Summer Ventures Photography Instructor

The Summer Ventures Photography Instructor delivers steady, systematic, multi-sensory instruction designed to spark interest in photography and build foundational skills. This instructor provides project-based lessons across a variety of photography related topics, incorporates opportunities for career exploration, and guides students in creating a final project to be showcased at the end of the summer.

The ideal candidate can quickly build rapport with students, maintain a nurturing and structured learning environment, and contribute to a joyful, mission-centered experience for all learners.

Summer Ventures serves students entering grades 1–7 from the Central and Phillips neighborhoods of Minneapolis, offering academic instruction along with elective courses and enriching experiences that support the whole child.

Responsibilities:

Instruction & Classroom Leadership
Leverage your talents to capture photographs of our programming for Urban Ventures media team use.
Create meaningful learning goals for your class and design a diverse set of age-appropriate photography activities that encourage students to explore a variety of techniques, experiences, and career options.
Create an engaging, loving, and structured classroom environment that supports growth and curiosity.
Model social–emotional learning skills, including self-management, positive communication, empathy, and teamwork.

Student Support & Engagement

Build positive, supportive relationships with students and help foster a safe, nurturing community.
Lead students during the Valleyfair field trip and participate in additional enrichment or recreational activities as needed.

Collaboration & Communication

Work collaboratively with the Art Elective teacher, program staff, and leadership to ensure a cohesive, mission-aligned program experience.
Participate in staff meetings, training, and planning sessions as required.

Program Operations & Responsibilities

Ensure student safety and uphold program policies and procedures at all times.
Contribute to the overall positive culture and smooth functioning of the summer program by assisting with setup, cleanup, and other shared responsibilities as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Classroom Management

Required Skills/Abilities:

Instructional Skills: Leverage exiting curriculum to teach project-based lesson. You'll collaborate with your supervisor to create clear student learning goals and objective.
Classroom Management: Strong skills in creating a structured, positive, and engaging learning environment for students. Willingness and capability to adapt lessons to meet diverse learning needs.
Child Development Knowledge: Understanding of age-appropriate learning, behavior, and social–emotional development for students entering 1st–7th grade.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with students, families, and fellow staff.
Collaboration: Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively with other teachers, program leaders, volunteers, and support staff.
Relationship-Building: Ability to build trusting, supportive relationships with students, families, and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Flexibility & Adaptability: Comfort working in a fast-paced, dynamic summer program environment with changing needs and schedules.
Supervision & Safety Awareness: Ability to maintain student safety during classroom instruction, transitions, recess, lunch, assemblies, field trips, and other activities.
Organizational Skills: Ability to manage time well, stay organized, and complete required documentation and program responsibilities.
Positive & Energetic Presence: Demonstrated enthusiasm, patience, and a commitment to fostering a joyful, inclusive, and mission-aligned campus culture.

Additional qualifications:

Spanish/English bilingual preferred

Education and Experience:

Experience working as a photographer
Experience working in a leadership role with youth
Experience effectively working in a multi-ethnic, multi-racial urban community

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
Light to moderate lifting may be required
Regular, predictable attendance is required
A maximum of 4 absences is allowed (June 22-August 14)

Work Location

Urban Ventures Campus, based at 2924 Fourth Ave South, Minneapolis

Work hours:

22 hours per week, plus field trips (June 22, 2026 – August 14, 2026)
Training Schedule Week (June 22-25, 2026) 8 AM – 4 PM Monday, 9 AM – 4 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
11:15 AM - 3:30 PM Monday through Thursday, plus an additional 2 hours of flexible planning time each week
9AM – 1PM Friday, July 10, 2026
9AM – 4 PM Friday, August 14, 2026
Additional field trip and special event dates TBD
Non-exempt

Travel:

Occasional travel to work functions like field trips; group transportation from our office will be available.

About Urban Ventures

Urban Ventures is a faith-based, nonprofit organization with the mission to educate children, strengthen their families, and build a healthy community. We partner with families in some the most under-resourced neighborhoods of south Minneapolis with one overarching goal-to send every youth to college or some form of post-secondary education. Urban Ventures is committed to providing a workplace which promotes diversity and inclusion.

Job Types: Part-time, Seasonal

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee assistance program

Ability to Commute:

Minneapolis, MN 55408 (Required)

Work Location: In person