Children's Garden Education VISTA

 Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture’s PLANTS Department (Placing Learners, Agriculture, and Nature Together Sustainably) is a small team of committed individuals who provide hands-on experiences that emphasize the connection between food, health, and the environment to children of all ages. The PLANTS department works with Columbia Public Schools to implement the Farm to School programs which provides educational opportunities to students in 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders in the Columbia Public Schools district. The PLANTS department also works with other community partners to provide hands-on learning experiences to develop a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and environmental impact food has on our communities. 

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will dedicate a year of service as a part of the PLANTS team and report to the PLANTS Coordinator to expand the capacity of the department by updating the current curriculum, develop new lessons, collecting program data, providing children’s activities, and assist in maintaining school-gardens to provide a dynamic learning environment for students. Tasks to maintain and develop garden sites may include coordinating with schools to plan the logistics of implementing a school garden as well as weeding, watering, harvesting, using wheelbarrows to move compost, and using a weed wacker. The VISTA member will also work with the entire CCUA team during our two community events- the Agriculture Park’s Field Day and the Harvest Hootenanny. 

Requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be able to work 40hrs/wk 
• Be able to make a year long commitment to serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member
• Maintain a current status as one of the following: U.S. citizen, national, or legal resident
• Successfully pass a background check
• Valid Driver's License and a reliable means of traveling to the worksite (CCUA vehicles can be used after arriving onsite)
• Ability to work some weekends and evenings
• Ability to lead and engage a group of children
• Personal qualities of integrity, reliability, and commitment to the mission and values of CCUA
• Commitment to Equity and Inclusion of people with all backgrounds and lived-experiences.

Required Physical Qualifications: 

This position requires completing a variety of physical tasks in different weather conditions; the ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. Requirements include: 

• Able to safely carry 25lbs at variable distances 
• Ability to withstand repetitive movements including: bending, reaching, shoveling, and typing
• Frequently mobile, with or without ambulatory assistive devices, for long periods of time
• Ability to withstand being outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including high and low temps and rain
• Remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience designing lesson plans that align with Grade Level Expectations
• Experience growing vegetables
• Comfortable collecting and recording data
• Bilingual, preferably Spanish/English
• Experience with conflict resolution
• Experience with Google Workspace, Canva, Excel

Position Start and End Dates: Dates the position can start:

• July 29, 2024- July 30, 2025
• August 12, 2024- August 13th 2025
• August 26th, 2024-August 27th, 2025

Deadline to Apply: Final application date is July 23rd at midnight but don’t wait! Applications and interviews will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

To apply, visit: https://columbiaurbag.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/vista-2024-2025

For more information contact: Katie Molitor at Katie@ColumbiaUrbanAg.Org