Farm Programs Educator - Seasonal

Wolfe's Neck Center•Freeport, ME

2d•$18 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

Wolfe's Neck Center's Public Programs connect thousands of visitors of all ages to our farm and sustainable agriculture each year. Educators will play a role in both formal and informal education, with offerings ranging from answering questions for first-time visitors, sensory explorations in the barn with toddlers, leading workshops in our education kitchen, to working with school groups on field trips. These programs are both free & fee-based, pre-registered and drop in programs, as well as spontaneous barn tours and talks. What is a Farm Programs Educator? Reporting to the Manager of Visitor Education as a part of the Visitor Education and Experience Department, the Farm Programs Educator engages with guests in formal and informal programs across the campus to enhance their experience, while helping keep the public and our livestock safe and happy. This temporary position shifts seasonally: mid-April - May: Programs mostly offered on weekends and evenings, with some field trips during the week. (20-30 hrs) May - September 7th: Peak season - peak field trips leading into regular daily summer programming, including weekends and evenings. (35-40 hrs) September 8th - November 1st: Programs mostly offered on weekends and evenings, with some field trips during the week. (20-30 hrs) With over 30,000 visitors each year, Public Program Educators connect people to farming and our mission. WNC is looking for individuals who are passionate about education with a desire to introduce people of all ages to the farm, our livestock, and the unique ocean ecosystems the farm rests upon. Farm Programs Educators operate multiple programs on any given day, often without direct support and supervision, so candidates must be self-motivated, self-sufficient, and reliable. As with any educational program, situations can change quickly (weather, animal issues, etc.) so educators must be confident, flexible, and not easily flustered by change. Prior farm, livestock, ecology, and fruit & vegetable knowledge is not required, but candidates must be excited about the opportunities to become well versed in our different practices and overall mission.

Requirements

Degree, some higher education, and/or experience equivalent in environmental education, childhood education/development, agriculture, food systems, or related fields
Ability to assist with livestock chores, including egg collecting, milking a goat, hay and manure cleanup, etc.
Motivation and interest to care for our education gardens including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, etc.
Motivation to help develop existing programmatic areas as well as creating new educational programs andopportunities.
Desire to interact with livestock and introduce thousands of people to small-scale agriculture and Wolfe'sNeck Center, all in the variety of weather offered by Maine spring-fall
Ability to be trained to safely operate a tractor pulling a wagon. (Must be 21+)
Ability to manage program registration efficiently and graciously, walk-on participants, questions from thegeneral public, while also helping to collect program data
Experience with Google Suite in order to track data, metrics, and create content where applicable
Legally able to work in the United States (we cannot provide VISA sponsorship)
Successful Completion of a background check
Must be 21+ years of age in order to operate a tractor under Wolfe's Neck Center insurance
Ability to work from the Wolfe's Neck Center campus in Freeport, ME

Responsibilities

Lead and create programs with a wide range of audiences to facilitate a deeper connection to our unique farm and ecosystems
Provide farm guests with accurate information about Wolfe's Neck Center's history, agricultural operations, natural ecosystems, community events, and various programs
Help guests meaningfully and safely engage with various aspects of the farm, including livestock, production fields, and tractor rides
Care for our education spaces and livestock, including the education gardens and the animals in the Wishcamper Education Barn
Working regular evenings and weekends, often as the only onsite education staff member
Assist with field trip programming, from preparation to delivery to clean-up