Outdoor Educator Intern

Position Description: Outdoor Educator Intern 

Position:  Outdoor Educator Intern 

Hours:   9:00am – 3:00pm 

Choose 1 or 2 weekday(s) Monday – Thursday 

• Monday:  support seasonal cooking with campers 
• Tuesday: support farming with campers 
• Wednesday: support seasonal cooking with campers 
• Thursday: support farming with campers 

Timeline:  June 9th – August 15th 

Reports to:  Education Managers 

About Coastal Roots Farm 

Coastal Roots Farm (CRF) is a nonprofit Jewish community farm and education center. We cultivate healthy, connected communities by integrating sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom.?We share organic produce with those who need it most and connect people to compelling Jewish ideas and traditions through farming and food.  

The Farm’s “cradle-to-career” curriculum provides participants with hands-on, real-world exposure to climate education, environmental science, nutrition, and workforce development. At Coastal Roots Farm, we believe in equitable access to environmental education and learning in green spaces, so nobody is turned away for inability to pay with scholarships for all programs available on a sliding scale.  

Coastal Roots Farm is located in Encinitas, CA on approximately 17 acres of land which we recognize as indigenous to the Kumeyaay and Luiseño peoples.   

Outdoor Educator Intern Position Overview 

Outdoor Educator Interns will work closely with the Education Department to support the Summer Farm Camp program. Throughout the internship, interns will gain hands-on experience with a variety of farming and/or seasonal cooking skills. Interns will be assigned to co-lead “farmers-in-training" (campers) in either seasonal cooking on Mondays/Wednesdays or farming on Tuesdays/Thursdays.  Interns will also develop outdoor education skills, including group management skills, facilitating student-led learning, developing hands-on activities, differentiating experiences for diverse ages, and fostering relationships with “farmers-in-training". 

Interns will: 

• Support and co-facilitate daily farm chores and/or cooking sessions with “farmers-in-training" (campers) ages 3-11 years old.  
• Learn basic cooking skills such as outdoor kitchen set-up & clean-up, food safety, knife skills, seasonal cooking, harvesting, sautéing, baking, etc. (Monday/Wednesday interns only)  
• Learn basic farm skills such as planting, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, insect scouting, fixing and maintaining irrigation, field preparation, trellising, etc. (Tuesday/Thursday interns only) 
• Help maintain the Education Farm and Garden and/or Coastal Kitchen which are the venues for all Farm programming.  
• Ensure safety when “farmers-in-training" are interacting with farm spaces.  
• Attend regular Farm team meetings as appropriate. 

Interns are eligible for a Coastal Roots Farm certificate upon completion of 36 hours of service. Interns may also complete credits through Coastal Roots Farm pending approval from associated schools and universities. 

Qualifications and Experiences 

• Enjoys working with youth ages 3 and up and their families. 
• Comfortable with being outside in all weather conditions 
• Interest in regenerative farming practices and/or Jewish values/traditions 
• Customer and service-oriented 
• Eager learner, flexible with assignments, and willing to jump into unfamiliar tasks 
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and see projects through to completion 
• Strong interpersonal and relationship development skills 
• Comfortable using a computer 
• Pursuing a certificate, degree, or career in related field (i.e. education, child development, agriculture, outdoor education, environmental science, etc.) is a plus 

Background Check 

Interns must be at least 14 years old and those who are 18 years or older will be asked to complete a background check. Background checks will be completed through Sterling Volunteers and will cost participants $22. Coastal Roots Farm is committed to making our Internship Program accessible to all. If there are any concerns in completing the background check, including financial hardship, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure it is not a barrier. 

Typical Working Conditions 

Interns will work mostly outdoors. There will be exposure to Southern California outside temperatures, chemicals used in the agricultural industry, and loud noises. 

Essential Physical Tasks 

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

Continuous walking, standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting and pushing/pulling up to 50 lbs., cutting, and carrying. Able to walk a minimum of .5 miles on uneven narrow trails with elevation gain. 

Coastal Roots Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building an inclusive workforce. We welcome and strongly encourage people with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. Candidates should be willing and enthusiastic about working within the Jewish community but may be of any (or no) faith or background.  All qualified candidates, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information will be considered for this position.