Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
 
 
 

MN LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM
Position Announcement 
 

Summer Learning Center Assistant
Temporary Position: Summer 2008

Job Title: Summer Learning Center Assistant
Department: Marion Andrus Learning Center of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Supervisors: Christine Gamm and Ariel Dressler

Appointment: June 1 through August 31, 2008. Approximately 150-350 hours, dependent on camp registrations, plus 2 hours of paid training (11am-1pm) on May 17, 24, or 31. Average work week is Sunday-Thursday with some optional extra hours on Fridays and/or evenings.

Position Description:
Day Camps (3 days/week): Help children (ages 4-14) experience fun-filled plant adventures. Accompany campers on walks and outdoor activities within the Arboretum. Assist with classroom activities such as crafts, planting projects, snack preparation, set-up & clean-up.
Family Programs & Under the Oak (1 weekend day/week): Facilitate a drop-in weekend program for families on Sundays. Also spend a portion of each Sunday maintaining the materials and tidiness of the "Under the Oak" natural play area.
Guided Adventures (1 day/week): Teach a "field trip" at the Learning Center for visiting groups of children. Prepare supplies and coordinate with volunteer instructors.

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate is an elementary school teacher or someone with previous teaching experience who would see the varying amount of weekly hours as a gift rather than as a disadvantage. Also ideal would be an Education or CFANS student from the UMN with work-study hours available.

Prefer candidate with:
• Previous experience working with children in community or education program
• Working plant knowledge or horticulture experience
• Demonstrated leadership or participation in team or group activities
• Class in child development or other training related to working with children and families
• Patience & a sense of humor
• Enthusiasm for working with kids
• The desire to work in a natural setting (mix of indoors and outdoors in all weather)

Employment is conditional on completing all paperwork required by Human Resources, which may include a background check.

This position qualifies for consideration as a paid internship at the University of Minnesota. Specific intern details and course credit must be arranged and approved in advance.

Salary: $10.00 - $13.00 per hour.

Cover Letter, Resume, and/or questions can be directed to:
Diane Malecha, Human Resources
MN Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN 55318
Tel. 952-443-1410
Fax 952-556-3375
malec006@umn.edu

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.