Junior Guide
The Junior Guide program at The Field School of Hvar is a summer leadership program for high school students. As a Junior Guide, you will apprentice under experienced educators and artisans, explore the gorgeous beaches and villages of Hvar, and develop lifelong skills in inspiring and caring for others. There is no cost for this program. The minimum commitment is one month. Please note that this is not a residential program. Junior Guides reside on Hvar with parents or another guardian.
Who we are
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 three-fold. First, we offer a place where families can live well. Second, we are starting to nurture an ecosystem on Hvar that sequesters carbon, enhances biodiversity, and enriches the heritage of the island through its everyday activities. Finally, we aim to create a pedagogy centered on community that can inform other schools around the world. Read more about our mission and values here.
This role is for Field’s summer program, which is similar to camp. Field also operates an academic-year program, which has more robust learning goals in literacy, math, history, and science. Read more about our summer program; read more about our academic-year program.
Key Information
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 with a simple makerspace, learning materials, and a large, unshaded terrace. There is a bathroom and cubbies.
Walking access to 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 older 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 seasonal role beginning on Monday, June 1, 2026. Summer program dates are as follows:
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
Hours
Summer hours are from 1pm-9pm, Monday through Friday.
Mentorship and Training
Each Junior Guide is paired with a professional Guide. You will also be supported by our Academic Dean and Director. Junior Guides receive online orientation and basic training before beginning the program. You will never be expected to supervise children alone, to provide toileting care, or to administer first aid.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll choose which of our three summer tracks is most exciting to you:
Makers is for people passionate about regenerative fashion, circular design, sewing, textiles, natural dyes, and/or ethnography.
Explorers is all about boats: boatmaking, carpentry, nautical history and lore, navigation, sailing, paddling, fishing and marine biology.
Healers is for budding ethnobotanists, foragers, naturalists, nutritionists, and locavore chefs.
Growers is for gardeners and those who love the adorableness of young children.
You can switch tracks between sessions or stay where you are and hone your knowledge. You can also choose which age group you work best with. Our groups are as follows:
Six 3- and 4-year olds
Six 5- and 6-year olds
Eight 7- and 8-year olds
Ten 9- and 10-year olds
Typical Day
Meet other Guides and Junior Guides to prepare for the day.
All-school circle! Start the day with a Croatian song and useful words.
Break into age groups for a quick tutorial or story. Then head outside for nature study, experiments, and skill development.
Pause for a picnic dinner.
Time for student projects. Each theme has an associated project. For example, the Explorers build models of historic boats using upcycled materials. Your job is to be a coach, helping younger children solve problems independently.
Wind down with Book Buddies, pairing older kids with younger children for reading before pick-up.
Typical Week
We aim to spend two afternoons or evenings each week on ancient history and two on biology.
One day each week is a field trip. Younger learners often take a boat to a nearby uninhabited island called Zečevo (Rabbit Island). Kids 9 and older often go sailing.
The end of the day Friday is always an all-school showcase, where students’ parents (including yours!) are invited to see what learners have been working on
Key Responsibilities
Help Guides ensure the safety and well-being of 6 or more children in indoor and outdoor environments.
Help Guides prepare and clean-up activities.
Support children’s curiosity and drive by asking questions, taking an interest in their projects and ideas, and offering help when needed.
Guide children to articulate and uphold their own norms, and use restorative justice strategies for managing conflict.
Collaborate with fellow educators and staff, creating a wholesome, supportive and positive work environment.
Offer a positive and informative presence to parents in informal settings, especially pick-up and drop-off.
Make memories, find your voice
We can’t wait to hear from you. To apply to be a Summer 2026 Junior Guide, please fill out our application form on the Careers Page. You can skip the section that asks for a resume!