Applications closed for Summer 2024! Check back for future opportunities.
Applications closed for Summer 2024! Check back for future opportunities.
Resident Facilitators
Cottonwood’s Resident Facilitator position is our way of keeping the door open to the wonder and diversity of learning that the world contains. Each year, people from different creative and open-minded disciplines engage in an active learning exchange with the Cottonwood community in either of our primary locations: Brooklyn, New York, or Helena, Montana. Resident Facilitators operate as guides and supports of the Cottonwood learning programs and have the opportunity to develop their own personal practice using our facilities. Their period of stay is an opportunity to cultivate and offer elements of their own practice in the Cottonwood space as well as enjoy the cultural and environmental aspects of the location. The position may be paid and offered housing as well as support in exploring the location and developing their work. The expectations of Resident Facilitators vary depending on the applicant and Cottonwood's availability. Examples of Resident Facilitator opportunities include:
Volunteer Facilitator (unpaid)
Flexible period available during the school year only.
A playmate, space holder, and responsible adult to support the Cottonwood program.
Teaching Facilitator
Two-week immersive learning period available during the school year only.
This position is for those with a creative vision to guide a full two-week program. Facilitators propose a two-week immersive unit to explore within the Cottonwood educational frame.
Summer Camp Facilitator
3/6/9 week period available Summer only
In between supporting and teaching positions, for those that are exploring their practice but do not yet feel confident leading a two-week unit. This position is like the supporting facilitator but with the expectation that facilitators will provide a few offerings of their creative practice in the Cottonwood community.
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Check out the Resident Facilitator Expectations and FAQ.
Explore our website to read more about the Cottonwood Community.
Envision your intentions and activities while in Cottonwood space ( NY/MT or both) - feel free to jot down some ideas!
Prepare
CV (if you have one)
Description of your creative practice and wishes for the time at Cottonwood.
Outline of proposed learning unit *for Teaching Facilitator position only.
Are you a fit? Fill out our online application by the deadline. We are excited to get to know you!
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Play hard, with intention!
Cottonwood is a space of curiosity, play, trust, respect, equity, and autonomy. We celebrate the individuality of everyone’s learning journey by creating a mixed-age space with the greater mission to build a community through self-directed learning. We do this through our agile after-school program, adult and organizational programming, community center events, mission-related space rental, and summer camps. We serve and connect two communities: Helena, MT, and Brooklyn, NY.
We strive to create an environment that is positive and attentive to the whole human. By keeping our class size small, we work to empower individual learners to approach their life with agency and broaden their horizons to identify possibilities based on their unique interests and strengths. Learners and staff alike come to Cottonwood because they seek a place where they can thrive.
Learning happens everywhere! We intentionally located our educational spaces in places where our cultural and natural landscapes are as much a part of our classroom as the interior spaces of our buildings. As a result, Cottonwood learners can be found interacting with their community every day and helping to create meaningful engagement and connections.
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Resident Facilitator Expectations
In Cottonwood Space
Hold space: Act as a model, space-holder, and mentor to learners in a self-directed learning environment and in intentional culture creation. Facilitators need to be grounded in the perspective of trusting children and committed to fostering curiosity and individual empowerment. Facilitators may be asked to lead check-ins, start and end-of-day reflections, and mediation between learners.
Assist and support activities: Observe and assist during full-day programming with lead facilitators.
Collaborate: Actively co-create and engage with staff and students to develop tools and practices to support positive culture creation based on trust, communication, and the practical needs of learners.
Communicate: Have reliable, honest, and open communication with staff, learners, and parents.
Co-ordinate and chaperone: Help in planning and coordinating field trips and/or daily adventures.
Maintain the space: Help in preparing the space for learners and oversee that it is being taken care of by all.
Be prepared and resourceful: Complete orientation training prior to your arrival. Be open and flexible to any shifts that may arise in your time here.
Beyond Learning space
Communicate reminders and updates on Cottonwood activities.
Participate in feedback and reflection after the facilitation period ends
Other expectations
Up to 3 Resident positions are available for 3, 6, or 9-week placements at each location.
Residents are responsible for getting to and from the location.
