The Youth Engagement Coordinator will support opportunities for hands-on nutrition and farm education at Cloud City Farm and in the classroom for Lake County Youth as part of C4’s Environmental Education Program. They will develop and implement activities that engage youth in all areas of the food system with a focus on utilizing Cloud City Farm as an outdoor classroom.
Service Activities
● Serve with C4 Environmental Education Manager to increase opportunities for youth in Lake County to participate in nature based environmental education with a focus on utilizing Cloud City Farm as an outdoor classroom.
● Design & deliver engaging, hands-on food systems lessons to Lake County students in grades pre-K-12 that meet school standards in the classroom, at Cloud CIty Farm and outdoors in the natural environment. Integrating activities into subjects such as math, science and history, working with teachers and school administrators to increase food and nutrition education in curricula, and more.
● Grow healthy food with students, teachers, and community members at Cloud City Farm and Community Garden, an educational setting where kids can get their hands dirty and experience what they’re learning first-hand.
● Build strong, collaborative relationships with community partners, teachers, families, and school administrators.
● Support access to Healthy Food by promoting food access points throughout the community within the School System to students, parents and educators.
● Partner with Get Outdoors Leadville! to provide farm education during the summer months via the Rockies Rock summer camp.
● Participate in the Lake County Food Access Coalition (Monthly Meetings & additional committee meetings).
● Support the Environmental Education Program as needed by the Program Manager.
● Support the operation of Cloud City Farm as needed by the Farm Manager.
Community Need Addressed
This Youth Educator position in the Farm to School program at Cloud City Conservation Center aims to address crucial unmet needs in Lake County, CO. The community faces limited access to hands-on nutrition and farm education, prompting the implementation of engaging food systems lessons for students in grades pre-K-12. The position also seeks to integrate food and nutrition education into standard curricula, fostering a more comprehensive learning experience. Recognizing potential gaps in exposure to healthy food production, the role involves growing food with students at Cloud City Farm and Community Garden. Furthermore, the emphasis on building collaborative relationships and promoting food access points underscores a community need for enhanced coordination and equitable access to healthy food. The position's engagement during the summer and involvement in environmental education initiatives also address gaps in year-round educational opportunities and awareness of environmental issues within the community.
Position Outcomes
The desired outcomes for this Youth Educator position are multifaceted and aimed at creating positive and quantifiable changes within the community. First, an increase in the number of youth participating in nature-based environmental education, both at Cloud City Farm and in classrooms, is anticipated. This would manifest as a measurable uptick in the engagement levels of Lake County students in hands-on, farm-focused learning experiences. Additionally, the integration of food and nutrition education into school curricula is expected to lead to a quantifiable improvement in students' understanding of and connection to the food system. The cultivation of healthy food with students, teachers, and community members at Cloud City Farm is likely to result in tangible outcomes such as increased agricultural knowledge and improved access to fresh produce. Moreover, the establishment of strong collaborative relationships within the community, including partnerships with Get Outdoors Leadville! and participation in the Lake County Food Access Coalition, should yield measurable improvements in community engagement and awareness. Overall, the desired result is a measurable enhancement in environmental education, food literacy, and community well-being among Lake County youth.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance
Skills you will gain
Youth Education/Teaching: Design and deliver engaging, hands-on food systems lessons for students in diverse settings.
Environmental/Conservation Education: Foster understanding of environmental issues and sustainable practices among youth.
Communication: Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders, including partners, teachers, and administrators.
Agriculture, Farming, and Gardening: Develop practical skills in growing healthy food and sustainable agriculture.
Community Organizing: Engage in outreach, collaboration, and partnership building within the community.
Teamwork: Collaborate with team members, including the Environmental Education Manager and Farm Manager.
Outreach and Engagement: Promote food access points and support healthy food initiatives.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients