Highwater Farm Overview
Highwater Farm is growing food, empowering youth, and fueling community on 5 acres in Silt, Colorado. Using sustainable agricultural practices, we steward public land, increase access to healthy local food and engage teens in meaningful work.
Service Description
The Highwater Farm Youth Program Coordinator will be responsible for providing the primary leadership of the youth programs, including the hiring, onboarding and supervision of Highwater Farm youth crew workers in the 8-week Summer Youth Program and subsequent Fall Youth Program. As a key member of the Highwater Farm team, the Youth Program Coordinator will work closely with the Executive Director to plan, prepare, and facilitate crew worker experiences while also supporting other farm and program activities.
Outside of the Summer Youth Program, this position will be dedicated to leading volunteers through field work in the spring and fall and to hosting on-farm community events. Additionally, they will work on the farm under the direction of the Farm Manager as needed to plant, manage plants and weeds, harvest, process, and package produce for delivery. This position will require additional responsibilities that are shared among staff (weekend chores, irrigation, etc.)
Highwater Farm’s CSA program support community members who receive federal benefits. The Youth Program Coordinator will support important anti-hunger work by facilitating on farm SNAP, DUFB & WIC* transactions and assisting with organizational reporting for these programs.
*SNAP – Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program; DUFB – Double Up Food Bucks; WIC – Women Infants & Children
AmeriCorps Member Duties
- Facilitate the hiring and onboarding processes for Highwater youth programs.
- Work closely with the Executive Director to coordinate and facilitate summer program daily and weekly logistics, including: work hours, morning meeting, on-site workshops, off-site cooking classes and farm tours, service opportunities and farmers market participation.
- Uphold and train youth in work standards, mentorship, feedback strategies (Real Talk) and basic agricultural work practices.
- Lead select workshops, games and activities focused on building introductory knowledge of social justice and food justice issues; communication skills; and relationship building across social barriers.
- Provide on-site supervision of youth and volunteers, ensuring all participants are safe and experience positive personal growth. This includes working alongside crews to model behavior and check-in.
- Coordinate at least two on-farm Community Lunch events during the summer season that incorporate Highwater Farm produce and youth program participants.
- Coordinate on-farm Fall Movie Night.
- Share social media management and provide community with storytelling about volunteer and youth programs.
- Facilitate and further develop pre and post surveys with program participants.
- Participate in program/season review upon completion of program to inform and guide subsequent programs.
- Lead volunteers through farm work in the spring and fall.
- Participate in farm tasks throughout the season, including but not limited to: seeding, bed prep, irrigating fields, trellising, weeding and maintaining crops, harvesting, processing and packaging produce.
Location and Service Conditions:
This position is based at Highwater Farm, 7001 Co Rd 346, Silt, CO 81652. Position will involve frequent days of service outdoors and/or in a school or community building.
Qualifications:
- 1-2 years of experience working directly with youth in a teaching, organizing, and/or facilitative capacity.
- One season of farming experience or equivalent outdoor exposure.
- Demonstrated skills in youth development, including creating safe spaces and responding effectively to interpersonal issues as they arise.
- Demonstrated experience working with diverse groups of people.
- Capacity to uphold high standards set by the organization, and ability to motivate a group of young people while fostering their potential.
- Experience or demonstrated interest in curriculum design including ability to make complex information accessible to adolescent learners and understanding of how to adapt content to learning exceptionalities.
- Strong interest in working with youth as partners and supporting the youth-led aspects of the work.
- Excellent organizational skills, dependability, flexibility, and capacity to manage time effectively both independently and on group projects.
- Demonstrated flexibility to work with shifting timelines and schedules.
- Ability work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work outside in extreme weather conditions and maintain a positive attitude.
- Able to lift 50+lbs.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to drive large vehicles.
- Spanish language skills a plus.
