Full Season Education Apprenticeship

~ Located on 65 scenic acres in the Hudson Valley of New York State, Phillies Bridge Farm Project is a working farm that connects people to their food and the land by running education programs, growing food for the community, and sharing part of the harvest with people in need. ~

Position Overview

Full season education apprentices receive hands-on educational experience on our working educational farm. Programs include school field trips, summer day camp, parent-toddler classes, cooking programs for low-income families, and educational birthday parties.

Education apprentices must be prepared to work long active days outdoors with children. Apprentices typically work 40-45 hours a week. The average schedule is 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, with some evening and weekend hours. Apprentices are part of a rotating animal chore schedule which requires some night and weekend responsibilities. This position runs from mid-April through late October. 

Responsibilities  

• Additional apprenticeship duties include maintaining education vegetables gardens, caring for the farm animals, and assisting at other public events and fundraisers.
• Apprentices lead small groups of children and adults in hands-on activities developed to demonstrate and celebrate the cycles of nature that produce our food.
• Activities include: planting, harvesting, cooking, creating a child-run farmer's market, composting, arts and crafts, farm history, caring for farm animals, nature trail hikes, cooperative games, music, and storytelling.
• Apprentices are also responsible for assisting with the set-up and clean-up of all programs.
• While there is an established education curriculum in place, there are opportunities to develop new activities based on the apprentices' interests and skills.

Qualifications   

Desired Qualifications: 

• Past gardening or farming experience;
• Experience working with children;
• Creative, hard-working, responsible, self-motivated, conscientious;
• Passion for nature and sustainable agriculture;
• Comfortable cooking and eating a wide range of farm fresh vegetables;
• Positive attitude and a cooperative work ethic;
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends;
• Willingness to work long hours and to perform physically demanding outdoor tasks in all weather (hot, cold, humid, rainy);
• Comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people;
• The ability to work quickly and efficiently, and to stay focused on the job at hand; and
• Musical, artistic, or carpentry skills a big plus! 

Compensation: Education apprentices receive a weekly stipend of $200, on-site housing, and produce from the farm.

Additional Educational Benefits: 

• Phillies Bridge Farm Project participates in the Mid Hudson Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) program, through which apprentices have the opportunity to attend weekly meetings at various local farms.
• Each meeting includes a farm tour and a lesson around a specific topic (i.e., irrigation, season extension, compost, no-till farming).
• Apprentices may also attend any of the adult workshops offered by Phillies Bridge Farm Project free of charge. 

To Apply

Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to email your cover letter, resume, and three references. Please type "Full Season Education Apprenticeship" into the subject line.