Elementary Programs Instructor

Dates: March 11th, 2024 — October 30th, 2024

Compensation: $17-19.50/hour, plus potential for $1,000 season completion bonus

Expected hours: 35 hours/week in the spring & fall, 40 hours/week in summer

Location: 530 S 400 E. Moab, UT 84532 

Phone: 435-259-2326

Description: 

Garden-based learning is where education meets your local food system. Join a group of passionate growers and educators to nurture the next generation of empowered eaters and community leaders!

The Youth Garden Project (YGP) is a non-profit organization located in the beautiful red rock country of Moab, UT. Our mission is to “cultivate healthy children, families, and community through educational programs and connecting people with food from seed to table.” The garden is located on 1.5 acres adjacent to the high school and Mill Creek, includes two outdoor classroom spaces, a chicken coop, a historic building which serves as our office, a commercial kitchen, a rabbit enclosure, two greenhouses, over 80 garden beds, and a fruit tree orchard.

We are looking for individuals interested in working as an educator in a hands-on, outdoor setting within a variety of our elementary educational programs. In the spring & fall, we host two after-school programs, lead Garden Classroom field trips, and run a Spring Break camp—all of which will be facilitated primarily by two instructors. During the summer, four instructors collaborate to implement our nine-week Summer Camp program. YGP Summer Camp provides much needed hands-on, high-quality child care for 1st – 6th graders during the summer break.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

SPRING & FALL

• Plan and lead activities for two After-School Programs. 
• Develop and facilitate garden-based activities for Spring Break Camp.
• Teach Garden Classroom Field Trips for all Grand County students (Preschool-6th grades) using YGP’s curriculum. 
• Assist with our once a month Harvest of the Month garden-to-school nutrition education program during school lunches

SUMMER

• Four instructors will work as a cohesive team to run our nine-week Summer Camp program. 
• Instructors will receive an in-depth training prior to leading camp on working with kids of different age groups in an outdoor setting.
• All instructors will plan, organize, and lead Summer Camp with guidance and support from the Youth Programs Director. Daily Summer Camp responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  
• Ensure overall smoothness of the Summer Camp day including safety of campers 
• Prepare materials for activities and snacks 
• Manage groups of children while building relationships/rapport with them 
• Lead two-three activities per day with co-instructors and supervise free play
• Encourage campers to learn, have fun, and connect with the garden 
• Communicate with parents/guardians 
• Assist with creating experiential, fun, and educational activities related to each Summer Camp theme
• Provide positive and constructive feedback to co-workers
• Participate in debriefs with the programs team to provide reflection on day-to-day activities 

Other Youth Program Duties:

• Build relationships with the schools and teachers in addition to families of program attendees
• Utilize Positive Youth Development and restorative principles when engaging with students
• Assist the Youth Programs Teams with implementing teen programs as needed
• Develop & administer program evaluations and interpret data with Youth Programs Director 
• Track numbers and compile other data for reporting & grant writing purposes  
• Empower kids to grow and eat healthy food

Other Expectations: 

• Instructors must be at least 18 at the start of the season. Background check required.
• Instructors will work 35 hours per week on average during the spring/fall (schedule varies) and 40 hours per week on average during the summer (M-Th 8:30am-4:30pm, F 8:30-5:00). The majority of the work day, especially during the summer season, is spent working directly with elementary-aged kids.
• Instructors should expect to be outside the majority of the day, in all-weather types. 
• YGP is involved in a series of local community events and fundraisers that instructors may be required to work during evenings or weekends (Plant Sale, Weed & Feeds, Garden Dinners, Harvest Fest, farm chores, etc.)
• Instructors must be certified in CPR and First Aid; certification opportunity will be provided if applicant is not already certified. 
• Instructors should be a positive and enthusiastic team member throughout each season at the garden. 
• Assist the Farm Team with farm duties, as needed based on season

Professional Development Opportunities: 

• Gain experience teaching elementary-aged students • Build your teaching skill set by leading hands-on science & nutrition lessons • Learn how to use a garden as a teaching tool • Build relationships with students, teachers, summer campers, & families • Write and implement creative lessons & activities • Have opportunities to connect children with gardens, food, & community • Learn about the nonprofit sector, especially about YPG as a nonprofit farm and educational space • And more!

Desired Skills: 

• Responsible and reliable, with strengths in time management, prioritizing and delegating tasks
• Works well independently and in a team setting with an ability to communicate positively and effectively with staff and community members
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for the YGP mission
• Experience working directly with youth, an interest in experiential education, and a desire to work with children
• Problem solver who is flexible and able to improvise
• Hands-on agricultural/gardening experience and general knowledge preferred

Compensation & Other Benefits: 

• $17-19/hour, 35-40 hours/week, varied by season
• Paid vacation, sick, and volunteer time, accrued based on hours worked
• Completion Bonus, paid upon completion of your full contracted term of employment
• Access to farm fresh produce as part of our staff CSA share.
• Option to enroll in small group health insurance plan through Regence (75% of premium company paid)
• Option to enroll in small group dental plan (100% employee paid)
• Option to enroll in 3% matching Simple IRA program after 90 days of employment

Disclaimer: YGP provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.