Company description

New Village Farm is a diversified educational farm located in Shelburne, Vermont. The small raw milk cow and goat dairies, poultry operation, gardens, and wilderness areas form an extensive outdoor learning space where people of all ages are invited to actively participate.

A primary focus of ours is creating opportunities of participation and belonging for people, as well as fostering connections with earth, plants and animals. The farm hosts a Farm School, After School programming, Family Farming Time, summer camps, family workshops, & other year-round programming. The farm works to empower children and families to learn new skills, to take on responsibility and build community, to explore freedom in the outdoors, and to care for plants and animals. Our basic philosophy is that healthy lives and actions are founded in healthy relationships to ourselves, to each other, and to the natural world.

In addition to our programming, we have a farmstand, where we sell our products such as raw cow and goat’s milk, pastured chicken and eggs, and grass-fed beef. While we are not Certified Organic, we adhere to organic practices in our pastures and gardens.

Job description

We are hiring day camp counselors for our three summer camps: Pathfinders Camp (ages 5-6), Farm & Garden Camp (ages 6-11, plus Counselors-in-Trainings or CITs from age 12+), and Crew Camp (ages 10+).

Our summer camp counselors are the backbone of our summer here at New Village. We host around 300 campers over the course of the summer, many of whom return year after year because they love the blend of freedom, trust, responsibility, and fun at the core of our programs.

Pathfinders (ages 5-6, plus CITs from age 12+):

Pathfinders is a program designed to serve our youngest campers with smaller group sizes and a space all their own for exploration, imagination, and the joyful work of the farm. This program eases newcomers into the magic and responsibility of work with animals and plants at a moderate pace. We spend our morning working with the animals and in the garden, and our afternoons are spent exploring the woods, quarry, fields, and marshes around the farm, and diving into the interests that emerge from the group. Projects can range from animal care, gardening, simple carpentry, wilderness skills, nature crafts, painting, and whatever we dream up together. Those applying to lead Pathfinders must have relevant, professional experience working with 4-6 year old children.

In Pathfinders, there are 2 counselors for the 15 campers plus at least 2 CITs. Counselors will be working closely with the CITs, mentoring, giving feedback, etc.

Farm & Garden Camp (ages 6-11, plus CITs from age 12+):

In F&G, we are committed to the kids’ participation in the stewardship of animals, farms, gardens, and wild spaces. We build our programs around their love of nature and animals, their capacity for kindness, their competence in work, and their right to belong. Mornings are spent working with animals and in the garden. Afternoons are spent in a mixture of free play and planned activities, including craft and construction projects, marsh/field/forest play, and lots of animal time.

In F&G, there are 3 counselors for the 30 campers, plus at least 4 CITs. Counselors will be working closely with the CITs, mentoring, giving feedback, etc.

Crew Camp (ages 10+):

The focus of this camp is growing the skills and competence of the many kids who value animal husbandry, gardening and outdoor engagement. Crew members are responsible for the execution of all chores that go beyond the scope of the younger camps, including milking cows, daily pasture rotations and fence maintenance, gardening, etc. Crew also engages in carpentry, mucking, fencing, and other projects that serve the farm’s infrastructure.

In Crew, there are 2 counselors, and up to 16 campers, usually no CITs.

 

Required Qualities:

• Relevant educational or childcare experience
• Prior farm experience, in livestock or veg, is preferred but not required
• A passion for the outdoors and the work of farming and gardening 
• A passion for fostering nature awareness, mindfulness, wonder, and creativity
• The ability to direct and support farm chore times for a mixed-age group, so that they experience satisfaction and competence
• The ability to support kids in pursuing healthy, self-directed projects and interests
• Exceptional group management skills
• A Behavior = Communication approach to discipline, familiarity with restorative practices 
• Professional and compassionate interpersonal skills
• The willingness and ability to be a strong mentor to our CITs, e.g., giving feedback, listening, etc.
• Exceptional intuition and judgment, and willingness to use it
• Reliable transportation (car, bus, or ability to coordinate carpooling with other counselors)
• A personal cell-phone for inter-counselor communication

 

Responsibilities include:

• Managing the arc of the camp day, including farm chores (goat milking, chicken & bunny chores, pasture management, garden tasks, etc.)
• Leading morning and closing circles
• Teaching daily nature skills (weaving with cattails, plant-ID, natural dyeing, spinning wool, fire by friction, building skills, clay, etc)
• Mediating challenges within the group using restorative practices 
• Teaching and practicing safe farm boundaries
• Co-leading with our counselors and other farm staff
  Managing the CIT program (mentoring, giving feedback, etc.)
• Managing verbal communication with parents

 

The counselor position runs from M-F 8-3:30 pm. The program runs from June 9th-August 22nd. The first week is devoted to staff training. Counselors are encouraged to take time off during the summer, with appropriate lead time.

Additionally, there are many opportunities to work with students on-farm prior to the beginning of the camp season. We are currently hiring an educator to co-lead After School in the Spring (Wednesdays 1:45-5:15 pm) and for various Spring school trips.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $17.00 - $20.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

March 31, 2025