Open Position


Hearty Roots Instructor

Location: Damariscotta, Maine and Lincoln County
Schedule: 32-40 hours per week, depending on program assignments and instructor availability
Employment: September/October 2026-June 2027, with opportunity for year round position
Reports to: Director of School Partnerships
Pay Range: $19-$22/hour
Start Date: September 22nd-October 1st

About the Role

Hearty Roots is seeking an Instructor who thrives on variety and is energized by the unpredictable. This is a role someone who can transition seamlessly from a school-side green space with elementary students to providing support for neurodivergent youth during school vacation camps, or an occasional 24-hour wilderness campout with teenagers. The ideal candidate is a self-starter educator who is proactive and turns a rainy afternoon into a transformative lesson with ease. You are someone who adapts well to a shifting schedule and cares deeply about youth mental health and wellbeing. This Instructor is as comfortable in a classroom hallway as they are on a remote trailhead. You will bounce between short, high-energy school-based blocks and full-day, immersive camp sessions.

During the School Year: Your schedule is a mix of school-based "green space" programs and Hearty Roots campus sessions. You’ll master the art of the quick transition—leading multiple 45-minute blocks per week, with the occasional field trip or community partnership immersive experience on our campus grounds in Bremen. You will play a key role in expanding our curriculum to ensure it resonates with young people from all walks of life and abilities.

During School Vacations: When schools are closed, the woods are open. Your role shifts into full-day camp leadership on our Bremen campus. Here, you’ll trade the "block" schedule for mindful day-camp adventures with young people. You’ll also be ready to pivot to middle and high school programming, which may include overnight experiences that introduce side-country camping and mini-expeditions to teenagers.

What You’ll DO

1. Direct Instruction & Facilitation  

  • School-Based Programming: Co-lead whole class adventures to small group supportive SEL (Social Emotional Learning) experiences, primarily with elementary and middle school students

  • Campus-Based Programming: Vacation camps, field trips, occasional overnights for middle and high school aged youth

  • Inclusive Mentorship: Differentiate instruction on the fly for youth across all walks of life, learning abilities, and developmental stages

  • Behavioral Grit: Confidently manage complex group dynamics and behaviors with a calm, restorative approach

  • Dynamic Risk Assessment: Maintain a constant "safety-first" mindset, assessing environmental hazards, medical emergencies, and social-emotional risks in real-time

2. Indirect Coordination 

  • Logistical Hustle: Pitch in on gear management and site coordination. We are a scaling nonprofit; we need "all hands on deck" contributors

  • Community Outreach: Expect to represent the organization at community events, friendraisers, and mission aligned conferences and workshops

  • Stakeholder Bridge: Communicate clearly and professionally with schools, parents, and community partners to support the "whole child."

Requirements & Qualifications

  • Must be at least 21 years old with a high level of physical and mental stamina for 8+ hour outdoor shifts in all terrain

    • Required: 4+ years experience working with youth ages 5-18, teaching, counseling, in outdoor education, youth development or social services.

    • Required: Reliable vehicle and a willingness to travel between school locations in Lincoln County

    • Must pass a comprehensive background check

    • Available for a 40-hour week with occasional early mornings, evenings, or campout.

    • Experience facilitating outdoor programming, with a knack for earth-based instruction such as carving, fishing, kayaking, fire-building, Leave No Trace, camping, outdoor cooking, navigation, etc.

    • WFA/WFR or Maine Guide preferred; must be willing to obtain necessary certifications

Salary and Working Hours

  • $19-$22/hour

  • This position is for the 2026–27 school year through June 2027: 

    • Full-time 32-40 hours per week, depending on program assignments and instructor availability

    • Programming takes place during and after the school day. Specific schedules and weekly hours will depend on program assignments and instructor availability

    • Attending training(s) in September, beginning programming in schools in October

  • Occasional evenings and weekends for fundraising events, workshops, and campouts

  • This position is fully in-person and does not offer any remote work

  • Mileage reimbursement

  • Location: 

    • Hearty Roots office “home base” in Damariscotta, Maine 

    • Schools around Lincoln County

Additional work beyond June 2027, including summer programming, will be available based on program needs and instructor availability.

To Apply, Submit your resume and a cover letter to Director of School Partnerships, Molly Miller at molly@heartyroots.org.