Forest schools, Nature schools, Outdoor schools

Hiring: Forest School facilitator / Coyote Mentor
Organization: Apple Star Learning
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Start: September 2025

Apple Star Learning is seeking a skilled outdoor facilitator / coyote mentor who is passionate about working with children in an outdoor, emergent learning environment.

We seek a long term mentor for our Thursday Coyote School program, 5-12 yr as well as a possible second weekly class. We are seeking staff for, Winter, Spring and Summer camps and possible substitute throughout the year.

Our popular forest school weekly program and camps run for children ages 5-12 in North Vancouver.

We are looking for a mentor / facilitator who:

• Has excellent social-emotional skills, the ability to observe and support children day-to-day and over the long term. You are skilled at welcoming children into the group and giving them space when needed.
• You have experience working with groups in a forest school setting, and you are confident working with co-mentors and children to gather the group, make plans, and assess risks.
• You are aware and inclusive of children’s diverse experiences, interests, learning styles and ways of being.
• You have a minimum of at least two years experience working with children ages 5-12, ideally in multi-aged, neurodiverse groups.
• You are passionate about some or all of the following: plants, wildlife, ecology, earth arts, survival skills, tracking, bird language, story telling and music, and you’re eager to expand your skills.
• You are happy to work outdoors in all weather and are fit and able enough to carry supplies, put up tarps in the rain.
• You have or are willing to get certified in first aid, and you have a clear criminal record check.
• Bonus points if you are trained in 8 Shields Deep Nature Connection or similar, and / or you are experienced in alternative pedagogies like: home learning, unschooling, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, Montessori.

Hours: Thursday Coyote School runs 10-3pm Sept to June. Winter and Spring Camps run from T-F for 10-3pm. Summer Camps run 9-3pm.

Pay based on experience and qualifications $25-$31. Staff are paid teaching time, plus 15 minute parent-teacher after school contact time and 1 hr monthly meetings. Prep time will be negotiated based on role and responsibility.

Our North Van location is, and any future locations will be transit-accessible.

Apple Star Learning Learning is inclusive of diversity in values, background, learning styles, gender and race.

Deadline for application: Ongoing.

Email applestarlearning@gmail.com with CV and cover letter.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

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Why Coyote?  More about Apple Star Learning

Apple Star Learning ‘Coyote School’, Adventure and other learning pods are almost entirely focussed outdoors and inspired by the 8 Shields of Nature Connection and Coyote Mentoring.  Like many other Forest Schools they nourish resilience, compassion and belonging through immersion in nature, democratic, inquiry-based learning, free-play, games, activities and crafts.

There is a wee sneaky difference though, Coyote, a trickster, story-teller, and walker of edges, coaxes children to their own edges, observing carefully, asking good questions, inviting each child deeper into their unique curiosities.  A Coyote Mentor is always alert and ready to change directions, sniff out a surprising find, leap into play, or slow right down.  Skilled and passionate mentors committed to their own ongoing deep nature connection guide students towards social-emotional, ecological literacy, and above all, a strong sense of self and community.

In the 8 Shields, we believe each child comes filled with their own gifts and skills to be drawn out and nurtured, rather than an empty cup to be filled.  Coyote mentors also follow the 8 ‘shields’ or directions, which help us track the rhythm of the seasons, the stages of growth and development of the student, even the flow of the day.  The goal is to hold space for a child to truly be accepted, and come to belong, confident in their own processing and learning style, so that they can offer their gifts to the group.

Perhaps even more importantly, we aim to help hone each student’s unique capacities and therefore, their sense of place and purpose.

Coyote School / Coyote Club & Coyote Camps – Read more: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ayfnrMZQGRS3rKP_Oy7AbmCXtTSyDY8q/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103725188318903670805&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.