UGC Farm Education Internship

Position Summary

To be considered for this role, candidates must submit a resume and a cover letter.

*Applicants seeking an internship role for school credit must indicate this in their cover letter.

Urban Growers Collective seeks a passionate and hard working individual for an introductory and experiential “Farm Education Internship”. Interns learn essential farming skills onsite at UGC’s 9 unique farms where they collaborate and contribute to real-time projects and priorities led by UGC’s farm team. Education interns gain a foundational understanding of UGC’s farming practices, and then learn how to transmit those skills within the Summer Teen Program to our youth audiences. Interns gain a hands-on understanding of farming, and how farm priorities are intertwined in youth education programs.

This internship is designed to reflect the realities of farming in urban spaces, at an intensive level of production, and foster hands-on experience in an outdoor teaching program. To complement the experiential component of the internship and foster spaces for mentorship, Interns are required to participate in weekly skills workshops and attend weekly cohort check-ins. At the close of the internship, individual interns are expected to complete a reflection project to summarize their experience.

Applicants who are over the age of 18, interested in pursuing a career in agriculture and/or education, have a demonstrable interest in building local food systems, and learning farm work are encouraged to apply.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Attendance at required trainings and cohort meetings;

• Observe, support, and eventually facilitate (at least 1-2 lessons) within UGC’s Summer Teen Program.

• Train alongside UGC’s Education Department staff to build repertoire of skills in conflict management, restorative conversations, curriculum design & delivery;

• Support field trips and workshop delivery within the teen program

• Build-out and maintenance of farm sites including bed building, seeding, planting, and tending and irrigating crops;

• Daily use and safe-handling of farm equipment including wheelbarrows, tools and hand-tools;

• Harvesting and post-harvest handling and record keeping of crops for sale and distribution;

• Introductory to pest management including hand-picking, maintaining row cover;

• Introductory compost management;

• Introduction to the maintenance of hoop-houses and additional infrastructure on farm sites;

• Assisting with sales, load-in and out of produce at farmers’ markets, CSA Program, and the Fresh Moves Mobile Market

• Support daily reporting with UGC staff members;

• Complete a final project to summarize the intern experience, overall learning, and growth in the program.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Applicant must be between the ages of 18-26

• Successful completion of a background check, completion of a Mandated Reporter Training, and completion of First Aid/CPR training

• Basic familiarity with Google Workspace & GSuite, and/or willingness to learn

• Experience and knowledge of food systems and organic sustainable farming;

• Excellent organizational, communication and follow-through skills;

• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries in working with co-workers, program participants, community members, and partners;

• Ability to think critically and creatively;

• Willingness to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment, but have the ability to work unsupervised to complete the job;

• Must be able to lift 50-75 pounds; and most importantly a

• Passion for food justice and urban farming.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions:

• Must be willing and prepared to work outdoors in all weather conditions (hot, humid, rainy, cool);

• Position will require frequent walking, standing and lifting;

• Position will require a high level of engagement with staff, partners, youth, and community members.

Schedule:

• The Summer internship runs June 1st - August 14th for a total of 11 weeks.

• This is a full time position, 40 hours per week.

• Hours:

  • 8:30AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday

  • Occasional evening hours will be required to participate in farm and community events.

• Interns are primarily assigned to UGC’s South Chicago Farm (9001 S Mackinaw ave. Chicago, IL 60617)

Compensation:

• $6,500 stipend, disbursed every 2 weeks

  • Full payment of the stipend is dependent upon completion of attendance requirements.