Environmental Education Intern

Reports to: Senior Education Program Manager

Job Status: Full Season Intern, Average 40 hours per week

Compensation: $15.66/hour

Location: Boulder, CO

How to apply: Follow this link to fill out an online application

Check out our Internship Digital Booklet!

Environmental Education Intern Duties

Teaching Children’s Peace Garden Programming

•  Teach the following topics to school age groups: plant life cycles, planting and garden care, insects, pollination, beekeeping, composting, animal husbandry, healthy eating and much more!
• Lead Field Trips, Classroom Visits, School Days Off, After School Garden Club and Summer Camps in the Children’s Peace Garden independently and with a co-instructor, with support and feedback from the Education staff.    
• Co-instructor for our Goats and Gardens summer camp. 
• Act as a responsible, positive role model for all youth participants.
• Assist Education staff with administration tasks.

Event Participation and Community Outreach

• The Full Season Environmental Education Intern will assist with marketing for programming and will educate and engage with community members during outreach events that take place on and off the farm throughout the year.

Knowledge and Skills the Intern Will Develop

Education:

• Teaching in a farm-based setting including effective teaching techniques, group management strategies, and age-appropriate teaching/learning.
• Strong background knowledge in the following topics: plant life cycles, planting and garden care, insects, pollination, beekeeping, composting, animal husbandry, healthy eating and more.
• Effective communication strategies.
• Working effectively in a dynamic team environment.
• Evaluating programs through formal processes.
• Animal husbandry through working weekly shifts at the goat dairy during the spring and fall, and working daily with the goats during the summer for Goats and Gardens summer camp.
• Intern will receive training on Advocacy vs. Inquiry, Ages & Stages, Love and Logic, Working with Neurodivergent children, Cultivating Community, Giving and Receiving feedback and so much more!

Leadership:

• Experience developing farm-based curriculum.
• Cultivating a positive learning environment for all audiences including diverse populations.
• Contributing as facilitator and active member of a professional learning community.

Structure of Internship

• Internship duration is March 5th - November 1st, 2024
• Intern’s hour commitment will vary by week and season. Hours will range from 30-40 hours per week, more often 40, than not. 
• Hours primarily take place during weekdays, however there is some evening and weekend work required.
• Intern will be working closely with a mentor from GG staff who will oversee all daily activities; an intern supervisor is available upon request for meetings and provides general oversight of Growing Gardens’ internship program
• Interns will have the opportunity to meet with Growing Gardens staff to learn about various roles within the organization
• Learning Objectives Contract – Developed within the first month of internship. This includes: position description, educational objectives, learning activities, and skill development
• Evaluation – A midpoint evaluation and end of internship evaluation will include intern self-evaluation, supervisor, and mentor evaluation

Benefits of Interning with Growing Gardens:

• Hourly pay of $15.66 will be paid via direct deposit every two weeks. 
• Intern receives 1 week paid vacation.
• Your own weekly share ($20-$25 value) of fresh seasonal vegetables each week from the garden June-October as the season permits.
• 50% off all produce at the farmstand (June - October)
• 50% off all plants and seeds at Growing Gardens’ Plant Sale.
• Experience working on a diversified vegetable farm.
• Hands-on experience making a positive impact in the lives of children, teens, and adults. 
• Community connections and networking within the burgeoning local food movement.
• Friendly environment with a committed, passionate community.
• Develop marketable leadership and management skills.
• Classroom training offered through Growing Gardens classes.
• Access to in-person and online courses taught by Growing Gardens staff.
• Access to a wide variety of organic seeds and plant starts.
• All Growing Gardens internships qualify for University credit if desired.
• Office is centrally located and easily accessed via public transportation.

Qualifications

Growing Gardens is seeking individuals who are excited to gain skills and experience teaching and learning in a community of motivated farm-based educators!

A successful applicant will demonstrate:

• 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.  
• Prior experience teaching youth in an outdoor environment.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Ability to serve as a mature, healthy role model for youth.
• Self-motivated team player with ability to meet deadlines, remain flexible and adjust to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently independent of supervision.
• Responsibility, reliability, and organizational skills.
• Interest in developing skills and knowledge in farm-based education. No prior gardening or farming experience required.
• The intern position is contingent upon the satisfactory results of a background check.
• Bilingual preferred, but not required.

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.

To apply:

Follow this link for 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 February 1, 2024. We recommend getting your application in as soon as possible for full consideration.  Position will remain open until filled. 

For any questions, contact Megan Reynoso at mreynoso@growinggardens.org