Growing Places Indy Summer Apprenticeship Program

Tweet

2017 Growing Places Indy Summer Apprenticeship Program

Application Deadline:  March 15, 2017

Growing Places Indy is a non-profit organization committed to empowering individuals to cultivate personal, family and community wellness through urban agriculture, food access and mind-body education.

The Growing Places Indy Summer Apprenticeship Program empowers participants to understand what it means to Grow Well, Eat Well and Live Well in order to Be Well, and both challenges and encourages them to be the change they want to see in the world.

Mandatory Program Orientation:  Thursday, June 8 (time TBD)

Mandatory Program Dates:  June 12 – August 10 (8 weeks)

* There is a break from July 3 – 7.

Weekly Schedule:

• Mondays – 8:00am to 1:00pm
• Tuesdays – 9:00am to 2:00pm
• Wednesdays – 8:30am to 6:30pm (time is built in for lunch)
• Thursdays – 8:30am to 12:30pm and 3:00pm to 6:30pm

Locations:

• Boner Learning & Fitness Center at the Chase Legacy Building
• White River State Park
• The Eskenazi Health Sky Farm at the Sydney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital
• The Platform at City Market
• Additional field trips occur weekly

Hours per week: Approximately 25-30

In addition to our regular schedule, participation in and attendance at additional events, networking opportunities, and enrichment activities are encouraged.  Growing Places Indy will facilitate these opportunities throughout the program and participants are encouraged to seek out others.

Compensation: $400 stipend, a weekly veggie share and yoga classes

Program Description:  The Growing Places Indy Summer Apprenticeship Program immerses participants in the work of Growing Places Indy, through hands-on farm work to community engagement, fundraising, youth education, personal development and more.  Participants are challenged to consider what change they want to see in the world and are trained in skills they can employ to take personal action.  Participants build a strong team relationship within their cohort and have the opportunity to meet many leaders and entrepreneurs doing transformational work in the Indianapolis area.

Apprentices will:

• Learn about urban agriculture through hands-on experiences and educational lessons, obtaining information and skills to teach others. This includes general farming activities (planning, planting, transplanting, cultivation, weeding, etc.) and sales/marketing/distribution activities (CSA, farm stand and restaurant sales).  Physical work is a major part of the program, with daily outdoor tasks at Growing Places Indy’s farm sites as well as farms, gardens and organizations across the Indianapolis area.
• Engage in the Indianapolis area food system with producers, consumers, advocates and educators, connecting into a network of relationships and opportunities. This may include attending presentations and leading workshops, speaking engagements and tours for community members.
• Explore and apply practices for personal empowerment including yoga, self-study, cooking, gardening and mindfulness activities. Participants enjoy a daily yoga/mindfulness practice and explore how to apply the philosophy of yoga in day-to-day life and work.
• Develop an integrated understanding of how food access and awareness, agricultural systems, individual and collective lifestyles (or lifestyle choices) impact personal and community wellness, as well as economic and environmental sustainability.
• Investigate how community based food systems support community development. This will include site visits, guest lecturers as well as recommended readings.

• Explore leadership and teamwork concepts by working as part of a small team of apprentices and program leaders to accomplish daily, weekly and season-long tasks and goals.
• Learn to comfortably and safely navigate Indianapolis by bicycle. Bicycling is the primary mode of group transit between farms sites, restaurant deliveries and visits to downtown area locations.
• Each apprentice will have an additional role he or she will play to accomplish our collective goals and gain valuable experience. Examples include but are not limited to: farm stand manager, social media assistant, photographer, CSAveggie share leader, after school program leader, restaurant harvest coordinator and fundraising project coordinator.

Application Eligibility:  Eligible participants must be 18 years of age or older and have at least one year of continuing education or work experience post high school.  To be accepted, a candidate must be able to fully commit to the weekly schedule for the entire 8-week program, be willing to work hard, have a sincere interest in the subject matter and activities, desire to take on leadership roles and to grow personally.  Strongest candidates will be able to articulate a sense of purpose for applying, as well as thoughtful ideas on ways in which they can contribute to the 2017 cohort experience, Growing Places Indy and potential ways they will pay forward the experience.  Prior experience in gardening, farm product sales, educational programming and/or the practice of yoga are not required.

Application Process:

• Submit your application by March 15, 2017 to Sarah Adams/Program Coordinator at saraha@growingplacesindy.org.
• After an initial application review, applicants will by contacted for an interview by March 31, 2017.
• Interviews will take place April 10 – 21, 2017.
• Applicants will be informed of a final decision on their application by April 30, 2017.

Previous apprenticeship schedules and testimonials can be found at: https://www.growingplacesindy.org/our_programs/summer-apprenticeship/

2017 Growing Places Indy Summer Apprenticeship Program

Application Deadline:  March 15, 2017

Applicant Information

Name:   _____________________________________

Email:  _______________________________________

Mobile Phone:  ______________________________

Date of Birth:  _______________________________

Emergency Contact Information

Name:  _____________________________________

Relationship:  _______________________________

Email:  ______________________________________

Mobile Phone:  _____________________________

We use bicycles as our primary mode of transportation between garden locations, site visits and produce delivery.  We require that apprentices provide their own bicycle.

Do you have a bicycle?    _______Yes  _______No

Do you have a bicycle helmet?  ________Yes  _______No

How comfortable are you riding a bicycle?

_____Very  ______Somewhat  ______Not really  ______Don’t know how

Are you able to meet in Indianapolis for an interview during April 10-21? _____Yes  _____No

If not, please indicate what methods would be possible for you and indicate contact details (such as Skype/Facetime/Video conference) ___________________________________

2017 Growing Places Indy Summer Apprenticeship Program

Application Deadline:  March 15, 2017

Application Materials:

1. Current copy of your resume (one page maximum).
2. One letter of reference (letters from family members will not be considered).
3. Personal Essay — In a separate document, provide an essay of no more than 600 words addressing the following:

• What is your primary motivation for applying to participate in this program?
• What skills/talents/ideas do you hope to bring to the apprenticeship?
• What do you hope to get out of this experience? Tell us about your goals and aspirations.
• What previous gardening, farming, food system, yoga, personal development or other program-related experience do you have?

** Essays longer than 600 words will not be considered.

I certify that the information given in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Signature:  ______________________________

Date:  __________________________________

Please submit your application by email to Sarah Adams/Program Coordinator at saraha@growingplacesindy.org by March 15, 2017.