Teaching Facilitators are responsible for administrative and co-ordination tasks during their 2-week module.
Other expectations
Up to 3 Resident positions are available for 3, 6, or 9-week placements at each location.
Residents are responsible for getting to and from the location.
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Volunteer Facilitator (unpaid)
Flexible period available during the school year only.
A playmate, space holder, and responsible adult to support the Cottonwood program.
Teaching Facilitator
Two-week immersive learning period available during the school year only.
This position is for those with a creative vision to guide a full two-week program. Facilitators propose a two-week immersive unit to explore within the Cottonwood educational frame.
If interested in either please mention in application process or reach out to know more!
PAST RESIDENTS
FIONA DOYLE
Fiona Doyle is an artist from Portage, Michigan. She attends the University of Montana for two bachelor's degrees in French and Psychology. She received the 2022 6th District Congressional Art Award for her piece “Cascada Gozalandia”. Her mediums include oil painting, eastern watercolor, screen printing, mixed media, and western watercolor. She hopes to expand her artistic growth through exploring, playing, and learning at Cottonwood.
HANNAH HARPER
Hannah Harper is a contemporary wildlife painter who grew up in Southern Oklahoma and was encouraged to pursue creativity at a young age. Her studio work is informed by an active practice in plein air painting and she strives to represent her wild subjects with empathy and whimsy. At 17, she met western artists John and Terri Moyers, who soon after took her under their wings and have mentored her ever since.
THEA CANBY
Thea Canby (she/her) is a teacher, cartoonist, and play-enthusiast. She co-directs Our Resilient Community Agile Learning Center, a queer-centered school in Athens, Georgia. She has a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of South Florida in Creative Writing and has been teaching for ten years. She's not ready for the cold of New York City, but she's excited about getting to play and learn with the Cottonwood community!
MORRIS MCLENNAN
Morris McLennan is a writer from Chicago, IL. He holds a BFA in Playwriting from DePaul University. He is the recipient of the Zach Helm Endowed Playwriting Scholarship, the Bundschu Award, the DeGroot Foundation Writer of Note award, a Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Individual Artist Project grant, a Robert Chelsey/ Victor Bumbalo Foundation Award, and a Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Residency. morrismclennan.net
GIGI CAMMAROTO
Gigi Cammaroto (she/they) is a theatre practitioner, yogi, and herbalist working at the intersection of wellbeing & the arts. By blending her array of passions, she hopes to reconnect us to the stories within, our Earth, and each other. If she’s not making art, you can find her in meditation, climbing a tree, or whipping up a mean salad (but that’s art, too…right?).
GRACIE WALLACE
Gracie Wallace is a visual artist from Richmond, Virginia. She is currently studying filmmaking but is passionate about all forms of art, especially painting. Her past two summers have been spent working in the crafts bunk of a summer camp sharing the joy of hot glue and glitter with anyone who will listen. Her work is an acknowledgment of all the small and good things that make up life, like sunny days and her cat.
CECILIA OTT
CeCelia (she/her/hers) is a recent political science graduate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and is currently working towards a Masters of Public Policy. CeCelia is a lifelong lover of art, whether observing in a museum or working on sculptures, drawings, orphotography. Among many things, she is passionate about advocacy, civic engagement, the environment, history and politics.
TSELOTE HOLLEY
Tselote is a Visual Artist, graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s in Studio Art (focused in Painting, Drawing, and Ceramics). After graduating she taught art to adults with physical and/or mental disabilities, as well as a group of kids attending a private school. Tselote is very passionate about holding space for people to create from a space of exploration, reflection, and freedom.
ASH WILLISON
Ash Willison is a mover, performer, and multi-media artist based in Berlin. Working in devised theatre has brought her to many spaces and places around the world creating performances with busy hands and open eyes. Ash is a yoga teacher, avid writer, frisbee player, and cookie enthusiast. She holds a BA in English, Theatre, and Film Studies, and an MFA in Embodied Dramaturgy from Arthaus Berlin.
