School Garden Coordinator Job

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AmeriCorps School Garden Coordinator Job in Mancos Colorado

ORGANIZATION: Montezuma School to Farm Project (MSTFP)

MSTFP is a program of the Mancos Conservation District in southwestern Colorado. Since 2009, the project has focused on providing integrated, hands-on school garden classes in Montezuma County.  What began with a farm field trip for 40 Mancos students has grown to incorporate five school garden programs, professional school garden coordinators, summer farm camp, and youth farmers’ markets. MSTFP has installed a 2+ acre school production area, heritage orchards, high tunnels, an aquaponics system, vertical growing spaces, permaculture swales, a biothermal heating system, an on site bee hive, and numerous living examples of water and soil conservation across the schools in the county.  All of our garden sites differ in their physical size and characteristics, the number and diversity of students served, etc.

MSTFP serves three communities in our rural county: Dolores, Mancos and Cortez. This region is home to a wealth of micro zones and high altitude growing climates – from canyons to high desert to the San Juan Mountain Range. Montezuma County also houses diverse cultures within its boundaries, including those of our large Native American (Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, Southern Ute) and Hispanic populations.

Annually, staff and AmeriCorps Members work with more than 2,000 students, provide 26,000+ integrated experiential education hours in the school garden classrooms, and harvest 4,000+ pounds of produce. This produce is used in classroom taste tests, eaten in school cafeterias, and sold at Youth Farmers Markets.

You can learn more about Montezuma School to Farm Project’s recent happenings here.

SCHOOL GARDEN COORDINATOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: At Montezuma School to Farm Project, each AmeriCorps member works with a staff member to maintain and expand the school gardens, track and implement planting schedules, plan classes that are integrated in the school day, and teach hands-on lessons to pre-k through middle school students. AmeriCorps members also supervise volunteers, coordinate with food service directors, post to our social media accounts, and participate in ongoing professional development. We find our AmeriCorps members to be key contributors to the success and creative development of our programs.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:  We look for candidates that are passionate, intelligent, creative, self-motivated team players, and who feel strongly about the importance of connecting kids to the source of their food for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and the larger world.

Additionally, we look for applicants with a background (preferred) or interest in experiential education, agriculture, local food systems, and health/nutrition.

This is a rural area – applicants must have a car.

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT: August 2016 – August 2017

COMPENSATION:  This position receives a monthly living stipend and upon completion, is eligible for a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or additional cash stipend.

HOW TO APPLY for the SCHOOL GARDEN COORDINATOR JOB: This position is filled through an AmeriCorps partnership between MSTFP and La Puente Home, Inc. Members will be hired through La Puente, and will serve with MSTFP.

Please submit a resume and three references to Amy Scavezze at volunteers.lapuente@gmail.com. Please call or email with any questions, (719) 588-5753.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis – this position will be open until filled.