Farm Day Camp Counselor / Educator - Hart to Hart Farm LLC

Description: Hart-to-Hart Farm Day Camp is seeking qualified individuals to teach sustainable agriculture & environmental lessons utilizing our gardens, farm, fields, forest and ponds. Educators/counselors collaborate to inspire and engage campers’ ages 5 – 16 to build a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world on an organic farm. Campers participate in farm chores, gardening, cooking as well as a wide range of environmental and agricultural activities. Highlight: each camper adopting special farm animal. Goal: have fun while making a difference in the lives of young people through inquiry-based learning.

Site Description: Located on a 285-acre organic dairy. Site includes historic barn, out buildings for chickens, goats, sheep, horses, rabbits, and a free stall barn which is home to 130 dairy cows. Scenic pastures, organic gardens and orchard, ponds, wetlands, forest, and farm provide an idea camp setting to explore.

Responsibilities:

• ·       Plan and co-teach a range of outdoor farm/ environmental activities through “hands-on”, inquiry-based learning. Topics include but not limited to animal care and feeding, gardening, sustainability, insects, birds, soil science, freshwater ecology, wetland ecology, forest ecology, art, cooking. Topics taught through exploration, games, art, songs, and stories.
• ·       Set up and clean up all supplies and equipment. Day starts at 7:00 am and ends when prep work finished for the next day. Some weekend prep work may be required.
• ·       Role model healthy living, positive energy, clear communication, and good stewardship of the environment.
• ·       Participate in daily farm chores with campers
• ·       One overnight outing with campers attending Farm Extravaganza and Farm Explorer.
• ·       Participate in 1 family program & school field trips
• ·       Participate in staff trainings, weekly staff meetings, community chores and miscellaneous maintenance duties to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the camp
• ·       Implement all camp policies, rules and regulations
• ·       Provide first aid to campers according to camp policy
• ·       Reset and clean camp space, bathrooms, and kitchen as a team at the end of each day and session
• ·       Supervise JCIT who are assigned to your group
• ·       Communicate and report to the Camp Director daily updates and any concerns regarding the camp or campers.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with children ages 5 -16 years of age in an outdoor setting
• Candidate must be patient, fun-loving, creative, enthusiastic, and confident in ability to motivate and assist campers in learning new knowledge and skills while creating a safe environment.
• Excellent multitasker, team player, with a genuine passion for working with and empowering young people.
• Excellent communication skills, a good sense of humor, self-motivated and strong work ethic.
• A willingness to get dirty, hike, work with farm animals and dig in the garden
• Knowledge in sustainable farming / gardening and/or environment education (strengths can be in one or the other – animal husbandry a bonus)
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds
• First Aid and CPR certification
• 18 years of age, has a high school degree or equivalent; priority given to those who completed 1st year of college or alternative program / experience

Date: June 13th – August 19th (10 weeks, includes 1 week mandatory staff training)

Compensation: $290- $350 /wk. Includes room & board (additional compensation based on education and experience) - Option to leave the last session if returning to school – Excellent internship opportunity

Note: individuals not needing room & board will be offered a competitive salary

Deadline: We begin reviewing applications in February and conduct interviews until positions are filled.

To Apply:  Send cover letter, current resume and application for employment