Land’s Sake Educators work in a team to deliver high quality educational programming to groups of up to 14 elementary and/or middle schoolers throughout the summer. Our programs run for nine sessions, each a week long. Educators will be primarily responsible for one of the following groups: Farm and Forest (1st through 3rd grade), Junior Farmers (3rd through 5th grade), or Green Power (6th through 9th grade). Educators will work with a Lead Educator to develop and co-lead programming specific to their interests (the Lead will take primary responsibility for curriculum, but we expect the Educator and Lead Educator to work and teach as a team). Educators will be trained on activities relating to food, farming, and outdoor play, and will have the opportunity to bring their passions and interest to the program.
Successful candidates will have a love of working outdoors and with children, and will have childcare experience (through camps, babysitting, volunteer work, tutoring, etc). Enthusiasm for vegetables, silly songs, art, cooking, and tree climbing all encouraged.
We have a small group of staff working in our summer education programs, so we all wear many hats (sometimes literally, but generally figuratively). Additional responsibilities may include: assisting with Education Garden preparation and maintenance, helping with livestock care, leading farm tours for visiting groups, and helping to keep our farm education area clean, safe, and happy.
This is a seasonal, full-time, at-will position and will be supervised by the Education Manager. The position starts on June 19th, 2023 and ends on August 25th, 2023.
Responsibilities:
– Lead eight weeks of summer programming with a Lead Educator
– Teach daily outdoor lessons related to farm education, including but not limited to: gardening, nutrition, plant science, local food systems, basic cooking, animal care, nature crafts, outdoor games, etc.
– Create safe opportunities for outdoor exploration and active play.
– Communicate effectively with summer program participants, fellow staff members – in all farm departments, farm visitors, and parents
– Contribute to writing a weekly recap of activities to send out in a newsletter and help with social media updates as needed
– Assist with management of the Education Garden
– Assist with management of a variety of livestock (chickens, rabbits, sheep, and goats)
– Assist with other related farm or education tasks as needed
– Occasionally lead farm tours for visiting groups
– Work with children of all genders, from diverse cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and from diverse family structures
– Create a physically and emotionally safe and inclusive space for summer program participants and fellow staff
Qualifications:
– Above all, must enjoy working with kids and being outdoors! But also must:
– Be at least 17 years old
– Be able to attend staff training from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm the week of June 19th – June 23rd, 2023
– Be able to work for all nine weeks of summer programming from Monday through Friday from June 26th – August 25th, from 8:00-3:00, and additional hours for planning and clean-up as necessary for a total of 35-40 hours a week.
– Be able to attend a staff meeting on Tuesdays from 3:00-4:00.
– Have experience working with children through camp, school, after school program, tutoring, babysitting or the like.
– Have some sort of hands-on gardening or farming experience
– Be comfortable working outdoors in all weather
– Be comfortable working with a variety of farm animals
– Have the ability to remain calm, patient, and upbeat around groups of energetic children for up to seven hours at a time.
– Have a professional character that is consistent, responsible, self directed, well organized, flexible, personable, and is able to maintain composure and a sense of humor in a changing environment
– Be comfortable with public speaking and networking
– Have effective written and verbal communication skills
– Have access to a car and valid driver’s license
– Be able to pass CORI / SORI check
– Hold First Aid and CPR certifications that will be valid from June 26 – August 25, 2023
– Knowledge of second language a plus
Essential Functions:
– Must be able to maintain visual and auditory awareness of a group
– Must be able to negotiate various types of terrain on the farm and in the
forest
– Must be able to communicate (both written and verbally) clearly and effectively
with staff, participants, and other constituents
– Must be able to lift and carry up to fifty pounds
Salary & Benefits:
– Salary: $16.00/hour
– Organic produce and flowers grown on the farm
– Paid sick time, in accordance with MA law
To Apply:
Email your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant skills, experience, and interests, and how you heard about this opportunity to Education Manager Katrina Goldowsky-Dill at education@landssake.org. Please include the job title in your subject line. We will accept applications on a rolling basis and will remove this job posting from the Land’s Sake website when all positions have been filled. If you have a strong preference for one of the groups (Farm and Forest, Junior Farmers or Green Power), or if you would be interested in part-time spring work as well, please make a note in your application.