Lead Counselor/Educator

Seeds of Peace Camp; Albion (ME); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Room and board included

Competitive salary for those not needing accommodation

Excellent internship opportunity

Job summary

A local summer educational camp in Albion, ME is seeking enthusiastic educators to teach sustainable agriculture and environmental lessons to campers aged 5-13. Candidates should excel in communication and teamwork while fostering a safe and fun learning environment. This role offers an excellent internship opportunity with room and board included. The camp runs from June 8th to August 7th, with a commitment to hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Qualifications

• Candidate must be patient, fun-loving, and confident in their ability to assist campers.
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds.
• Willingness to get dirty and work with farm animals.
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds.
• Nice to have knowledge in sustainable farming or environment education.

Responsibilities

• Plan and co-teach outdoor farm/environmental activities.
• Participate in daily farm chores with campers.
• Role model healthy living and positive energy.
• Participate in staff trainings, meetings and maintenance duties; report to Camp Director daily.

Skills

Experience working with children ages 5-13

Excellent communication skills

Team player

Creative and enthusiastic

Knowledge in sustainable farming/gardening

First Aid and CPR certification

Education

High school degree or equivalent

Completed 1st year of college or alternative program/experience

Job description

Hart-to-Hart Farm Day Camp is seeking qualified individuals to teach sustainable agriculture &/or environmental lessons utilizing our gardens, farm, fields, forest and ponds. Educators/counselors collaborate to inspire and engage campers’ ages 5 – 13 to build a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world on an organic farm. Campers participate in farm chores, gardening, cooking as well as a wide range of environmental and agricultural activities. Highlight: each camper adopting special farm animal. Goal: have fun while making a difference in the lives of young people through inquiry-based learning.

Site Description: Located on a 285-acre organic dairy. Site includes historic barn, out buildings for chickens, goats, sheep, horses, rabbits, and a free stall barn which is home to 130 dairy cows. Scenic pastures, organic gardens and orchard, ponds, wetlands, forest, and farm provide an idea camp setting to explore

Responsibilities:

• Plan and co-teach a range of outdoor farm/ environmental activities through “hands‑on”, inquiry‑based learning. Topics include but not limited to animal care and feeding, gardening, sustainability, insects, birds, soil science, freshwater ecology, wetland ecology, forest ecology, art, cooking. Topics taught through exploration, games, art, songs, and stories.
• Set up and clean up all supplies and equipment. Day starts at 7:00 am and ends when prep work finished for the next day. Some weekend prep work may be required.
• Role model healthy living, positive energy, clear communication, and good stewardship of the environment.
• Participate in daily farm chores with campers
• One overnight outing with campers attending Farm Extravaganza.
• Participate in 1 family program & school field trips.
• Participate in staff trainings, weekly staff meetings, community chores and miscellaneous maintenance duties to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the camp.
• Implement all camp policies, rules and regulations
• Provide first aid to campers according to camp policy
• Reset and clean camp space, bathrooms, and kitchen as a team at the end of each day and session
• Supervise JCIT who are assigned to your group
• Communicate and report to the Camp Director daily updates and any concerns regarding the camp or campers.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with children ages 5 -13 years of age.
• Candidate must be patient, fun-loving, creative, enthusiastic, and confident in ability to motivate and assist campers in learning new knowledge and skills while creating a safe environment.
• Excellent multitasker, team player, with a genuine passion for working with and empowering young people.
• Excellent communication skills, a good sense of humor, self‑motivated and strong work ethic.
• A willingness to get dirty, hike, work with farm animals and dig in the garden
• Knowledge in sustainable farming / gardening and/or environment education (strengths can be in one or the other – animal husbandry a bonus)
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds
• First Aid and CPR certification
• 18 years of age, has a high school degree or equivalent; priority given to those who completed 1st year of college or alternative program / experience

Date: June 8th – August 7th (9 weeks, includes 1 week mandatory staff training)

Compensation: Bi weekly pay period. Room & board included (additional compensation possible based on education and experience) - Option to leave at last week of camp if returning to school – Excellent internship opportunity

Note: Individuals not needing room & board will be offered a competitive salary

To Apply: Send cover letter, current resume and application for employment (found on web site https://hart2hartfarm.org/summer-camp-job-opportunity/) to Linda Hartkopf, Director, Hart-to-Hart Farm & Education Center, 16 Duck Pond Land, Albion, ME 04910 or email to [e-mail]