Ranch & Homestead Experiential Educator

Service Site: Guidestone Colorado – Salida, CO

Address: 1435 Holman Ave, Salida, CO 81201

Site Supervisor’s Name: Emma Lietz Bilecky

Slot Type: Half Term                         Minimum # of hours to complete term: 900

Start Date: May 20th                                       End Date: October 31st

Program Overview

Localizing our food system is one of the most impactful and actionable steps we can take to solve so many of our global problems, Across the central Rocky Mountains and southwestern Colorado, AmeriCorps service with Mountain Roots Healthy Futures Program builds social, economic, and environmental health for rural communities.  We work with ten organizations throughout the region who are leaders in their fields, activating community-driven initiatives including Farm to School, Regenerative Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Community Food Security), and other programs in public health, conservation, and the environment. Join us for anywhere from one season to up to two years of mentored service, where you’ll build a bridge from college to career while building and sustaining healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment.

Organization Overview

Guidestone is a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization whose mission is growing a vibrant agricultural future through education, community building and partnerships. Guidestone has four cornerstone programs that help meet this mission: Farmhands Education Programs, the Farm to School Program, Colorado Land Link, and the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center. Guidestone serves farmers, educators, youth, and the community by providing farm-based education programs and supporting and growing the capacity of agricultural resources to help ensure a secure agricultural future.

Service Description

The Ranch & Homestead Experiential Educator will run education programs at the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center and is a good fit for an individual who is passionate about working with youth, supporting local agriculture, ranching, agricultural history, traditional arts and experiential education, and building connections in the community. The position offers space for a member’s creativity, through opportunities to help with agriculture-focused programs and incorporate arts and hands-on traditional skills into the ranching curriculum. The position is focused on pioneer, homestead, and ranching education and includes exposure to fundraising, marketing, and farm and ranch production.

Guidestone operates the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center with the vision of bringing the story of the land and history to life through events, programs, and community celebrations to create a dynamic living, historical, and cultural interpretation and agriculture education center that bridges the past to the future of agriculture in our community. The Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center provides a home base for Guidestone operations, is a primary site for Farmhands Youth Education Programs and will continue to grow to support community events and agritourism opportunities in the Upper Arkansas Region.

AmeriCorps Member Primary Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Support in all aspects of summer program planning and implementation.
• Support the development and implementation of Little Spurs and fall after-school programs.
• Support school field trip programming.
• Assist with the development of teaching and interpretation materials.
• Ensure a safe, effective and positive learning environment, and empower students to connect to the land and learn about history, traditional arts and agriculture.
• Provide tours and visitor center support when open to the public.
• Assist with the development and implementation of community events, including Pumpkin Patch, Music at the Mill, and other events at the Hutchinson Homestead and Hutchinson Ranch.
• Support production activities at the Community & School Farm in the fall and as needed on an emergency basis.
• Support farm events and adult education, such as plant sales, open houses and the High Altitude Gardening Series.

Location and Service Conditions:

This position is based at 1435 Holman Ave, Salida, CO 81201and will involve service at Hutchinson Homestead 8913 US-50, Salida, CO 81201. Position will involve frequent days of service outdoors and/or in a school or community building.

Qualifications:

• Passionate, patient, flexible, intelligent, creative, kind, caring, self-motivated team players
• Feel strongly about the importance of connecting people to the source of their food for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and the larger world.
• Experience working with youth ages 5-12, especially in non-traditional education, or environmental education settings
• Background or experience working on a farm doing sustainable agriculture, local food systems, and health/nutrition.
• Strong professional communication skills.
• Computer skills.
• Clean driving record.

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications:

• At least 17 years old at start of service
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during the term of service. Members must obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202

Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Program Benefits

• $9,680.00. Living Allowance – AmeriCorps Member(s) will receive total stipend paid bi-weekly at $806.67 over the course of the term.
• $3,447.50 Education Award / Tuition Assistance – AmeriCorps Member(s) can receive an Education Award upon successful completion of service. This can be used to pay back student loans, or to further your education.
• Eligible AmeriCorps Members can receive childcare assistance.
• All Members receive professional development and training, plus covered travel costs for attendance at state or regional conferences.
• All members may be eligible for Federal program assistance (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)
• All members may qualify for student loan forbearance (postponing the payment of loans) while in service.
• Alumni benefits may include priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers of National Service and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate educational debt.