Can you imagine teaching little kids aboard a sailboat, while exploring dreamy tropical places on a big catamaran — sailing around the world in places like French Polynesia, Seychelles, and spots in between? You might be in luck 🙂

We are launching a world schooling expedition this year. Our vision is to create an innovative nature-led program, connected with kids back home through partner schools. At the heart is our Green Coco cooperative, a community of families and adventurers joining us along the journey.

You’ll be spending lots of time with our nearly 4yr old twins, Kaiana and Naiyah; plus a number of other visiting kids who stay for 7-14 day periods. As a mentor-teacher, you’ll guide their daily learning and also help create our broader education program.

Commitment: 1.5 month to 12 month periods. Teaching certifications are not necessary, but teaching experience is desirable, especially with Waldorf/Montessori/RIE training. Fluency in French or Portuguese is also a big plus.

The Green coco Expedition is a community adventure. We host groups of 3-6 people, usually people we know through the Green Coco Cooperative, including families, couples and singles. In each month, we usually have guests aboard 15-20 days.

All expenses covered while aboard. Travel expenses covered if staying longer periods (up to $1000 for 3+ month stay, up to $2000 for 6+ month, conditions apply).

Stipends are available for qualified individuals (chefs, pre-school teachers, especially those experienced with Waldorf/Montessori/RIE). A yearly salary is possible for the right candidate who has the initiative and skill to launch an educational program. Note, we may accept couples if the second person has deckhand/mechanic/electrician qualifications, or high levels of teaching experience.

How to apply:

1. Read about our Parenting Philosophy, Qualifications, and Expectations below

2. Please complete our application

3. Send us a simple intro video about yourself (selfie is fine, 2 min max) and resume (doesn’t have to be fancy, just a summary write up of your experiences is ok too). Send both the intro video and resume to greencocosailing@gmail.com

dates available for teacher position:

• Oct 3-17, 2023 Brazil (via plane from SFO, land time in Peninsula Marau & Rio)
• Oct 18-Jan 22, 2024 Marquesas (via plane from Papeete, then aboard 46ft cat. Includes festival)
• Jan 23-April 15, 2024 Seychelles (via plane from SFO, then aboard 60ft cat)
• April 12-July 15, 2024 Seychelles and Madagascar (aboard 60ft cat)
• July 5-October 5, 2024 Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa (aboard 60ft cat)
• October 1-November 30, 2024 South Africa
• November 22-January 22, 2025 Atlantic Crossing or land time in Brazil

To see our complete schedule, check out our charter website.

about us:

in 2015 we left our jobs in California and over the next 4 years, sailed south with our Green Coco sailing cooperative to Galapagos, and across the Pacific ocean to French Polynesia. We fell in love with the country and decided to stay, start a family and a business.

In 2020 our twin girls were born and we upgraded to a 46 foot catamaran, Selaví (pronounced C’est la vie). We continue to run trips that are focused on wellness and family friendly adventures. For example, we teach wholesome cooking, freediving, breathwork, yoga, meditation, and sailing. We’ve hosted families with babies as young as 8 months.

Late 2023 we will be in Marquesas, and in February 2024 we move aboard our new 60ft catamaran in the Seychelles to begin a world schooling expedition back to California. We aim to have a full-time teacher for this period. Read more on our blog: http://www.greencoconutrun.com

We live aboard the boat 24/7 and are never at a marina, always at anchor. We are really active with swimming, snorkeling, free diving, surfing, kitesurfing, and SUPing. We try to bring the twins along with us in activities whenever possible.

During the past years, we’ve cruised between Tahiti, Leeward Society Islands, and Tuamotus, see our schedule. See our latest newsletter for a sampling.

our parenting philosophy:

We feel that children are special beings that choose their parents to guide them in this life. As their guides, we do our best to lovingly & securely offer them choices so they can fulfill their highest potential.

We follow the RIE parenting model which focuses on treating infants with respect (ie. the golden rule… act like you would like to be treated yourself by a friend) and honoring their ability to make choices (based on their current level). This post offers a good summary of RIE.

Whereas some parents focus on “raising good kids” and “keeping their kids safe and comfortable”, our focus is to #1 respect and #2 empower our kids.

