Company description Camp Burgess & Hayward is located on 300 forested acres on Cape Cod, MA, and offers year-round programs focused on developing conscientious citizens by instilling wonder, encouraging stewardship, and cultivating community. In the summer, the facility operates as a brother-sister residential summer camp; during the school year, the facility offers outdoor education programs, retreats, and more. 

Burgess Farm, located at Camp Burgess, is a diversified educational farm focusing on sustainable food production, farm-based learning, and community outreach. An in-ground teaching garden and raised beds grow produce for the facility's on-site dining halls and programs (including our popular wood fired pizza oven activity), while a 1/4-acre production field grows food for donation to a local food pantry. Our livestock have a pretty easy life: they're primarily animal ambassadors and manure machines, although we do collect eggs and wool in season. The facility serves over 10,000 visitors each year, and nearly all of those visitors enjoy interacting with the farm either through programming or through food in the dining hall. Job description

The Farm Educator (known in the Camp community as the "Farm Guru") will assist the Farm Director in managing the Camp Burgess educational farm and its programs. Together, the farm team will create, plan, and organize summer camp and school season programs and complete daily crop and animal upkeep. In addition to crop cultivation and animal husbandry responsibilities, the Farm Guru will assist the Burgess Outdoor Education team in delivering place-based science, adventure, and teambuilding programming in the spring and fall. In the summer, the Farm Guru will manage a ¼-acre vegetable production field and its associated programs, under the Farm Director’s mentorship; responsibilities include management of weeds, pests, and irrigation; timely harvesting and safe food handling, including careful record-keeping as well as transporting food to a food pantry; and modeling and guiding youth in meaningful feedback and leadership practices. This role also trains and supervises farm counselors and resource staff in the summer, and serves as a farm-based resource for Outdoor Education and other staff members throughout the growing season. 

 

CORE  EXPECTATIONS:

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT: Supports daily operation of Burgess Farm, including the greenhouse, teaching garden, satellite raised-bed gardens, production field, and livestock. Seeks opportunities to improve the program and increase its impact, and collaborates with the Farm Director to implement improvements. Contributes to the functioning of other programs at Camp beyond the farm.

 

STAFF ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT: Trains and supervises the summer Farm Counselors and Farm Resource Staff.  Assists in training the Outdoor Education staff with respect to farm chores and farm educational programming.  Encourages and fosters staff commitment towards achieving goals.
 

PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT: Builds relationships with and among students and campers, group leaders, organizations and community members. Develops the volunteer program in the production field and recruits community volunteers as needed. Responds to inquiries and solves problems.  Creates a safe and supportive community environment, assists in recruiting and engaging new groups, and connects participants to the YMCA’s cause.
 

VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT: Builds and develops volunteer capacity through leadership and communication trainings on the farm for Counselors In Training (CITs). Engages Adventure Trips Campers in weekly volunteer projects on Burgess Farm. Cultivates awareness of the farm’s role in fulfilling the Y’s commitment to social responsibility in the local community.
 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & SUPPORT: Assists in YMCA fundraising activities/events, and engages in collaborative relationships with community organizations in order to strengthen support and build community.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree with from 4-year college or university in education, environmental science, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 1-2 years of outdoor program facilitation or teaching experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with peers, supervisors, youth and the community
• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• At least 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• One full growing season in diversified, sustainable vegetable cultivation preferred
• Experience with livestock (sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, honeybees) preferred
   

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Lift and carry grain sacks and hay bales weighing 50 pounds.
• Handle and restrain livestock weighing up to 70 pounds.
• Bend, kneel, and sit for extended periods in the garden and production field.
• Perform repetitive physical tasks such as weeding, mucking, pushing a wheelbarrow, digging, etc.
• Load and unload coolers and produce into a truck for delivery.
• Work outdoors daily in all weather.
• Stand, talk, hear and walk over grounds that are uneven, hilly, not paved and spread out over 300 acres.

 

Compensation this position is : stipend / non-monetary compensation Application instructions Deadlineno deadline