Guidestone Colorado Garden Educator

Service Site:
• Guidestone Colorado – Salida, CO
• Community & School Farm – 1455 Holman Ave, Salida, CO, 81201
• Longfellow Elementary School Garden – Corner of 8th & J Sts, Salida, CO 81201
• Salida Middle School Garden – 520 Milford St, Salida, CO 81201

Start Date: 1-13-25 End Date: 12-14-25

Program Overview
Localizing our food system is one of the most impactful and actionable steps we can take to solve so many of our global problems. Across the central Rocky Mountains and southwestern Colorado, AmeriCorps service with Mountain Roots  Healthy Futures Program builds social, economic, and environmental health for rural communities. We work with organizations throughout the region who are leaders in their fields, activating community-driven initiatives including Farm to School, Regenerative Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Community Food Security), and other programs in public health, conservation, and the environment. With Healthy Futures AmeriCorps, you’ll build a bridge from college to career while building and sustaining healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment.

Organization Overview
Guidestone Colorado is dedicated to growing a vibrant agricultural future through education, community building, and partnerships. Guidestone’sprogramsprovide a continuum of engagement for agricultural learning which enables
community members of all ages to participate in meaningful experiences and gain practical skills. Our strategies and
programming are founded on the belief that these experiences will ultimately lead to resilient local food systems, healthier youth, adults, and communities, and a vibrant future for local agriculture.

Service Description
Farm to School (F2S) AmeriCorps Members are part of a team that works with Guidestone Colorado Farm to School
staff and volunteers to connect youth to the earth, to their food, and to the community as part of our district-wide
Farm to School program, bridging gaps that enable partner organizations to be more efficient and effective at
providing nutrition, health, and garden-based environmental education to rural youth.
F2S Members engage youth and community members to build, maintain, and expand school gardens and community gardens through a start-to-finish growing season. Programs include farm field trips, guest visits, summer camps, and youth farmers markets. Members provide outreach and engagement at community events to promote Farm to School and the organization’sprograms and mission. Members gain exposure to organic agriculture, curriculum development, program planning, volunteer engagement, and participate in ongoing professional development.

AmeriCorps Member Primary Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Build, maintain, and expand school gardens through a start-to-6inish growing season.
• Design and deliver hands-on curriculum on nutrition, gardens, food sources, environmental science, cooking,
  and sustainability with student’s grades K-12, in school gardening classes and summer camp settings.
• Introduce fresh local foods through tastings, summer programs, and other activities.
• Lead the Youth Farmers Market, selling produce from the Community & School Farm with youth from the
  Boys & Girls Club.
• Community outreach/engagement, such as expanding volunteer involvement in school gardens,
  organizing events, developing promotional strategies, coordinating and leading community workdays.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

• Support agricultural production activities at the Community & School Farm in the spring and fall, and as needed on an emergency basis.
• Assist with the development and implementation of community events,including AgriSummit, Pumpkin Patch, Music at the Mill, Community Garden Planting parties, and other events hosted by Guidestone.

Location and Service Conditions:
The primary locations for thisposition is split between two Salida School District campuses: Longfellow Elementary School and Salida Middle School, as well as the Community & School Farm. It will also include service at the site of Salida Boys & Girls Club for the youth farmers market and the Hutchinson Homestead and Learning Center and Hutchinson Ranch for Guidestone events. The position will primarily involve days of service outdoors, with indoor space available in case of inclement weather. Co-work office space is provided at the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth in outdoor settings. Particularly with youth ages 5-12
• Experience working in a farm or garden setting
• Background or experience with experiential education, environmental studies, sustainable agriculture, local
  food systems, and health/nutrition
• Passionate, patient, flexible, intelligent, creative, kind, caring, self-motivated
• Experience with Word, Excel, GoogleDrive suite of office management, or comparable computer skills
• Strong professional communication skills
• Clean driving record

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications:

• At least 17 years old at start of service
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED
  during the term of service. Members must obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website
  checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202

Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Program Benefits

• AmeriCorps members will receive a bi-weekly living allowance of $810, totaling $19,440 over the service period.
• Members are also eligible for an Education Award of $7,395 upon successful completion of service. This can
  be used to pay back student loans, or to further your education.
• Members may be eligible for Federalprogram assistance (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)
• Members may receive professional development and training,plus covered travel costs for attendance at state or regional conferences.
• Eligible AmeriCorps Members may receive childcare assistance.
• Eligible AmeriCorps Members may receive healthcare benefits.
• Members may qualify for student loan forbearance (postponing the payment of loans) while in service. Alumni benefits include priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers of National Service and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate educational debt.

About the Living Allowance
An AmeriCorps Living Allowance is not a wage, salary, or hourly pay. You are enrolling in a SERVICE position,
not a job. The Living Allowance is a stipend designed to support the basic necessities of the individual while in
service, such as room and board, utilities, and transportation. Carefully consider this when applying.