LONG HOURS, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. Our days are long ( 8:00 am to 10:00 p.m.), and we realize we demand a lot of our staff. A sense of humor is a must.

The following is a typical day's schedule at Nature's Classroom Institute, subject to change instantaneously (please consider your flexibility level, as it is a necessity). This schedule will give you a brief idea of what the kids and staff are involved in.

7:45 a.m. Student waitrons and one staff member, the meal's Head Waitron, get the dining room ready for breakfast.

8:00 a.m. Breakfast. All staff and kids eat together. Afternoon classes are announced with teachers making a short sales pitch to describe what they'll be doing and engage student interest.

9- 9:25 a.m. Time to prepare for field group. Brush your teeth, warm up your compass, check your day pack, dress for the occasion, because at...

9:25 - 11:30 a.m. ...you and ten to twelve kids are off to explore and discover the woods and wetlands together. The field walks emphasize our natural environment, how it affects us, and how we affect it.

11:45 a.m. Waitrons and the Head Waitron for that meal get ready for lunch

Noon Lunch. Be ready to lead songs, tell stories, introduce 4 p.m. classes, and generally have a good time.

1 - 1:55 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays you have free time, which usually involves class prep for the afternoon. Mondays, once the children arrive there is little, if any, free time until the break after dinner. On Wednesdays, you are usually out all day with your field group exploring nature. On Friday, the children usually depart for home after lunch; then the clean-up begins.

2 - 3:30 p.m. Special interest classes. Staff teach classes they have researched and developed.

3:30 - 4 p.m. Class prep once more

4 - 5:30 p.m. Another set of special interest classes

5:45 p.m. Waitrons and the Head Waitron set up for dinner.

6:00 p.m. Dinner with the kids. (And what did YOU do today?)

7:20 - 9 p.m. Evening activities begin. These vary from week to week according to what new and exciting things the staff comes up with and what requests are made by the participating schools. Examples include historical simulations of slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad, or a re-enactment of the Salem witch trials, team-work building activities, night explorations, environmental debates, and cultural experiences.

9:30 p.m. Staff meeting to keep those old communication lines OPEN. What's happening with the group? How'd your day go? Relax and enjoy the camaraderie. It's a definite time to share stories and laughter. Some meetings take only a few minutes. Others may go very late depending on the topic, or may quietly dissolve into a general social occasion that lasts until everyone's talked out. All of this is followed by the rush for shower time and the shuffle of exhausted souls groping for their beds.

Our staff is on duty 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. Your free time is generally your own, but please understand that you may be called on in an emergency. Also, after hours and weekends are the only time we have to prepare for field walks and classes. Fortunately, by sharing resources, ideas, knowledge, and experience, we can enjoy learning as much as the kids we work with during the week. Come prepared to share your knowledge and turn interests into dynamo stuff to use with the kids during the week. Our program runs like a school year, September through Mid-June with a December holiday break of 2 to 3 weeks. This is broken into Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons. The living conditions at Nature's Classroom Institute are probably different from any you have ever experienced. We live as a functional, working community which involves both professional and social aspects of our lives. We live and work closely together. While living at Nature's Classroom Institute, be aware that we are guests of the host organization which owns the site. Standards of behavior, cleanliness, and respect for property that are agreeable to them must be adhered to.

The staff quarters are winterized. The bedrooms are shared, with a community lounge room, a kitchen, and bath/showers. Feel free to bring your own touches of home: lamps, posters, radio, alarm clock, musical instruments, daypack, books, etc. Also, be sure to bring bedding. We do not have a dress code for our staff. Laundry facilities are on the property. Please come willing to work harder than you've ever worked before! The weekly stipend varies according to degree and work experience. We provide room and board 7 days a week. Weekends you can come and go as you please.

At Nature's Classroom Institute we offer you the freedom to teach and to grow. You are encouraged to explore new areas for classes and programs; do not simply draw on the past, take the opportunity to grow within the program itself. OUR PROGRAM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS WE MAKE IT, AND WE CAN MAKE IT GOOD ONLY BY AN ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER ON THE STAFF. WE NEED THE SUPPORT THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL ONE OF US CAN GIVE TO EACH OTHER.

What are the rest of the staff like? Will I fit in? There is not a person on our staff who didn't ask the same questions AND probably said it again during orientation, along with the ever popular: What am I doing here?!! Everyone comes from a wide background: hard-core science and artists, vegetarians and carnivores, preppies and free-spirits, and on...and on... Each person helps to create one of the finest experiences that most will ever have. So you'd still like to work for Nature's Classroom Institute?? Great! REREAD this one more time to make sure; it's a pretty sound picture. QUESTIONS? I hope so. Call, or come and see us in person. Your final step towards joining us is a personal or phone interview. Give us a call and we'll set one up.