Early Childhood Program Director – Outdoor Preschool
Compensation: $27.00 per hour
Schedule: Part Time | Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 12:45 PM, plus paid prep and curriculum development time
Location: In Person | Outdoor Sites
Required: Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification or degree
The Opportunity
Nature Rangers Wilderness Programs is seeking an experienced Early Childhood Program Director to lead Little Rangers, our outdoor early childhood program.
This is a unique part-time leadership opportunity for an early childhood professional who understands child development, loves working directly with young children, and believes some of the richest learning happens through play, movement, nature, and exploration.
This is not a traditional classroom or administrative director role. You will spend your mornings outdoors with children, leading daily programming while also helping shape the continued development of the Little Rangers program alongside our Executive Director.
We are looking for someone who brings a strong understanding of how young children develop socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively, while still embracing the creativity, spontaneity, and wonder of childhood.
The Role
As Program Director, you will combine early childhood expertise with hands-on outdoor leadership. One moment may involve helping a child navigate a disagreement with a friend, and the next may involve turning a muddy trail, fallen log, pile of sticks, or unexpected discovery into a meaningful learning experience.
You should feel equally comfortable observing a child's developmental needs, leading a group adventure, creating an imaginative activity, supporting emotional regulation, and adapting plans when the day takes an unexpected turn.
Key Responsibilities
Lead Daily Outdoor Programming
- Lead Little Rangers morning sessions Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 12:45 PM.
- Create a safe, welcoming, playful, and engaging environment for young children.
- Lead nature-based activities, games, stories, sensory experiences, creative projects, and outdoor exploration.
- Encourage curiosity, movement, cooperative play, independence, and healthy age-appropriate risk taking.
Support Child Development
- Observe and respond to each child's developmental stage, temperament, strengths, and needs.
- Help children build emotional regulation, problem-solving, communication, resilience, and social skills.
- Guide children through conflicts, boundaries, transitions, and challenging moments with warmth and consistency.
- Recognize when to step in, when to offer support, and when to give children space to work through an experience.
Program Development
- Partner with the Executive Director to refine and develop nature-based early childhood curriculum.
- Help create seasonal activities, stories, projects, games, and learning experiences.
- Bring fresh ideas and initiative to the continued development of the Little Rangers program.
- Adapt activities and curriculum based on the interests and needs of the children.
Preparation, Safety & Logistics
- Prepare materials and organize supplies for daily programming.
- Support smooth daily site operations and transitions.
- Maintain strong standards for physical and emotional safety.
- Use thoughtful judgment around outdoor exploration and age-appropriate risk.
Qualifications (Required)
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification or degree
- Professional experience working directly with young children
- Strong working knowledge of early childhood development, play-based learning, and emotional regulation
- Current CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification before starting
We Are Especially Interested in Someone Who Is
- Warm, patient, emotionally attuned, and highly observant
- Creative, playful, resourceful, and comfortable thinking on their feet
- Confident leading a group while remaining responsive to individual children
- Dependable, organized, and able to take initiative
- Comfortable spending the majority of the workday outdoors
- Genuinely interested in nature connection and experiential learning
- Able to bring professional early childhood knowledge into an environment that still feels joyful, adventurous, and child centered
You do not necessarily need to have previously held the title of Program Director. We welcome experienced preschool teachers, lead teachers, early childhood educators, assistant directors, and other ECE professionals who are ready to take on greater leadership and program development responsibility.
Hours & Compensation
Field Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 12:45 PM
Expected Hours: Approximately 22 to 25 hours per week
Paid Prep Time: 1 hour per week
Curriculum & Development Time: Up to 4 hours per month with the Executive Director
Pay: $27.00 per hour for all field, prep, and administrative hours
Benefits: Employee discount and professional development assistance
The Heart of the Role
At Little Rangers, we understand that meaningful learning often happens in small, unstructured moments.
A child balancing on a fallen log is developing coordination, confidence, and risk assessment.
A disagreement over a stick can become a lesson in communication, boundaries, empathy, and emotional regulation.
A rainy puddle can become an invitation for sensory exploration, scientific discovery, movement, and joy.
We are looking for someone who can recognize the learning within these moments and help create an environment where children feel safe to explore, wonder, experiment, connect, and grow.
If you bring strong early childhood expertise without losing the magic and playfulness of childhood, and you love the idea of spending your mornings outside helping lead a meaningful program, we would love to hear from you.
