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Growing Gardens is a human services and youth development organization based in Boulder, Colorado. Growing Gardens’ mission is to enrich the lives of Boulder County residents through environmentally sustainable gardening programs that empower people to experience a direct and deep connection with plants, the land and each other.
The Environmental Education Instructor will work in each of the following four programs:
The Children’s Peace Garden Program teaches children environmental stewardship, nutrition education, respect for diversity, and creative self expression to nurture a healthy, happy and well balanced child. Over 3,000 diverse children from 4-10 years of age, through experiential hands-on activities, will learn about local organic gardening practices, the garden as the source of food one eats and how to prepare simple, nutritious food from the garden. Children will develop a sense of community with others as well as the environment through the process of gardening and explore new ideas about the importance of biodiversity in the garden and diversity in one’s community.
The Horticulture Therapy Program of Growing Gardens is dedicated to connecting all persons who participate to the healing qualities of connecting with the Earth through gardening, harvesting and preparation of healthy foods of the garden, connection through study of insects and pollination and nature crafts. Our participants are primarily persons with special needs and elders but we welcome all in the community.
The Cultiva! Youth Project involves teenagers in organic gardening as a means to teach diverse youth sustainable agriculture, leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills. Cultiva! youth manage a one-acre organic garden and 18 bee colonies, learn to grow, prepare and eat nutritious food, and in the process create physical activities for better overall health. They broaden their social horizons by interacting with adults and their peers with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and serve as role models by teaching children in the Children’s Peace Garden. The youth market and sell their fresh produce and bee products at the Farmers Market and give back to their community by donating a portion of what they grow to those in need and participating in youth implemented community service activities.
Growing Gardens currently manages nine community gardens located throughout Boulder County. Our goal is to bring people together and provide the opportunity to grow fresh vegetables on individual plots. Community gardens create healthy and strong communities, enhance neighborhoods and bring families closer to nature. They can help gardeners lower their grocery store bills and increase their vegetable consumption, often learning about new foods along the way. Gardening increases physical activity and teaches valuable life skills such as discipline, patience, leadership and responsibility.
Environmental Education Instructor Duties
Instructing Field Trips, After School Garden Clubs, Classroom Visits and Summer Camps
- Work closely with the Program Coordinator to teach in the following four programs: The Children’s Peace Garden, Horticultural Therapy, Cultiva Youth Project and The Community Gardens.
- Teach the following gardening skills during one day field trips to the garden site and visits to local schools:
- Community
- Plants and Planting
- Insects and Pollination
- Composting
- Harvesting and Eating
- Manage field trips, classroom visits, after school garden club and summer camp and volunteer activities independently once trained in all curriculums.
- Document activities through photography for reports, grant proposals and marketing.
- Assist with set up, class activity and break down or clean up.
- Assist with development of workshops for adults involved in Community Garden Program.
- Work with the Cultiva teens during summer programming working as a mentor in developing workshops for teens to present to their peers.
- Assist with development of training day in the Children’s Peace Garden for ¡Cultiva! teens who will be teaching during summer camps.
- Mentor ¡Cultiva! teens participants who will assist with developing summer camp activities.
Community Outreach
- Assist with marketing for programming
- Train volunteers to be able to teach in the garden
- Interact with the public during community outreach events
- Assist with Community Garden orientations and classes
Event Planning
- Assist with Plant sales in spring
- Assist with summer harvest dinner
- Assist in Children’s Peace Garden Green Builders Guild Event in June
Knowledge and Skills the Intern May Acquire:
- Teaching gardening skills and topics to a wide range of populations
- Public speaking and presentation experience
- Conflict resolution and communication skills
- Volunteer management
Structure of Internship
- Internship duration is May 15 – August 15, 2012
- Intern position is 30 hours per week.
- Orientation meeting with all GG interns, mentor, intern supervisor and additional GG staff.
- Intern will be working closely with a Mentor from Growing Gardens’ staff who will oversee all daily activities.
- Interns will meet with GG mentor every other week for the duration of the contract.
- Interns will meet with GG supervisor every other month for the duration of the contract.
- Interns will report at Staff Meetings once per month – 3 total.
- Interns will have the opportunity to shadow all GG staff to learn about each program.
Learning Objectives Contract – Developed by second week of internship. This includes: position description, educational objectives, learning activities and skill development.
Evaluation – A midpoint evaluation and end of internship evaluation will include intern self evaluation, supervisor and mentor evaluation.
Benefits of Interning with Growing Gardens
- Hands-on experience making a positive impact in the lives of children, teens and adults
- Friendly, relaxed environment
- Good experience; develops marketable teaching and group leading skills
- Classroom training offered through Growing Gardens classes
- Access to a wide variety of organic seeds and plant starts
- Share of vegetable production as garden permits
- Garden is located with easy access to public transportation
- Stipend of $625 awarded at completion of internship
We are looking for someone who enjoys working with children, teens and adults. Basic experience in gardening is required. The intern should enjoy working outside and be able to serve as a mature, healthy role model for children and teens. Our staff and youth enjoy their time together in the garden and we’d love for someone with a sense of humor to join us while we have fun and do good work.
To apply:
Send completed application and updated resume to Annie Sweeney at annie@growinggardens.org.
Download application form