Address
Form of workTITLE:Seasonal Camp Educator (Counselor)
LOCATION: The Farm Institute
PAYRATE 2024: $18/hour
Minimum Age: 18
Start Date: June 10, 2024
Who We Are:
The FARM Institute, located on the historic Katama Farm on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, provides year-round, farm-based educational programs. Programs focus on farming, sustainability, nutrition, and land stewardship. We care for this land alongside three other island farms. Slough Farm maintains our educational garden and raises their pigs and “flerd” (flock of sheep and herd of cows) here, while Morning Glory and Grey Barn are actively farming Katama Farm.
The Farm Institute’s Farm Camp seeks to create a safe, accessible, fun, and enriching educational environment for all campers to engage in authentic farm activities. Through daily barnyard and garden chores, projects, and games, our campers make real-life connections that strengthen their connection to the food we eat and the land that sustains us. Farm Camp at TFI runs June 24–August 23, Mondays–Fridays, 9AM–3PM.
For more information about our camp, please visit Trustees Camps.
Who You Are:
Someone who is ready to...
- Support the wellbeing of self, campers, and fellow staff
- Design and implement curriculum based on food, farming, and resource management with support from The FARM Institute staff
- Lead an age specific group of campers for week-long programs: Ages 5-6, 7-9, 10-13
- Manage Farm Based Educators in Training (CITs, aged 14-17) as part of your group
- Plan daily developmentally-appropriate activities and design weekly farm projects
- Lead plant and animal farm chores with campers in the Friendship Garden and pastures; support fellow staff in the use and maintenance of spaces
- Maintain reflection and planning worksheets
- Communicate with parents regarding camp questions, basic camper information, and farm awareness
- Lead group presentations during our weekly Farm Fridays
- Perform daily facility chore and lead daily classroom cleanup
- Meet periodically with Camp Director and Assistant Camp Director to evaluate experience and performance
A Day in the Life:
Camp Educators, also referred to as Farm-Based Educators (FBEs), are the backbone of camper experiences and hold an important place in this special work, as camp is a unique environment for children to develop their sense of self, form social bonds, explore their interests, learn, and have fun. In this position, you will work both collaboratively with your fellow staff as well as independently with your own camper group while improving your teaching, organizational, and leadership skills. Daily routines include educational activities, games, and chores in the garden, barn, and pastures; learning about local food production, sustainability, and ecology; arts and crafts making; and free play. Development of programming complements pre-planned lessons that give FBEs a launching point. Two weeks of paid collaborative training prepare our staff for this complex, challenging, and rewarding work.
QualificationsWhat We Need From You:
Qualifications:
- Full availability for camp staff training and all weeks of camp, June 10–August 23
- Being present Monday through Friday, 40 hours a week for the season; extra work hours are required for Meals in the Meadow, our annual farm to table fundraiser on a Saturday
- Holding or working toward a Bachelor's degree in environmental or agricultural education, the sciences, education, nutrition, or other relevant course of study is preferred, but not required
- Experience working as a camp counselor, classroom teacher, or informal educator with children ages 4-13
- Knowledge of or interest in farm-based education, food, and sustainability; a willingness to learn
- A desire to share your passion for the natural world with children, and the ability and desire to work with children from diverse backgrounds
- Skills in gardening, cooking, livestock handling, environmental education, fiber arts, or carpentry are preferred, but not required
- A great attitude about working outdoors in all conditions
- A familiarity with The Farm Institute and The Trustees of Reservations is helpful
Additional Requirements:
- Minimum age 18 years old
- Reliable transportation to work every day
- Satisfactory background check (CORI, SORI)
- Ability to lift 40 pounds
- Community CPR and Basic First Aid certifications are required; an on-site training option will be provided
- Proof of physical exam within 18 months and required immunizations, as required by Massachusetts Camp Regulations
Commitment to Our Farm Institute Farm Camp Staff
We pledge to create a workplace that fosters staff development and supports the mental, emotional, and social health of our camp staff. Our two-week training is designed to help staff fully prepare to care for campers and keep them safe, as well as for the delivery of quality educational experiences throughout the season. We will consistently recognize the incredible work of our staff, and ensure that they feel seen, heard, and fully supported in this special work.
Transferable Skills Gained Working at Camp:
Skills and training in environmental education, outdoor recreation, health and safety, and childhood development; communication; collaboration; critical thinking & problem-solving; leadership; empathy; resiliency; work ethic.
Please upload a resume summarizing your education and work history, a cover letter telling us a little about yourself, and a statement of purpose describing your philosophy of education and your interest in working at The Farm Institute. Applications will not be reviewed without these supporting documents. This position will fulfill internship credits for relevant majors.
We kindly request that you do not call to inquire about the status of your application. Those candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted.
NOTE: For those applying from off the island, please note that we do not have staff housing available. Since rental properties on the island can be difficult to come by in summer, TFI staff acts as liaisons to aid in locating and securing summer rentals. However, securing housing is ultimately the responsibility of the employee.
The Trustees:
The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) enjoy and care for more than 120 special places - roughly 47,000 acres - all around Massachusetts. We are the oldest land conservation organization in the U.S. and the largest in the state. The centerpiece of the Trustees mission is to protect places of ecological, scenic, and historic importance. Since 1891, The Trustees has been on the ground in communities across Massachusetts, working to protect special places, providing loving care of our reservations, building creative new programs to engage people, and sharing our expertise with neighbors and partners. Our seasonal staff plays an integral role in ensuring that our summer visitors enjoy our extraordinary places and programs.
About Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity at The Trustees
Our commitment to Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity (DBIE) is deeply grounded in our mission to protect and share Massachusetts’ iconic places for everyone, forever. Together, we carry forth this belief by seeking to create inclusive spaces of belonging for Trustees staff, members, volunteers, and communities across the organization and our properties. We acknowledge that creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome will be a learning journey for the organization and for all of us as individuals.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.
For more information on The Trustees, please visit our website.
