The Youth Garden Project (YGP) is a non-profit organization in Moab, Utah with a mission of cultivating children, families and community through educational programs and the profound act of connecting people with food from seed to table.  Our 2 acres of land includes 64 garden beds, a CSA plot, an orchard, a greenhouse and grow dome, chickens and rabbits, a commercial kitchen, indoor classroom space and several unique outdoor classroom areas. 

YGP offers both school-based and out-of-school programs for youth using the garden as a teaching tool and incorporates interdisciplinary lessons into programs for all ages. Produce is grown using organic methods and then sold at the Moab Farmers’ Market, to local restaurants, to the natural food store and used in our programs.  Learning opportunities are available to everyone including youth of all ages, interns, volunteers and adult community members.  

Currently, the Youth Garden Project is seeking interns for our Summer/Fall sessions. We have internships that are involved with our youth programs as well as with just the garden itself. Please read the positions below and get a hold of us if you feel like our internship are right for you!

Garden Internship:

Internship Dates:

May 28, 2013 – November 15, 2013

Number of Open Positions: 2

App Deadline: Open until filled

Minimum Age Requirement: 21

Internship Details: Interns will be expected to make at least a 6-month commitment.  Interns will work 40-hours a week on average with occasional exceptions due to special events.  Internship duties will include the following:

·         Bed prep

·         Seed Saving

·         Learn about irrigation system

·         Plant fall crops

·         Harvest and process fruits/vegetables

·         Garlic harvest & braiding

·         Composting

·         Pest control

·         Use of hoophouse and greenhouse for season extension

·         Work Farmers’ Markets, Weed-n-Feeds, & Garden Dinners

·         Work special events as needed

·         Occasional work with programs to incorporate children into the garden

·         CSA program

·         Animal care (chickens, cats, rabbits)

·         Can and preserve fruits/vegetables

·         Deadhead plants

·         Winterize garden & animals

·         Overwinter crops

·         Assist with Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival fall fundraiser

 

Skills Desired:  No previous gardening experience is necessary, but we expect interns to be able and willing to work hard, and possess a strong desire to learn.  We are looking for individuals interested in learning not only how to grow food organically, but also the process of taking food from seed to table. 

 

Education Opportunities: The Youth Garden Project focuses on learning-by-doing as well as the possibility of self-directed learning opportunities. In addition to growing, harvesting and working the local farmers’ market, interns will also be given the opportunity to learn how to preserve garden produce.  We have an on-site commercial kitchen which allows us to prepare and then sell our value-added canned goods.  Our garden also provides a small number of CSA shares to the Moab community. As part of their work here, interns will have the opportunity to learn and assist with the operation of a production garden.  Interns will also have their own garden space allowing them to put into practice the skills they acquire while working at the Youth Garden Project.

 

Meals & Stipend: The interns will have an allocated garden space as well as access to garden resources enabling them to grow a portion of their own food. YGP will not provide meals on a daily basis, though the interns will have opportunities to participate in YGP events like Weed-N-Feeds and Garden Dinners. Each intern will receive a stipend of $250/month.

Housing: We will provide shared housing.  Security deposit required.

TO APPLY e-mail an attached resume to Jess Oldham at jess(at)youthgardenproject.org

Program Instructor Internship: Summer/Fall Session

Internship Starts: May 28

Internship Ends:  November 15

Number of Positions: 2

Minimum Age Requirement: 21

App Deadline: open until filled

Internship Description:

We are looking for an individual that is interested in working as an educator with children in a hands-on, outdoor setting our 9 Week Summer Camp Program during the summer months and within our Garden Classroom and After School programs in the Fall. The Summer Camp is taught by four Program Instructor Interns. Interns facilitate our 9 week summer program and design and implement the lesson plans for summer camp, with guidance from the Program Coordinator, that include garden-based themes and activities. Fall garden classrooms typically occur through the entire months of September and October and will be taught primarily by 2 instructor interns with aid from the Program Coordinator.