It might help to understand what we try to avoid:

• Saying No. Instead, we say: “we can’t let you do this, because it is unsafe for these reasons…”
• Being overprotective. Instead, we say ” this is dangerous, watch out”
• Serious injury or trauma.
• Being over-comforting. Instead of “you’re ok baby, don’t worry”, we say. “you look scared, what happened?” . We don’t dismiss their experience for the sake of comfort.
• Doing things mindlessly, without their consent. We act and communicate with presence.
• Sugar (white & brown), with the goal to promote wholesome nutrition
• Screen time, with the goal to promote creative imagination (the exception is engaged learning activities)

In a parallel way, RIE is for infants as Non-Violent Communication (NVC) is for adults. Both are methods for overcoming our judgments and instead focusing on observation, presence, and empathy. Learn more about NVC here.

As our onboard teacher and crewmember, we would ask you to practice RIE and NVC principles . It’s ok if you’re not familiar with these concepts. The most important thing is intention and interest in these principles. We will offer you further training in the form of basic materials to read beforehand, and more in-depth while onboard.

qualifications:

• pre-school teaching experience is not mandatory, but it is very helpful. Waldorf & Montessori particularly welcome.
• child care / nanny experience is not mandatory, but it is very helpful
• RIE / NVC knowledge is not mandatory, but interest is required and advance study before coming aboard.
• Characteristics desired: patience, supreme patience. Creativity, optimism, stoke, positive attitude, responsibility, autonomy, respect, compassion, self-starter, highly independent
• Skills desired: cooking for groups (up to 12 people with diverse diets); ocean competency (strong swimmer, confident in ocean); and being an amazing host/hostess.
• Languages: French is a big plus; and Portuguese. English fluency is necessary. For 2025, Spanish fluency will be desirable.

expectations:

What can you expect from working as an onboard teacher on Green Coco?

• You will be joining our family unit. As such, personality, positivity and strong work ethic is most important. We take care of each other and work together to ensure play and work are balanced for everyone. We are flexible and love empowering people to do things they are excited about, or giving them breaks if they need time off.
• “Pre-school” hours are typically 9-2pm (5hrs). Then there might be a few extra hours of helping around the boat or with the girls in the afternoon/evening, depending on activities of the day.
• In addition, we take turns cooking meals & cleaning, so you can expect to make one meal each day or every other day (depending on your activities, #of people aboard, etc) as your contribution to the meal schedule aboard the boat, about 1.5 hrs total.
• We work really hard and play hard. This is best suited for those super eager and have plenty of energy, and desire to spend time in the ocean, learn sailing, and are able to play independently (e.g. go for a swim or paddle on your own to shore). You’ll be in some of the world’s most beautiful islands.
• Outside of preschool hours, time with the girls is more than just passive child care. To the extent possible, we allow them independent play time, during which time we also fold laundry, prep food, clean dishes, etc. We also try to include the girls in these daily activities of life. Like a parent, you’ll be juggling multiple things to get life tasks done.
• As we usually have other guests on board, you’ll be helping when possible as a crew member.
• You’re only on call during the day, not nighttime, except on occasional evening for date nights 🙂

accommodation

When there is space, you can sleep in your own cabin with private bathroom (labelled Aft Cabin below).

When there are guests aboard, you’ll take the single berth with shared bathroom (labelled Single Berth below)

See a Boat Tour video here.

compensation:

Once you’re aboard the boat, all your costs are covered (food and accommodation, beer & alcohol not included).

Minimum commitment is 1.5 months. For suitable applicants staying 3 months we can cover travel expenses. For highly qualified applicants, we can offer stipends (such as chefs, or those experienced in RIE parenting/ whole child teaching like Waldorf, Montessori, or Reggio Emilia).

Please see our charter website pricing to understand the value of what you get riding for free aboard.

The places we visit with our guests are world-renown and absolutely stunning. We try to include you in as many activities as possible so your stay can be super memorable.

Our unique brand of cooperative charters means that guests are treated as family aboard the boat, participating on the operations as they can. Similarly, we treat our deckhands and teachers as family too. Everyone eats together family-style, and takes turns making meals according to the meal schedule.

As part of your stay, we offer you valuable training in sailing, off-grid cruising skills, breathwork, and non-violent communication.

how to apply:

1. read all the info above.

2. Please complete our application

3. send us a simple intro video of yourself (selfie is fine, 2 min max) and also a resume (or summary of your relevant work experience in writing). Send both the intro video and resume to greencocosailing@gmail.com

Thanks so much for your interest!