Land’s Sake seeks Lead Educators for our 2023 summer programs. Lead Educators will be responsible for co-planning and co-delivering high quality educational programming for up to 14 elementary school or middle school youth for nine, week-long, full day summer programs. Lead 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 8th grade). Specific program descriptions are below. Lead Educators will be trained on activities relating to food, farming and outdoor play, will be given past years’ schedules as a guide, and will have the opportunity to bring their passions and interests to the program, choose activities and games, and design curriculum.
Successful candidates will be highly motivated, organized, great with teaching a range of ages, experienced in behavior management, and able to communicate well with students, staff, and parents. Previous farm or garden experience is a benefit, and staff must be comfortable working around a variety of animals, including chickens, rabbits, sheep, and goats (basic training will be provided). An interest in cooking, carpentry and/or art is also appreciated. The Lead Educators work collaboratively with other staff to effectively manage the inherent risks of working on a farm, maintain our unique farm aesthetic, and teach and follow best management practices for sustainable food production and land management. Collaboration and effective communication between the other branches of the organization are vital for this job; along with all staff, the Lead Educators work diligently to carry out mission oriented goals and objectives.
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 of our summer educators 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. This position can be combined with a part-time spring education role.
Responsibilities:
– Maintain responsibility for the day to day function of our summer program with the assistance of another educator.
– Plan and 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
– Coordinate program related logistics, specifically with adjunct educators, community partners/organizations and other Land’s Sake staff
– Manage behavior of the youth in the group
– Give direction to high school interns
– Communicate effectively with summer program participants, fellow staff members in all farm departments, farm visitors, and parents
– Gather weekly feedback from participants and families
– Collaboratively produce a weekly recap of activities for electronic newsletter and help with social media updates as needed
– Assist with management of the Education Garden
– Assist with management of a variety of livestock
– Assist with other related farm and 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:
– Hold a college degree (preferably in education, social work, horticulture, farming, environmental science, environmental education, or a related field, but relevant work experience also welcome).
– 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 available Tuesdays from 3-4 for a staff meeting.
– Have experience in a leadership role at a camp, school, after school program, or other youth program, with proven ability around youth safety, group management and discipline
– Be comfortable working outdoors in all weather
– 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 26th – August 25th, 2023
Preferred Qualifications:
– Have at least one full season’s experience of farm work or experience in garden planning/management
– Have experience with management of a variety of livestock
– Knowledge of second language
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 verbal) clearly and effectively
with staff, participants, and other constituents
– Must be able to lift and carry up to fifty pounds
Salary & Benefits:
– Salary: $17.00/hour
– Free 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.