Company description

Growing Gardens is a Boulder based non-profit organization established in 1998 with the mission to enrich the lives of the community through sustainable urban agriculture. Growing Gardens helps people experience a direct, deep connection with food, the land and each other through our programs for diverse populations: the Children’s Peace Garden (Ages 3-11), Community Classes, Community Gardens, Growing Gardens Food Project, and Cultiva Youth Project (Ages 12-18). Our activities are centered in the heart of Boulder on 11 acres of land that has been in agricultural use for the past 100 years. We expanded our programming in 2016 to include a 1 acre farm in neighboring Longmont, Colorado, which provides fresh produce and agriculture-based education to the Longmont community. To learn more about Growing Gardens, visit www.growinggardens.org.

Internship description

Children’s Peace Garden programs teach children environmental stewardship, nutrition education, respect for diversity, and creative self-expression to nurture a healthy, happy and well-balanced child. 8,000 children from ages 3-11 participate in CPG programming.  Environmental Education Interns teach a wide variety of engaging hands-on activities about organic gardening practices, the garden as a source of food, and how to prepare simple, nutritious food from the garden, and more. Interns are given responsibility to teach independently as well as with a team, gaining valuable experience for future teaching in Environmental Education.

Summer Environmental Education Interns gain incredible hands-on experience teaching and learning in our programs as they develop essential skills for environmental education. Environmental Educators improve their teaching technique through practice, reflection, and feedback. Summer Environmental Educators spend the majority of their time leading Summer Camps and Field Trips for the Children’s Peace Garden Program. In addition to teaching in the Peace Garden, Summer Environmental Educators gain experience co-teaching Horticultural Therapy Field Trips. These programs primarily serve persons with differing abilities and elders. Occasionally, interns will work alongside teenage youth in the Cultiva Youth Project.

Environmental Education Interns will gain hands-on experience and knowledge about vegetable production helping maintain the Children’s Peace Garden and Cultiva fields.

Environmental Education Intern Duties

Teaching in Children’s Peace Garden and Horticultural Therapy

• Teach the following topics during field trips to the garden site: plant life cycles, planting and garden care, insects, pollination, beekeeping, composting, harvesting, healthy eating, community, cycles, and much more!
• Teach summer camps and field trips in Children’s Peace Garden with a co-teacher, with support and feedback from Summer Camp Coordinator.
• Co-teach field trips and classroom visits in the Horticulture Therapy program
• Act as a responsible, positive role model for Cultiva teens.

Administration

• Attend intern trainings
• Document activities through photography for reports, grant proposals and marketing
• Conduct surveys and document attendance at all programs

Community Outreach

• Assist with marketing for programming
• Positively interact with the public during community outreach events

Event Participation

Environmental Education Interns are responsible for other duties as assigned, to engage with, and learn from, the Growing Gardens non-profit organization and community.

Knowledge and Skills the Intern Will Develop:

Education:

• Teaching and co-teaching wide range of audiences in a garden-based setting including effective teaching techniques, group management strategies, and age-appropriate teaching/learning.
• Learning and teaching Growing Gardens’ Environmental Education curriculum for summer camp and field trips.
• Learning effective feedback strategies including peer-to-peer and with supervisors.
• Working effectively in a dynamic team environment including comfort with changing tasks.
• Cultivating a positive learning environment for all audiences including diverse populations.
• Contributing as facilitator and active member of a professional learning community.
• Evaluating programs through formal process.

Gardening and Agriculture:

• Basic small-scale organic vegetable production techniques including: Seeding, Transplanting, and Propagation; Garden care through the seasons; Vermicomposting; Honeybees; Insects and Pollination; Gleaning; Harvesting

Structure of Internship

• Internship duration is May 13 – August 16, 2019
• Required attendance at orientation meeting on Monday, May 13th and Tuesday, May 14th 
• Intern position is 40 hours per week. Note: hours may vary between weeks; however the average number of hours per week will be 40 hours. Hours primarily take place during the week, however there is some required weekend work
• Each Intern is supported by a Mentor and Supervisor as well as GG education staff.

 

Learning Objectives Contract – Each Intern will develop a Learning Objectives contract with their Supervisor and Mentor by the second week of the internship. This contract includes: position description, educational objectives, learning objectives, and skill development.

Evaluation – To support the Intern’s growth during the internship, the Mentor and Supervisor will provide an opportunity for midpoint evaluation and end of internship evaluation. Evaluations include Intern self-evaluation, Mentor and Supervisor evaluations, and post-evaluation discussion.

Benefits of Interning with Growing Gardens

• Hands-on experience making a positive impact in the lives of children, teens and adults
• Friendly, relaxed work environment!
• Good experience at a well-respected non-profit!
• Development of marketable teaching and group leadership skills
• Shared garden plot with other GG Interns in the Hawthorn Community Garden
• Weekly organic vegetables from the garden as available – This benefit has the value of $20-$35 per week depending on the time of year.
• Easy access to public transportation from garden!
• $1200 stipend paid in monthly installments throughout internship season

 

Qualifications

Growing Gardens is seeking individuals who are excited to gain skills and experience teaching and learning in a community of motivated garden-based educators! Interns will bring some prior experience engaging youth, and much excitement to teach in an engaging and dynamic environment. The intern must be excited to work outside in all weather conditions, and be able to serve as a mature, healthy role model for children and teens. Interns do not need prior gardening or farming experience but they must have interest in developing skills and knowledge in this area.  Applicants must hold certifications in Medication Administration, CPR and First Aid by May 13, 2019. This intern position is contingent upon the satisfactory results of background check. Applicants must have 480 documented hours of experience working with children.        

Compensation

this position is: stipend / non-monetary compensation

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline

Attachment

click here to download the attached document.