Kids’ Farm Assistant Job in Washington

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Seasonal Educator & Kids’ Farm Assistant Job (March – November) at Oxbow Farm in Washington – 2020

OXBOW’S MISSION

Our mission is to inspire people to eat healthy, sustainably grown food and to steward our natural resources for future generations.

WHAT WE DO

The Center is located on 230 acres of forest and grassland bordered by Western Washington’s Snoqualmie River. We use this mixed landscape to:

Produce food. We cultivate 15 acres of mixed vegetable crops using agro-ecological principles and engage in research to inform conservation farming practice.

Grow native plants. We operate a native plant nursery that produces plants for habitat restoration projects, educational gardens, and urban landscapes, and conducts research on native plant propagation using sustainable growing methods.

Connect children to nature. We offer environmental education programs for children pre-K thru high school to build their comfort in the outdoors and provide them with opportunities to learn about the links between agriculture, conservation, and the environment.

Restore and sustain habitat. We carry out conservation projects and research to learn how humans can use land responsibly while protecting biodiversity.

KIDS’ FARM ASSISTANT JOB OVERVIEW

The Seasonal Educator & Kids’ Farm Assistant supports the education team with farming tasks and environmental education program delivery and development. Farming tasks primarily include planting, sowing, weeding, mulching, harvesting, seed-saving, and general upkeep of Oxbow’s outdoor education spaces. Educational roles include leading field trip programming during the spring, summer, and fall, and serving as a summer camp instructor for kids ages 11-14. This role also contributes to volunteer and camp instructor training. 

KIDS’ FARM ASSISTANT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

In collaboration with the OxEd program team the Seasonal Educator & Kids’ Farm Assistant is responsible for the following key functions:

Farming & Gardening [50%]

• Assist with planting, sowing, weeding, mulching, irrigating, harvesting and seed-saving
• Assist with general maintenance and upkeep of Ox Ed infrastructure and two-acre Kids’ Farm and Living Playground
• Contribute to signage and features of the space, working to ensure the area is engaging and informative for self-guided and guided exploration, and aligned with Oxbow’s master communication and signage plan

Environmental Education & Public Engagement [25%]

• Deliver field trips and environmental education (EE) programming, contribute to program development & enhancement
• Contribute to volunteer trainings
• Collaborate on special projects, programs, and partnerships
• Support development and delivery of EE programming for 2-4 Oxbow Saturdays

Summer Camp [15%]

• Assist in preparing for Oxbow’s 7-sessions of summer camp and act as Summer Camp Instructor for our two weeks of Dig Deeper camp (Ages 11-14)
• Contribute to planning and prep in advance of summer camp sessions
• Plan and lead most day-to-day activities of your summer camp group
• Facilitate games, songs, stories, and activities
• Participate in all-camp activities & farm tasks
• Behavioral management of campers and parent communication
• Work with and give direction to volunteer(s) assigned to your group, or the pre-teens during camp collaboration times
• Set-up and clean-up of daily camp activities

General [10%]

• Ensure Oxbow Education objectives, strategies and messages are aligned with and supportive of Oxbow’s mission and strategic plan
• Work cross-functionally with program teams to ensure efficient and effective communication and operations
• Represent Oxbow in a positive, professional manner, engaging with and educating visitors about Oxbow’s mission and programs
• Perform other duties as needed and assigned by the OxEd Program Manager

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience farming or gardening and/or a strong desire to learn
• Proven knack for working with kids of all ages, primarily youngsters
• Some college or comparable experience in the area of agriculture, sustainability, food systems, education, or environmental studies
• Comfortable speaking in front of large groups
• Able to stay organized while juggling multiple time-sensitive projects, consistent attention to detail
• Able to take direction, ask for help/clarity when necessary, and accept constructive feedback on work and technique
• Clear, consistent communication
• Able to perform work standing, sitting, bending over or kneeling, to lift heavy & awkward objects, up to 50 lbs., to perform physical work such as digging or planting, and to work in inclement weather
• A musical inclination, video- or photo-editing skills, theatrical experience or any other sort of artistic expertise is a plus
• Able to work independently and within a team
• Able to deliver educational programs in Spanish as well as English is a plus

Additional desired qualities include: environmentally conscious, detail oriented, self-motivated, energetic, and professional.

Oxbow Education (OxEd) is part of a larger non-profit organization. A commitment to Oxbow’s overall mission and working as part of a team is critical.

COMPENSATION

This is a seasonal, full-time position, paying $13.50-$15.50 per hour, with some paid time-off and access to food from the fields.

REPORTS TO:  OxEd Program Manager

TO APPLY FOR THE KIDS’ FARM ASSISTANT JOB

Please email a resume, letter of interest, and 3 references to thedirt@oxbow.org

Please write Kids’ Farm Assistant in the email subject line and include where you found this position in the message body.

To see this job posting, and our other open jobs, on our website, click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT

Oxbow is committed to cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusion. We value the individual differences, life experiences, and knowledge that our staff members bring to their work and their communities. Valuing diversity is a significant part of our culture, our values, and the success of Oxbow’s mission.

Oxbow provides equal employment opportunities to all staff members and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Oxbow is committed to fostering a racially diverse team. People of color are encouraged to apply.

 

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org by going to https://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/