CAGN COCHRANE
Cagn Cochrane is a theatre educator and facilitator with 10+ years experience in the field of performative pedagogy and arts integrated education. He has worked with hundreds of schools across multiple countries, using theatre and primarily ensemble devising strategies as a way to foster connection, communication, collaboration and creativity in diverse groups of varying age ranges. He is the founder of the SICADA: Performing Arts Community in Berlin.
ILGAZ ULUSOY CASEY
Ilgaz has been working in theatre since 2006, specifically focusing on movement and voice analysis through the actor's body. She has participated in several international theater projects throughout Europe before moving to the U.S. Ilgaz aims to guide people in their creative journey through movement, storytelling, and songs. She holds a master's degree in Cultural Studies (2014) and is a Certified Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst (2020).
NATHALIE WUTKEE AGREDANO
Nathalie is a dancer, choreographer, Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CLMA), and Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator (RSMT/E). is fascinated by movement’s ability to reveal stories and truths and loves to choreograph. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Resource, Dance and Live Music Company. She values individuality and holding space for everybody to express themselves genuinely.
RACHEL RITACCO
Rachel was born and raised in the Hudson Valley of NY. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from SUNY New Paltz, and has performed with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. She holds a 200-hour Hatha Yoga teacher certification course from Rishikesh, India, and has completed a Children’s Yoga teaching certification through Little Flower Yoga. Rachel is also an avid hiker, enjoyer of chocolate, beginner at ukulele, and is still in pursuit of her childhood dream to become a wildlife photographer.
LOTUS PORTE-MOYEL
Lotus graduated from Cottonwood ALC in Helena, MT in June after self-directing her high school years. So far her passions lie in community support, civic engagement, travel, performing, and making art, including food and puppets (this one’s name is Geraldine)! After her residency with Cottonwood NYC, Lotus will be attending The University of Montana, majoring in Musical Theatre and Journalism, with a certificate in Global Leadership (this will probably change at least ten times ;)).
JORDAN KAMMEYER
Jordan Kammeyer became a full time self-directed learner after attending a Waldorf school until ninth grade. Her love of the great books brought her to St John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, where she is soon starting her sophomore year. Jordan finds great joy in helping young learners pursue their interests and realize their potential. Her own interests include folk dancing, theatre, learning languages, and crew, among many others.
EMILY BATSFORD
Emily Batsford (she/they) is a theater maker with a particular fondness for devised work. Her artistry is inspired by physical theater, puppetry, and inclusion practices. When not performing, Emily is a Teaching Artist for Child's Play NY, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, and CO/LAB Theater Group. Emily holds a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. …all this aside, Emily most strongly identifies as ‘Proud Dog Mom.’ce.
SOPHIA ZUKOSKI
Sophia Zukoski (she/they) is a theater maker, actor, and educator. With a love for ensemble building and hashing out story, she is often inspired by new works. Sophia believes that puppetry builds “listening leaders” and allows us to see the magic in the mundane. She holds her BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase College.
ASH WILLISON
Ash is a theatre-maker, mover, and explorer currently based in Berlin. She continues to explore transposition in creative mediums and processes with movement, writing, images, and storytelling. Her current work includes heading an international artist collective, hosting many a late-night variety show, and touring with her performance partner and emerging theatre company DOGCHILD.
ALEX SHIKE
Alex has been tinkering, designing and making for as long as he can remember. He recently graduated with a degree in engineering from the University of Utah. In search of his next adventure you’ll find Alex with a box of tools, his 3D printer, a pair of trusty orange crocs, and his infectious smile.
M A U R I Z I O A L L A S I A
Maurizio (he/him/his) is a passionate educator from Italy based in Stockholm, aiming to support learners in pursuing their inner talents and passion for knowledge. He loves studying and exploring fields far from where he has always been, he loves tennis and table tennis, international politics, journalism, and discovering and learning about people who have changed and are changing the world.
L U C Y R I E S S
Lucy Riess (she/her/hers) is a native New Yorker currently finishing her last year in drama school. Lucy is passionate about creating a space for young learners to explore, create, and dream big! She approaches facilitating at Cottonwood with many of the tools learned from theater: a sense of play, openness to discovery, and willingness to guide, share and learn each day