Meridian Learning seeks an Adolescent Guide to join our Cincinnati-based urban Erdkinder 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, support the development of independence, and contribute to the growth of a program intentionally designed for ages 12–18.
The ideal candidate will have:
▪ a deep respect for adolescence as a powerful time of growth and self-discovery
▪ experience as a maker, builder, or practitioner, and an ability to take initiative in a dynamic environment
▪ 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 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 is intended to begin in June 2026 and may include guiding our lighter, two-day-a-week Summer Stewardship Session (June–August), depending on availability. Beginning in late August, the role follows a school-year schedule with student hours typically running 9:00 am–2:45 pm Monday–Thursday. An additional hour each day is designated for planning and preparation of the learning environment and typically takes place before students arrive or after they depart. Field & Forest Fridays run 9:00 am–2:45 pm and are generally flexible depending on project work and program needs. Starting rate: $21-23 per hour, depending on experience. Meridian Learning also supports guides through paid seasonal breaks and professional development opportunities.
Please send letter of introduction and resume to join@meridian-learning.org.