Seedling Guide (Ages 4–7) – Apogee Lockhart

Location: Apogee Lockhart, Lockhart, TX (currently housed at Wild Roots)  

Schedule: Monday – Wednesday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (~24–26 hours/week) with occasional Thursday morning meetings

About the Role  

We are seeking a warm, playful, energetic, and nature-loving Seedling Guide to steward the daily experience of our youngest learners (primarily ages 4–7).  

Apogee Lockhart is a mission-driven, freedom-centered community that uses the real world, especially the outdoors as a classroom. We believe in student-led exploration grounded in family, sovereignty and independent thinking. Our Seedling Guides create a joyful, structured, and nurturing environment where young children are challenged, supported, and inspired to grow in character, confidence, curiosity, and resilience.

You will bring pre-designed lessons and rhythms to life through hands-on activities, nature walks, outdoor projects, games, storytelling, and child-led discovery. Curriculum design is handled and planned by you. We utilize resources such as Wild Math, Wild Reading and others. Your gift is presence, energy, and the ability to make learning feel like adventure.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate daily lessons, nature-based activities, and outdoor explorations

• Lead and supervise nature walks, outdoor work projects, gardening, and weather-appropriate play  

• Maintain a consistent daily rhythm, smooth transitions, and a calm yet lively atmosphere  

• Guide behavior with kindness, clear boundaries, and age-appropriate emotional coaching

• Prepare and organize materials, manage group dynamics, and ensure physical and emotional safety  

• Communicate proactively and warmly with parents and the Apogee team  

• Contribute to a joyful, respectful, and wonder-filled community culture

Qualifications & Characteristics We’re Looking For

• Genuine love for young children (ages 4–8) and prior experience in early childhood, nature-based, or enrichment settings  

• Comfortable and enthusiastic about spending significant time outdoors in all seasons and weather (heat, light rain, etc.)  

• Playful, energetic, and confident presence with a strong, calm voice and nurturing demeanor  

• Excellent communication, observation, and organizational skills  

• Deep alignment with freedom-centered, family-focused, alternative education (no teaching certification required)  

• Ability to pass a clean background check

• Must include 2 references from previous employer and personal. 

Compensation & Benefits 

• $20 – $25 per hour (based on experience) OR an alternative package of: 

• Free full-time enrollment for up to two of your own children  

• Consistent 3-day schedule (24–26 hours/week)  

• Occasional paid Thursday morning planning meetings  

• Paid professional development and long-term growth opportunities within Apogee  

Join Us 

Apogee Lockhart is more than a school, it is a mission-driven community raising strong families, free thinkers, and resilient leaders. If you believe young children are capable, curious, and deserving of an education immersed in nature, real work, and real freedom, we would love to meet you.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and enthusiastically welcome applications of all backgrounds who share our educational philosophy.

How to Apply

• Fill out application form and answer all the questions

• If your application is approved you will move on to the next round with a zoom call with our Co-Founders Ethan and Angela.

• The last step is an in person immersion day where you will come for half a day on campus and show us what you got by being in your element.

• Most importantly, BE YOURSELF! If this job doesn’t fit, that’s ok. We can’t wait to meet you!

Bonus Points If You:

• Have taught in or attended forest school, coaching, or other learner-led youth program environments

• Can lead a story circle, engineer a duct tape obstacle course, or solve group dynamics with empathy and strength

• Believe that the best education happens when kids feel safe, free, and truly seen