Saplings Outdoor Program
Full-Time Early Childhood Educator (ECE/ECEA)
Lions Bay, British Columbia•Full-time
CA$22 - CA$25 hourly
CA$22 - CA$25 hourly
About the Job
Lions Bay & Gleneagles, West Vancouver.
Full-Time | 35– 40 hours per week | Monday – Friday.
$22–$25/hour + ECE Wage Enhancement where applicable.
Full-Time | 35– 40 hours per week | Monday – Friday.
$22–$25/hour + ECE Wage Enhancement where applicable.
Who We Are:
Saplings Outdoor Program is a nature-based early childhood and school-age education organization offering outdoor-focused programs across the greater Vancouver area.
At Saplings, we believe children thrive when they have meaningful opportunities to play, explore, take appropriate risks, build relationships, and connect with the natural world. Our educators create warm, responsive environments where children's curiosity leads their learning and the outdoors becomes an extension of the classroom.
We are a collaborative community of educators who value strong relationships, reflective practice, professional growth, and creating joyful and engaging experiences for children.
Learn more about Saplings and our approach at www.saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca.
About the Position:
We are looking for a warm, reliable, and enthusiastic Early Childhood Educator (ECE) or Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) to join our team in a full-time position shared between our Gleneagles and Lions Bay programs.
This is a full-time position of approximately 35–40 hours per week, offering a consistent Monday–Friday schedule across two of our outdoor-focused programs.
Regular Schedule & Locations:
Monday:
1:00pm – 6:00pm – Lions Bay Preschool & After School Care.
250 Bayview Rd, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0.
250 Bayview Rd, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0.
Tuesday – Friday:
8:30am – 12:00pm – Gleneagles Preschool.
6262 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7W 2S5.
6262 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7W 2S5.
1:00pm – 6:00pm – Lions Bay Preschool & After School Care.
250 Bayview Rd, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0.
250 Bayview Rd, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0.
As this position requires the educator to work across both locations, having a reliable vehicle and being comfortable driving between Gleneagles and Lions Bay is strongly preferred.
What You'll Do:
As part of the Saplings team, you will:
- Support engaging, play-based and outdoor learning experiences.
- Build positive and responsive relationships with children.
- Support children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
- Facilitate opportunities for exploration, creativity, movement, and appropriate risk-taking.
- Support daily routines, transitions, supervision, and program organization.
- Maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
- Communicate professionally and positively with families.
- Collaborate closely with fellow educators and program leadership.
- Work with both preschool-aged and school-aged children.
- Spend significant portions of the day outdoors throughout the year and in a variety of weather conditions.
What We're Looking For:
Minimum qualification:
- Valid BC Early Childhood Educator Assistant (ECEA) certification
ECE certification is strongly preferred.
We are also looking for someone who:
- Is dependable, engaged, flexible, and takes initiative.
- Has a genuine interest in outdoor and nature-based education.
- Enjoys building meaningful relationships with children.
- Works well as part of a collaborative team.
- Is comfortable working with both preschool and school-age children.
- Is comfortable spending significant time outdoors in all seasons.
- Has previous child care, preschool, after-school care, or outdoor education experience
- Ideally has a reliable vehicle and can easily travel between Gleneagles and Lions Bay.
Successful candidates will also be required to meet applicable child care requirements, including a clear criminal record check and valid First Aid certification.
What You'll Get:
Joining Saplings means becoming part of a supportive community that values educators as professionals and recognizes the importance of continued learning and development. As part of our team, you can expect:
- A strong environment for professional growth and development, with opportunities for ongoing training, professional development, mentorship, and learning alongside experienced educators.
- Enrollment in our employer benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.
- A warm and welcoming outdoor education community where relationships, collaboration, and connection are central to our work
- Opportunities to develop your skills across both early childhood and school-age programming.
- Experience working within an established nature-based and outdoor education model.
- Support from experienced Program Leads and organizational leadership.
- Opportunities to contribute your own ideas, interests, and strengths to the programs you work within.
- A work environment where spending time outdoors, exploring nature, and being active are part of the everyday experience.
- A consistent Monday–Friday, full-time schedule.
Compensation:
$22–$25 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.
Educators who hold an eligible BC ECE certification will also receive the ECE Wage Enhancement in addition to their regular hourly wage, where applicable.
Position: Full-Time ECE/ECEA.
Hours: 35 – 40 hours per week.
Schedule: Monday – Friday.
Locations: Gleneagles & Lions Bay, BC.
Wage: $22–$25/hour + applicable ECE Wage Enhancement.
Hours: 35 – 40 hours per week.
Schedule: Monday – Friday.
Locations: Gleneagles & Lions Bay, BC.
Wage: $22–$25/hour + applicable ECE Wage Enhancement.
If you're passionate about working with children, enjoy being outdoors, and are looking for a role where you can continue to grow as an educator while becoming part of a supportive community, we'd love to hear from you.