Meridian Learning seeks an Adolescent Guide to join our Cincinnati-based urban Erdkinder at Meridian Micro Farm, starting June 2026.
This role goes beyond traditional teaching—it’s a chance to mentor teens through hands-on projects in gardening, cooking, design, and sustainability as part of a newly launched living model of adolescent education. You’ll help young people bridge the gap between school and real life by guiding meaningful work in community, enterprise, and the land.
As a founding member of our adolescent team, you’ll shape systems, advocate independence, and contribute to the growth of a program intentionally designed for ages 12–18. We value autonomy, creativity, and connection over conventional routines.
The ideal candidate will have:
▪ a deep respect for adolescence as a powerful time of growth and self-discovery
▪ an entrepreneurial mindset and/or experience as an entrepreneur or maker
▪ cooking, gardening, or horticulture/agriculture experience
▪ a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field
▪ knowledge of or curiosity about sustainable urban agriculture
▪ understanding of—or willingness to learn—modern Montessori philosophy and practice
▪ experience guiding adolescents in long-term, project-based or hands-on work
▪ ability to collaborate with our academic partners, community organizations, and volunteers
▪ deep appreciation of plants, nature and the environment
▪ strong executive functioning skills, including long-range planning, systems thinking, follow-through, and the ability to coordinate multiple moving parts across students, projects, partners, and seasons
Outdoor and Land-Based Work
This role requires comfort and capability in both indoor and outdoor environments. The Adolescent Guide supports morning academic work cycles and leads daily land based and community based work.
Outdoor work is a core part of this position.
The Adolescent Guide is expected to:
▪ move easily between focused indoor work cycles and active outdoor leadership
▪ spend consistent time outdoors in all seasons
▪ guide adolescents in creek walks, park workdays, gardening, and hands-on building projects
▪ treat land based work as essential curriculum
▪ model preparedness and calm presence in changing conditions
This role is best suited for someone who feels steady and energized by physically active, purpose driven work.
Requirements:
A background check is required. CPR and first aid training must be completed before first day of employment.
This position begins June 1, 2026 and includes guiding our lighter, two-day-a-week Summer Stewardship Session (June–July 2026), with flexible hours based on project activity and guide availability. Beginning in late August, the schedule shifts to Monday–Thursday, 9 am–4 pm, including designated planning time, and flexible Fridays 9 am–2:45 pm. Salary is focused on growth and commensurate with experience. Starting rate: $23–25/hr.
Please send letter of introduction and resume to join@meridian-learning.org.
About Meridian Micro Farm:
Meridian Micro Farm is a student-run micro farm, learning lab and urban Erdkinder in Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s designed for students ages 12-18, including those preparing for or attending dual-enrollment College Credit Plus, trade or vocational programs, and online schools. Our curriculum is rooted in entrepreneurship, life skills, community service and sustainability. Completely attuned to the needs of adolescence, the Micro Farm serves as a meaningful community for teens in their passage to adulthood.