YMCA Camp St. Croix in Hudson is seeking a Farm Coordinator who is relationship-driven, community-minded, and hard-working. This is a full-time, year-round role. The Farm Coordinator will report to the Farm Director and be responsible for farm events, as well as maintaining farm and high tunnel crop schedules by leading and working with volunteers of all ages, both in small and large groups. The Farm Coordinator will also work with the farm animals (poultry and small livestock), maintaining animal health year-round through pasture rotations and life cycles. An enthusiastic applicant with a background in farm maintenance and tractor and implement operation is preferred.
The salary for this position starts at $21.00 hourly. We take into consideration an individual’s background and experience in determining salary; therefore, base pay offered may vary considerably depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The compensation package includes a wide range of other benefits and earned time off that vary depending on part-time or full-time status.
1. Job Summary:
The Camp Program Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the camp in the program season. The incumbent assists with the development of quality programs in all camp areas. The incumbent is also responsible for various administrative tasks, which may include ordering supplies, coordinating schedules, and completing all necessary reports.
See Addendum for additional information
2. Essential Functions:
- Assist the Camp Director in overseeing the daily activities, general camp operations, and programs to ensure a quality camp during the season of programming.
- Coordinate quality and safety before and after care at all sites. Assist in the development of programming and with hiring and handling staffing.
- Work with special events, promotions, and any other special needs as they arise.
- Ensure that all program area schedules are completed satisfactorily in a timely manner.
- Ensure the maintenance of accurate program and administrative records.
- Ensure that the site is kept clean, organized, and free of litter.
- Be responsible for knowing, understanding, training, and executing all camp policies and emergency procedures associated with the camp.
- Assist in mid-summer and post-summer evaluations with the Camp Program Director.
- Be a leader in parent communication and address parent concerns in a timely manner. Seek the help of the Camp Program Director when necessary.
- Assist with the various administrative tasks necessary for camp to run efficiently.
- See camp specific addendum for program details.
3. Relationships:
This position reports to the Camp Director who reports to Branch/Camp Sr. Program Director/Executive. The incumbent interacts regularly with camp staff, campers, and parents. This position involves interaction with camp staff, campers and parents from a diverse background.
4. Qualifications:
Required:
- Adult and Pediatric First Aid & CPR/AED provided by YMCA or other certified organization (may be obtained upon hire but must be completed before an employee supervises youth).
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in camp, youth programs, recreation, working with children, or in a related field.
- Demonstrated knowledge of practices, procedures, activities, and programs as they relate to youth/child camping.
- Strong interpersonal communication skills.
See Addendum for additional information
6. Work Conditions:
- Must be capable of carrying loads of up to 50 pounds and able to traverse hilly and uneven terrain without undue exertion.
- May work at heights up to 30 feet for extended periods of time if applicable.
- Work in conditions that will create dirt and dust.
- Perform essential program support to camp activities and programs which may include, but not limited to the following activities: semi – reaching to full-reach overhead, crouching, kneeling, shoveling, working in narrow and/or confining spaces underground, overhead, and at ground level, twisting of the waist, shoulders, and legs, and lying on stomach and/or back.
- Ability to work with a computer for a prolonged period of time.
See Addendum for additional information
7. Additional Notes:
This job description represents the major functions of the position but is not intended to be all-inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for taking direction from the Camp Program Director or their representatives in completing projects or performing duties deemed necessary for the Branch or Association success.
Addendum: Farm Program Coordinator
YMCA Camp St. Croix has been providing exceptional outdoor program experiences since 1909. For more than 100 years, and on over 400 acres along the St. Croix Riverway, Camp St. Croix has established a tradition of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility in all year-round programs. Just 20 minutes east of the Twin Cities, Camp St. Croix provides a convenient location for kids and adults alike to enjoy quality programming in a beautiful, natural setting.
The Farm at Camp St. Croix consists of the High Tunnels, Discovery Garden, and Educational Barn, rotationally grazing sheep, pastured poultry, and year-round laying chickens. These pieces make this farm the first nearly year-round educational farm in the St. Croix Valley. We work hard to bring participants, families, and the community together through education in small farming, cooking and eating what we grow. This sparks a shared interest in growing and cooking healthy food. We strive to do these things in a way that is sustainable for the environment and our bodies, as well as reproducible at home.
Qualifications/ Requirements:
- A background in high tunnel farming, or Horticulture, Agriculture, Horticultural or Agricultural Education, Sustainability and Natural Resources, Environmental Education, STEM, or Youth Development**
- Demonstrate ability to work with, and be welcoming to, people of all ages, abilities, and cultures
- Ability to stand and walk for up to six hours outdoors, be prepared for exposure to a variety of weather conditions, and be able to complete responsibilities in those conditions
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- An inherent desire to do life-changing work, while listening carefully to others, patiently serving, and being open and kind
- Skill sets: We are seeking a community minded, relationship builder who can run large events. A friend maker, teacher, farmer, and hard worker, who can handle working in warmer temps, and is not afraid of learning maintenance skills and driving the tractor.
Farm Coordinator Responsibilities:
Coordinate and Run Farm Events
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Pizza nights; The Farm Coordinator will handle all communication and event preparation, advertising, and running events
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Harvest Fest; Lead community board through all event planning, catch remaining details, handle all aspects, and run event
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Weddings; Incumbent will work closely with Farm Program Director, OLP Program Coordinator, and Senior Events Coordinator to have farm ready for events, train hosts, advertise for future bookings
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Events on the farm; brainstorm, advertise for rental.
Lead volunteers and volunteer groups on site at the Farm
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Lead large group volunteer workdays: Farm director will schedule them and have projects for them, the coordinator just need to lead the group day of and create a welcoming atmosphere.
- Lead weekly volunteer groups: Farm director will schedule them and have projects for them, the coordinator needs to lead the group day of and create a welcoming atmosphere. T
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Lead one or two camper groups weekly during summer camp: Overnight Farm and Garden camps, high tunnel groups from DayCroix, or farm groups in the Fall/Winter/Spring: homeschool groups, or public school groups.
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Teach at Little Seeds Nature Preschool for nine hours a week during the school year.
High Tunnel and Garden Crop Care
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Care for plants and meet weekly distributions and harvest dates: The Farm Director will be managing and supervising all this, the Farm Coordinator will help meet the deadlines
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Help to maintain the planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting aspects of the high tunnels and field according to set schedules. (two, 30’ x 72’ high tunnels, and twelve 30”x50’ outdoor rows.)
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It is important that the incumbent adheres to high aesthetic standards in the space
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Understand the value and quality of organic produce and handle it appropriately pre and post-harvest
Animal Care
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An animal lead will be hired in the summer, but the farm coordinator will have the “big picture” year-round animal focus
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Care for animals' year round
o Chicken incubation
o Chicken butchering
o Goat winter care
o Goat summer buckthorn care
o Initiate animal program growth
Consider sheep year-round, revenue attached to this, programming, etc
Consider bee program, revenue attached to this, programming, etc
Farm maintenance: Tractor operation, mowing, fixing, driving for the farm.
