Youth Garden Educator - Wasatch Community Gardens

Job Description: https://wasatchgardens.org/images/docs-pdfs/2019_900_hour_UCC.pdf
Organization and Job Description:
Founded in 1989, Wasatch Community Gardens is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to empower people of all ages and incomes to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. Wasatch Community Gardens achieves its mission by providing access to land and education.
The WCG Youth Gardening Program works with youth in four programs – Youth Garden Club, Summer Camps, Field Trips, and Group Visits – to develop the skills and knowledge they need to grow, prepare, and eat healthy food. Our goal is to empower youth to make healthy choices for themselves, their community, and the environment. Last year, more than 1,800 youth participated in our programs.
The UCC AmeriCorps Youth Educator is primarily responsible for teaching the WCG summer camps, field trips, and group visits. The Youth Educator will also assist in maintaining the two teaching gardens, help facilitate garden volunteer groups, and assist at WCG special events.
This position requires strong leadership skills, self-motivation, the ability to work as part of a team, and a passion for teaching youth to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. Through this position, the UCC AmeriCorps members will have the opportunity to learn about outdoor education, sustainable food production, and professional non-profit work through hands-on experience.

Primary Responsibilities
Education – 60%
• Teach summer camps, field trips, and youth group visits in the gardens
• Provide a safe, active, and engaging environment for diverse youth participants
• Document outcomes of gardening lessons and review with Youth Program Director
• Collaborate on curriculum development for garden-based classes
• Work with a variety of partner agencies, local community groups, and service-learning groups on
garden and education projects
Gardening – 30%
• Assist in maintaining two teaching gardens using sustainable and organic practices
• Assist in maintaining teaching gardens as outdoor classrooms that are safe, fun, and welcoming
• Harvest, record, preserve, and distribute produce from the teaching gardens
• Help facilitate garden volunteer groups, garden crews, and staff workdays
Additional Responsibilities – 10%
• Assist with Wasatch Community Gardens events including:
o Spring Plant Sale fundraiser (one Saturday in May)
o Urban Garden and Farm Week (one Saturday in June) o Tomato Sandwich Party (one Saturday in September)
• Attend trainings with other youth educators and Youth Program Director
• Propose and complete an independent project
• Collaborate with other WCG programs throughout the season – Community Education;
Community Gardens; School Garden Program; Green Team Farm; Volunteers and Outreach

Qualifications
• Experience working with youth ages 4-12, particularly in an outdoor setting
• Basic knowledge of sustainable, organic gardening OR strong desire to learn
• Basic knowledge of nutrition and cooking skills OR strong desire to learn
• Organized, motivated, and able to work independently and as part of a group
• Ability to build relationships with youth from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
• Desire to work outdoors in variable weather conditions
• Excellent communication skills
• Positive and flexible attitude, ability to solve problems creatively
Other Preferred Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in related field (education, social work, environmental studies, etc.)
• Familiarity with environmental and/or experiential education methods
• Prior experience with gardening or farming
• Experience with tools used in basic carpentry, landscaping, and garden work
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and a good level of physical fitness
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, comfortable using Gmail and Google Drive

Minimum Qualifications
Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and eligible to serve an AmeriCorps State/National term. Must be at least age 18 by start of their term and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Must undergo and pass a National Criminal History Check. Must commit to completing their Term of Service.

Schedule
Six month, 900-hour position, averaging 40 hours/week – typical schedule Monday-Friday, 8:00am- 4:00pm with some evenings and weekends.
Job begins Monday, April 8, 2019 and ends Friday, November 1, 2019.
Compensation
This is an individual placement position through the Utah State University, Utah Conservation Corps (USU-UCC), AmeriCorps Program. USU-UCC will provide the selected individuals with a $7,270 living allowance distributed bi-monthly, an educational award of $2,960 (upon completion of entire service term), an option to purchase health insurance, child care (for qualified members), and student loan deferment during service. There is also the option of receiving some USU university credit hours.
Additional benefits of this position include holidays off, access to fresh garden produce, and an active, outdoor work environment.

To apply
Send cover letter; resume; names, titles, and phone numbers of two professional references to openings@wasatchgardens.org. Please put “900 hour UCC AmeriCorps Youth Educator” in the subject line. Applications received prior to February 11, 2019 will receive priority consideration. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
People of color, women, veterans, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. WCG is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, national origin, mental or physical disabilities, sexual orientation, or any other similarly protected status.

Location: Salt Lake City, UT