Hiring: Farm Animal and Garden Specialists

The Farm Education Collaborative has openings for an Animal Specialist and a Garden Specialist at Farm and Garden
Camp. These are 8-week positions at the Hampshire College Farm Center in South Amherst, MA. Camp includes
activities in the children’s garden, hands-on animal care and productive farm work, an intentional focus on growing
the food that we eat, a farm stand for families, and preparing, sharing, and celebrating at the weekly Farm Feast.
Farm and Garden Camp is a program of The Farm Education Collaborative (TFEC). TFEC designs and delivers authentic
agricultural experiences that nurture the connections between families, farms, and food in the Pioneer Valley. Our
programs work to inspire and transform participants’ relationships with food, fiber, and farms.

The Farm Animal and Garden Specialists will:
● Be supervised by TFEC Directors
● Lead and support children ages 4-14 through daily farm chores and animal and gardening activities
● Teach lessons on animal care, fiber crafts, and cooking (grooming, carding, spinning wool, etc.)
● Teach lessons on gardening (planting, maintenance, harvesting, etc.)
● Keep campers and staff safe and engaged while working with animals and in the garden
● Actively engage in other camp activities (games, songs, story time, etc.)
● Prepare and assist with other camp activities as needed, including daily set-up and clean-up
● Model and practice kind and compassionate animal care
● Identify and meet daily needs of camp animals, which include dairy cows, sheep, goats, llama, pigs, Angora
rabbits, and chickens
● Lead afternoon animal activities during camper choice time
● Attend mandatory staff training and weekly staff meetings
The Farm Animal and Garden Specialists are expected to have:
● Passion and energy to work with animals and children in a farm setting
● Experience and confidence handling small and large animals
● Experience gardening and growing food
● Experience planning and leading hands-on children’s activities
● Experience/interest in cooking, fiber crafts, farm animals, and gardening
● A calm disposition, flexibility, creativity, and patience
● Strong communication and organizational skills
● Ability to work both as a team player and independently
● Ability to lift 50 lbs
● Up-to-date certification in standard first aid and CPR by the start of staff training

DATES & COMPENSATION:
● Staff Training: July 3, 5, 6 and 7
● Camp Sessions: July 10 – August 25
● Seasonal position with an hourly wage of $14/hour or depending on experience

HOW TO APPLY:​ Send a cover letter describing your interest in our camp program, your resume, and the names,
email addresses and phone numbers of three references to cara@farmandgardencamp.org. References are
preferably employers who have seen you working with children and/or in agricultural capacities. We begin reviewing
resumes for all positions in January and conduct interviews starting in February until all positions are filled. The Farm
Education Collaborative is an equal opportunity employer.