The Rio Grande Farm Park seeks a passionate, community-oriented Education Assistant AmeriCorps member to help implement educational programming in 2024. The primary focus will be to implement 2024 Rising Stewards, a summer working and learning experience for high school youth. This member will also assist with farmer educational events and community educational events that will occur at the Rio Grande Farm Park. This person will get to know community members and bring them in to share their knowledge related to regenerative agriculture. They will also help the Farm Park with multimedia education opportunities and passive education opportunities, such as video and social media. Last, this person will participate in creating a long-term vision and curriculum around RGFP educational programming and support the ecosystem of environmental education in the San Luis Valley.
Service Activities
● Lead the implementation both on the land and in the classroom for the RGFP cornerstone summer high school program: Rising Stewards.
● Assist in the planning of Rising Stewards during the springtime and storytelling and reporting in fall.
● Facilitate for logistics such as camping, food, and recreational activities.
● Assist with youth-related activities at the Farm Park or elsewhere in the San Luis Valley with Generation Wild
partner organizations.
● Assist with logistics planning and recruitment of farmers to attend agricultural conferences, workshops, and
farm tours hosted by our organization, community partners, and organizations state & nationwide.
● Assist with passive and multimedia educational opportunities at the Farm Park, including social media.
● Participate with the weekly Mercadillo farmers’ market during the growing season - helping to set up the
RGFP information booth, utilize a Point of Sale system to exchange SNAP and Credit Cards for market
vouchers.
● Integrate educational opportunities into projects occurring at the Farm Park throughout their service.
● Participate in strategic planning related to Education at the Rio Grande Farm Park.
Community Need Addressed
The Education Assistant AmeriCorps position at Rio Grande Farm Park will address several unmet community needs, primarily focusing on educational opportunities related to regenerative agriculture and environmental stewardship. The position will contribute to filling the gap in agricultural education, especially among high school youth in the Alamosa community. By leading the Rising Stewards summer program and engaging in farmer and community events, the Education Assistant will help bridge the knowledge divide, providing hands-on experiences and lessons in regenerative agriculture. Additionally, the position will support multimedia and passive education initiatives, addressing the need for diverse learning channels. The emphasis on community outreach and involvement in farmers' markets will further address the broader community's need for increased awareness of sustainable farming practices and local food systems. Overall, the Education Assistant role responds to the unmet needs of education, empowerment, and community engagement around regenerative agriculture in the Rio Grande Farm Park area.
Position Outcomes
The Education Assistant AmeriCorps position at Rio Grande Farm Park aims to address the unmet community need for increased agricultural literacy and youth empowerment. By leading programs like Rising Stewards and farmer events, the AmeriCorps member seeks to enhance understanding of regenerative agriculture among high school youth, empowering them with practical skills and mentorship. Through community engagement initiatives, including farmers' markets and multimedia education, the position strives to amplify the impact, reaching a broader audience and fostering a more informed and engaged community. Additionally, the Education Assistant will play a pivotal role in shaping the long-term vision and curriculum for sustainable educational programming, ensuring sustained community impact in the realm of regenerative agriculture.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job
Planning
Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients