Community Guide

Program Overview

The Field School of Hvar is a family slow travel program on the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Our values are stewardship, enlightenment, and dignity. Our mission is to create a place where families can live well; to develop a community on Hvar that sequesters carbon, enhances biodiversity, and enriches the heritage of the island through its everyday activities; and to create a pedagogy centered on community that can inform other schools around the world. Read more about our mission and values here.

Field offers a summer program, which is more like camp, and an academic-year program, which has more robust learning goals in literacy, math, history, and science. In the 2026-27 year, our learning focus in the humanities will be the pre-historic and ancient world. Our focus in science will be biology, taxonomy, and anatomy. Hvar is a phenomenal classroom for both subject areas – with numerous active archaeological sites and easy access to diverse ecosystems. Read more about our summer program; read more about our academic-year program.

Location

The Field School of Hvar is based in the reception building of the Fontana Resort, which is located in the small seaside town of Jelsa on island Hvar. Families and teachers generally stay at the Fontana or in Jelsa, creating a village atmosphere. Our core school facilities for consist of:

• A 220sm learning center, which houses a simple makerspace, learning materials, and a large, unshaded terrace. There is a bathroom here and cubbies.

• Walking access to a variety of beaches, which range from busy and exposed to secluded and shady.

• A private garden with 3 raised beds. There is a bathroom here, a covered terrace, and a climate-controlled interior in case a child is unwell or needs to rest. This is a pleasant one-hour walk with children or a 5-minute drive.

Learners also spend a great deal of time in public spaces which are within walking distance of the Learning Center, such as fields, villages, museums, and parks.

Dates

This is a permanent role beginning on Monday, June 1, 2026. Summer program dates are as follows:

Summer 2026

• Session 1: June 13 - June 27

• Session 2: June 27 - July 11

• Session 3: July 11 - July 25

• Session 4: July 25 - August 8

• Session 5: August 8 - August 22

Academic-year program dates are as follows:

• Fall 2026: September 7 - November 28

• Spring 2027: March 13 - June 5

Faculty are expected to take annual leave during the winter break: in December, January, or February.

Hours

This is a full-time role.

• Summer hours are from 1pm-9pm. In summer, faculty hour is from 1pm-2pm. This particular role may need to serve irregular hours in order to host or prepare for certain events. Total hours will not exceed 40 per week.

• Academic year hours are from 9am-5pm. The faculty hour is from 4pm-5pm.

Reports to

This role reports to both the Academic Dean and the Director.

Job Summary

In the summer, the Community Guide will support the Director in building an exceptional culture among parents and other adults enrolled in The Field School program, and in fostering excellent relations with the island community. This is a multi-faceted role requiring a high degree of customer service and adaptability, as well as a demonstrated affinity for outdoor recreation and island heritage.

In the academic year, this Guide will transition to a teaching role.

Key Responsibilities

Community Relations

The Community Guide will be a wholesome, energetic, and well-informed leader, building rapport with parents and other adults in The Field School ecosystem.

• Design and prepare four key school ceremonies per session: orientation, student showcase, birthdays, and farewells. These do not need to be elaborate, but they should be intentional, attractive, and well-organized.

• Design and host one free or inexpensive gathering for adults each week, such as a workshop, a nature walk, or an apertivo meet-up.

• Design and host one free or inexpensive gathering for families each week, such as meeting up for a concert or festival.

• Design and host school celebrations related to Croatian national holidays and days of great local importance.

• Provide logistical support to parents who have volunteered to host a workshop or discussion.

• Maintain parent tools and platforms, especially our calendar of events.

• Design and manage bookings for Field Trips. These are excursions provided by independent operators - not The Field School of Hvar. The Field School does not take a commission from these experiences. We curate these experiences to enhance the experience of our families and to drive traffic to valued local partners who practice sustainability, such as winemakers, outdoor guides, and cultural institutions.

• Liaise with Field Store operator for orders and customer service. The Field Store gathers together local, sustainable products into convenient and charming baskets for Field School families. This service is operated independently, but in coordination with The Field School.

• Provide cheerful, prompt guidance on questions that families encounter during their time on the island, such as where to buy sandals or how to make a dental appointment.

• Advise Director and Academic Dean on questions or challenges regarding relations with local community and culture.

• Promote free public Field School of Hvar workshops for children and adults in the community, using posters, personal network, social media, and partnership with schools, museums, libraries, and other public institutions.

Teaching

The Community Guide will occasionally substitute for other Guides when the Academic Dean is not available. The Community Guide will also lead a group of 12 children ages 11 through 14 in Session 3 (July 11-25) alongside the Explorers Guide in a unit focused on boats: nautical lore, boatmaking, and outdoor adventure. He or she is not expected to lead Community Relations in that session. While teaching, the Community Guide will:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of 6 or more children in indoor and outdoor environments.

• Implement a high-quality place-based curriculum that ties to international learning standards and reflects the Field School of Hvar’s educational mission.

• Guide children to articulate and uphold their own norms, use restorative justice strategies for managing conflict, and maintain clear and consistent communications on behavior management with colleagues and parents.

• Collaborate with fellow educators and staff, creating a wholesome, supportive and positive work environment.

• Communicate with parents and report medical or behavioral incidents in accordance with school policies.

• Offer a positive and informative presence to parents in informal settings, especially pick-up and drop-off. In general, the Academic Dean and Director handle private meetings with individual families should issues or concerns arise.

• Administer first aid and outdoor rescue should the need arise.

Academic Year

During the Academic Year, sessions are twelve weeks long and there are much more robust learning objectives related to core academic competencies. In this period, we will be looking for the Community Guide to transition to one of the following roles:

• Literacy and Humanities (especially the ancient world) for 6 to 9 year olds

• Math and Science (especially biology) for 6 to 9 year olds

• Literacy and Humanities (especially the ancient world) for 10 to 15 year olds

• Math and Science (especially biology) for 10 to 15 year olds

There will be significant turnover in students from the fall to the spring session, so each session should be viewed as a stand-alone unit, but with a logical and cumulative sequence.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in elementary education, child development, or a related field preferred.

• Further certification in nature-based education, classical education, and other child-centered pedagogies is preferred.

• Formal training in topics related to nature, outdoor recreation, and artisanship is preferred, such as training as a certified naturalist, a diving license, a degree in marine biology, or licensure as a carpenter.

• Lifeguard and child first aid training are preferred. If a successful applicant does not have this credential, he or she must obtain it before starting work.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience working full-time in a progressive, outdoor, or craft education setting preferred.

• Experience caring for groups of children in outdoor settings is strongly preferred.

• Prior experience in academic community relations preferred, such as Residential Advisor, Student Life, Provost’s Office, Dean of Students, or voluntary responsibility for events such as school fairs, global learning, outdoor education, and ceremonies.

• Prior experience as a concierge or in high-end eco-tourism is welcome.

• Experience in private school communities with a strong emphasis on culture, such as Waldorf Steiner, is welcome.

• Prior experience and passion for teaching literacy, math, biology and/or ancient civilizations is welcome.

Skills

• This role is suited for someone who is outgoing, tactful, tolerant, and genuinely passionate about nature and children.

• Patience, empathy, and a passion for working with children in an alternative education environment.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for teamwork and parent communications.

• Physical resilience to work with children outdoors in hot or rainy weather is essential.

• Responsive Classroom, Conscious Discipline, or similar backgrounds.

• Croatian/dialect language skills and knowledge of island Hvar are strongly preferred.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary is based on experience. Range is €1,500-4,000 gross (bruto).

• All benefits and protections in accordance with Croatian law, including health insurance and twenty days of annual leave.

• 20% tuition discount for children

• Life on a safe, family-oriented island with world-class nature and culture

Please note that The Field School of Hvar cannot consider candidates who do not have the legal right to work in the European Union.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Field School of Hvar is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.