Internship Details:

Summer

·         Interns will receive a thorough Summer Camp Programs Training and time to prepare lessons

·         Four Interns will work together as a cohesive team to facilitate the summer camp day and teach and connect with kids.

·         Plan, organize, and lead the nine week summer camp program with help and guidance from the Program Coordinator. Daily Summer Camp responsibilities:

o   Ensure overall smoothness of the summer camp day including safety of campers

o   Manage children

o   Teach activities alongside co-instructors

o   Build relationships/rapport with the youth that attend

o   Help students learn and connect to the garden

o   Prepare materials for activities and snacks

o   Communicate with parents/guardians regarding campers’ behavior, activities, etc.

o   Enforce YGP discipline policies with summer campers

·         Each intern will take the lead in instruction and development of a quarter of the summer camp weeks.

o   Develop hands on, fun, and educational activities related to each summer camp theme.

o   Exercise creativity in connecting kids to the garden within activities and themes.

o   Create and submit detailed lesson plans for each day’s activities prior to the summer camp program beginning (planning time will be provided pre-summer camp and mid-summer).

o   Be able to share with co-instructors your detailed plans for each week and your expectations of them.

o   Coach others on how to facilitate your planned activities.

o   Provide positive and constructive feedback to co-workers.

Fall

·         Intern will help to facilitate the After School Program and will be in charge of coming up with activities for students for at least one of its two weekly programs.

·          Intern will teach 90 minute classes K-6 in the Garden correlating with Utah core curriculum standards from lesson plans that are already designed.

·         Interns may have the opportunity to work on building and developing existing lesson plans.

·         Interns will receive a Garden Classroom training and be given ample time to prepare for teaching lessons, ask questions, and review details with the Program Coordinator. Interns will also be able to observe teaching of the Garden Classrooms.

·         During a Garden Classroom, each intern will teach approximately 13 students (half of a class).

Other

·         Interns should expect to be outside the majority of the day.

·         Interns will get involved with connecting Moab’s youth to food, the garden, and the community!

·          Interns will have the opportunity to build a strong team

·          Interns will be given a small space to garden to use as a supplemental food supply and learning experience. The Youth Garden Project will provide seeds, starts, tools, irrigation, etc.

·         Intern should expect to work 35 hours per week during the spring, and 45 hours per week during the summer (Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm)

·         The Youth Garden Project is involved in a series of local community events and fundraisers that interns may be required to work or attend.

·         Interns will assist with YGP’s fall Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival fundraiser

·         Interns will be certified in CPR and First Aid (certification opportunity will be provided if applicant is not already certified)

·         Interns are expected to be a positive, enthusiastic team member throughout the duration of the internship.

Skills Desired:

Intern must be responsible; reliable; have good management, personal, and organizational skills; enthusiasm, and an interest in experiential education. Intern should be a strong team player with a positive attitude and a problem solver who is flexible and able to improvise. Intern must have an open mind and willingness to be involved with the Youth Garden Project beyond its programs at times and work either in the garden or at special events. Experience in teaching/managing children or a background in education is required.

Educational Opportunities: • Gain experience teaching elementary-aged students • Build experience teaching hands-on science • Learn about how a garden can be used as a teaching tool • Build relationships with students and teachers, summer campers and families • Gain experience writing and implementing creative lessons and activities that connect kids to the garden• Learn what it’s like to connect children with gardens, food, and community • Community event involvement • And more!

Meals & Stipend: The interns will have an allocated garden space as well as access to garden resources enabling them to grow a portion of their own food. YGP will not provide meals on a daily basis, though the interns will have opportunities to participate in YGP events like Weed-N-Feeds and Garden Dinners. Each intern will receive a stipend of $250/month.

Housing: We will provide shared housing.  Security deposit required.

TO APPLY send an attached resume to Kaitlin at kaitlin(at)youthgardenproject.org