Farmyard Educator - Land’s Sake Farm

LOCATION: Weston, MA (USA)

CLOSING DATE: March 19, 2021

OPPORTUNITY TYPE: Job

JOB #: 16976

POSTED: February 19, 2021

Description:

Organizational Overview:
Founded in 1980, Land’s Sake is a nonprofit community farm whose mission is connecting people to the land to build community and inspire lifelong stewardship.  We grow fresh produce using organic practices, sell our produce through our CSA and at our Farmstand, and donate at least 20% of what we grow to local hunger relief organizations.  Our education department provides a wide variety of year-round farm education programming for all ages, from after school programs and school field trips to community events and summer programs. Throughout all that we offer, we seek to create positive outdoor experiences. To learn more about this unique nonprofit, please visit: www.landssake.org.

Open Farmyard Program:
Open Farmyard is a free program for young children and their caregivers at Land’s Sake Farm.  It is targeted specifically for youth ages 3 - 7 years old, but all ages are welcome! During the 2021 season, we will have four or 75 minute sessions of Open Farmyard each week, on a weekday afternoon and weekend morning. They will run from the first week of June through the last week of October. Open Farmyard engages young children in life on the farm through activities such as planting, harvesting, and eating food from the Education Garden, visiting farm animals, nature crafts, storytime, and other seasonal activities. 

Farmyard Educator Position Summary:
The Farmyard Educator’s primary goal is to deliver high quality educational programs for the weekend Open Farmyard program.  Each weekend for 20 weeks, they will lead groups of young children (with their caregivers present) in a variety of introductory farm education activities.  Examples of activities include: planting seeds, weeding beds, watering plants, and harvesting vegetables in the Education Garden; meeting and feeding the farm animals; and nature crafts and stories. The number of participants in Open Farmyard could vary from 2 to 11 participants at any given time, so it is essential that the Farmyard Educator is flexible, welcoming, and enthusiastic!

The Education Manager will communicate with the Farmyard Educator weekly to let them know what changes have taken place week by week in the Education Garden as the growing season progresses, and the Farmyard Educator will use that information to plan and implement three seventy-five minute blocks of activities and programming.  The Farmyard Educator works 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. 

The core hours of this position are Saturdays OR Sundays from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm.  The ideal candidate would also be available to work occasional additional weekend and/or weekday hours to help lead other farm education programs, such as summer programs, birthday parties, farm tours for visiting groups, and/or farm events. We will work with the successful applicant to build a schedule that works for both parties. 

Sometimes Open Farmyard may be cancelled due to weather.  The Education Manager and Farmyard Educator work together to make that decision.

This is a seasonal, part-time, at-will position and will be supervised by the Education Manager. 

Responsibilities:

  •  Plan and lead the weekend Open Farmyard program at Land’s Sake for 20 weeks from June 8 through October 19, 2019.  
  • Create safe and fun opportunities for outdoor exploration and active play.
  • Communicate effectively with Open Farmyard participants, fellow staff members in all farm departments, farm visitors, and parents/caregivers of participants
  • Gather weekly feedback from participants and caregivers
  • 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
  • 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
  • Optional: Lead other weekend farm education programs if interested in more hours, such as birthday parties, farm tours for visiting groups, and/or helping with farm events

Salary & Benefits:

  • Salary: $13/hour
  • Free organic produce and flowers grown on the farm
  • Paid sick time, in accordance with MA law
Skills/Eligibility:

Above all, must enjoy working with kids and being outdoors! But also must:

  •  Be available to work Saturdays and/or Sundays from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm from June 5, 2021 through October 24, 2021 (exceptions can be made for the right candidate, but it is critical that they be available from 7/21 through 8/27). 
  • Be able to handle leading a group alone, without direct help or supervision.
  • Have experience teaching at a camp, school, after school program, or other youth program
  • 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
  • Have 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 for the entirety of their employment. 
  • 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 verbal) clearly and effectively
    with staff, participants, and other constituents

Must be able to lift and carry up to fifty pounds

How to Apply:

Equal Opportunity Policy:
Land’s Sake is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a multicultural organization. Diversity and inclusion is an ongoing organizational practice and a core value of Land’s Sake, with the goal of having culturally competent services, materials, resources and programs. Our hiring practices are informed by an appreciation of the strengths offered by differing cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, classes, sexual orientations, physical capacities, and age groups. 

To Apply:
Please 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.