Summer Camp Educator — Summer 2024

Growing Gardens’ mission is to cultivate community through sustainable urban agriculture. Our programs empower people of all ages, income levels, and abilities by connecting them with their local food system, each other, and the environment.   Our organization values the diverse skills and individuals that come together to create a thriving community and workplace.  We are committed to the work we do, and bring our best selves each day, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, have fun, and enjoy the process of doing good in our community.  We take care of each other and put people at the center of everything we do.

Job Overview

Job Announcement:  Summer Camp Educator

Educators Hired: 5

Do you LOVE being outside, working with children and exploring the natural world? Do you have experience or interest in working in a garden or farm setting?  Are you excited to work collaboratively to make camp memorable for children aged 5-11 years old? Do you love to laugh, run through the sprinklers, and eat snacks from the garden? We are looking for high energy, upbeat, compassionate educators to join our education team for Growing Gardens Summer Camp in 2024! 

Job Title: Summer Camp Educator

Job Status: Full Time, Seasonal Summer Employee, Average 40 hours per week

Reports To: Education Program Coordinator

Location: Boulder, CO

Pay: $750 per week of summer camps; training weeks will be prorated to reflect days worked.

Bonus: $150 finishing bonus upon completion of the summer season.

Required Online Training: Online training that will be completed independently before May 30th start date. These trainings will be compensated with a $100 stipend and can be completed in sections.

Required in person training: May 28th – 31st, 8am-4pm. ($600 stipend)

Summer Camp Schedule: Summer Camp is weekly June 3rd – August 9th. (9 weeks total)

There is no Summer Camp the week of July 1st – 5th. During this week, staff will work 2 days engaging in mid-season training and opportunities to connect with other programs in our organization. This takes place on July 1st & 2nd at a rate of $150 per day.

Time Off: We are able to accommodate some requests for unpaid time off. 

Mission

Growing Gardens’ mission is to cultivate community through sustainable urban agriculture. Our programs empower people of all ages, income levels, and abilities by connecting them with their local food system, each other, and the environment. 

Our organization values the diverse skills and individuals that come together to create a thriving community and workplace.  We are committed to the work we do, and bring our best selves each day, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, have fun, and enjoy the process of doing good in our community.  We take care of each other and put people at the center of everything we do.

Summer Camp Description 

Children’s Peace Garden Summer Camp strives to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through hands-on learning experiences in the garden. We’ve found that connecting children with their food has lifelong impacts on their health and eating choices. We offer week long, full day camps for nine weeks in the summer for youth aged 5-11. Each week has a unique theme such as art and enchantment, farm to table cooking, or survival skills.

Job Purpose:

Growing Gardens’ Summer Camp Educator works to deliver high quality summer camp educational programs. Educators co-lead a group of 15 campers each week and teach students about our garden and all it has to offer through lessons, activities, crafts, games and basic cooking. Working with the Education Program Coordinator, educators are responsible for leading children through activities. Summer Camp Educators are essential in attaining programming goals and objectives.

Major Functions and Accountabilities

• Teach garden-based education programming to children from 8:30 am-3:30 pm during the 9 Summer Camp weeks. Camp is located at the Boulder Farm Site.
• Work with fellow Summer Camp Educators to lead week-long summer camp sessions. All supplies, curriculum, and training will be provided by Growing Gardens prior to camp start date.
• Maintain positive relationships with campers, parents and fellow staff.
• Record keeping and administrative work documenting programming.
• This camp takes place outside in all weather conditions, so staff are expected to be prepared to work and facilitate programming in these various environments. 

Required Qualifications

• The candidate must have at least 460 hours of satisfactory and verifiable experience working with school-age children. 460 Hours must be with children aged 4-18 in groups of four or more. Babysitting hours cannot be counted.  
• Experience teaching in an outdoor or environmental education setting.
• Responsibility, reliability and organizational skills.
• Exceptional relationship building and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to self motivate and work independently as well as collaboratively with the team.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations: weather, curriculum, child needs, etc.
• Consistent positive attitude and ability to enthusiastically work all day outdoors with children.
• The position is contingent upon the satisfactory results of a background check.

Additional Perks:

• Access to organically grown produce on a weekly basis
• Discounted Pro deals on outdoor gear
• Access to a wide variety of organic seeds and 50% off at our weekly Farm Stand

TO APPLY:

Follow this link to direct you to our online application. If the link does not work, copy the url code below into your web browser.

https://growinggardens.campintouch.com/ui/forms/application/staff/App

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until April 14th. We recommend getting your application in as soon as possible for full consideration. Position will remain open until filled.

For any questions, contact Rachel Charkowicz at [email protected]

Growing Gardens prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment and will take affirmative measures to ensure against them, especially if they are carried out on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, neurodiversity, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation or political affiliation. This policy applies to all employees or potential employees, volunteers, participants, members of the Growing Gardens Board of Directors, people who serve on Growing Gardens’ committees, and anyone attending Growing Gardens’ events.  This policy extends to all aspects of employment at Growing Gardens, including hiring, transfer, promotion, training, working conditions, policies, compensation, evaluation, discipline and termination.

Special Benefits

Pay: $750 per week of summer camps; training weeks will be prorated to reflect days worked.

Bonus: $150 finishing bonus upon completion of the summer season.

Required Online Training: Online training that will be completed independently before May 30th start date. These trainings will be compensated with a $100 stipend and can be completed in sections.

Required in person training: May 28th - 31st, 8am-4pm. ($600 stipend)

Summer Camp Schedule: Summer Camp is weekly June 3rd - August 9th. (9 weeks total)

There is no Summer Camp the week of July 1st - 5th. During this week, staff will work 2 days engaging in mid-season training and opportunities to connect with other programs in our organization. This takes place on July 1st & 2nd at a rate of $150 per day.

Additional Perks:

• Access to organically grown produce on a weekly basis
• Discounted Pro deals on outdoor gear
• Access to a wide variety of organic seeds and 50% off at our weekly Farm Stand

Minimum Requirements

Required Qualifications

• The candidate must have at least 460 hours of satisfactory and verifiable experience working with school-age children. 460 Hours must be with children aged 4-18 in groups of four or more. Babysitting hours cannot be counted.  
• Experience teaching in an outdoor or environmental education setting.
• Responsibility, reliability and organizational skills.
• Exceptional relationship building and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to self motivate and work independently as well as collaboratively with the team.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations: weather, curriculum, child needs, etc.
• Consistent positive attitude and ability to enthusiastically work all day outdoors with children.
• The position is contingent upon the satisfactory results of a background check.