Garden Specialist

Garden Specialist

The Garden Specialist leads the garden program, including adapting lesson plans and teaching youth the day-to-day operations and maintenance of a teaching garden and promotes healthy lifestyles. Provides instructional programming to connect all aspects of tending gardening, including food preparation, serving, and eating.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Teach engaging garden classes
• Ensure safety of all campers, including setting clear safety expectations, observing and engaging campers while in their care, assessing the appropriateness of camper behaviors, following emergency procedures and all COVID-19 safety protocols.
• Increase participant knowledge of food cycle, interest in growing fresh fruits and vegetables, and willingness to try new fruits and vegetables
• Collaborate with Environmental Education Specialist to integrate nutrition and garden education Camp-wide, as well as leading the effort for Camp compositing program
• Work with Camp's Green Team to ensure that environmental sustainability is included through daily life at Camp Mendocino for both staff and campers.
• Connect garden program to the dining hall by coordinating tastings, leading daily meal discussions with small groups of campers, and working with youth to promote vegetables of the day at meals
• Maintain garden, greenhouse, and equipment
• Foster character development consistent with BGCSF philosophy
• Run activities with youth including but not limited to: wellness activities, team building, outdoor education, hiking, and overnight camping
• Engage campers with a positive attitude.
• Other duties as specified by direct supervisor

Qualifications

Required skills include:

• Experience working with youth in a garden setting
• Extensive experience with plants, gardening and composting
• Gardening experience, including planting, cultivation, harvesting and maintenance of an organic raised bed garden and small greenhouse
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with coworkers, and campers
• Ability to handle difficult or stressful situations in a professional manner
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Preferred skills include:

• Experience working with youth in an overnight camp setting
• Experience working with youth from disadvantaged circumstances
• Background in the green movement

Physical requirements include:

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon employment.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs.
• Must be able to walk on uneven terrain for at least 3 miles.
• Must be able to stand for 8 hours (with breaks).
• Must be able to work in temperatures ranging from 30° to 100°.

Schedule:

• Temporary/Seasonal Summer position.
• Applicants should be available June 7 - August 7, 2023 to work & live on-site at our Camp location in Northern California (Mendocino County).
• Staff members work 40-56 hours/week depending on position with two days off per week. Days off vary per session.

Benefits:

• Onsite lodging is provided for all staff.
• Three cooked meals per day are provided onsite, including on days off (gluten-free, vegan, & vegetarian options).
• Free onsite laundry.
• Employee Assistance Program: In-Person Counseling + 24/7 Confidential Mental Health Support.
• Sick Time.
• Onsite workout facilities.
• Free Wifi access in the staff lounge.
• Free 1-year membership to the American Camp Association.

Pay:

The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and BGCSF needs. At BGCSF, our decisions are based on other factors and dependant on circumstances for each position. Depending on the need and requirement of the position, an individual could be hired at or near the entry level, mid-level or top of the range for their role and compensation. As such, a reasonable estimate for this temporary summer position from June 7 - August 7, 2023, is $2,800.00

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

If you're excited about this opportunity, but your experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyways and attach a cover letter explaining why it would be a good fit. You may just be the right candidate!