Farm Programs Educator

Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment in Freeport, ME, is seeking a Farm Programs Educator. This role involves engaging visitors through various educational programs related to sustainable agriculture and the farm's ecosystems. Responsibilities include leading programs, providing information, ensuring guest safety, and caring for educational spaces and livestock. The position is seasonal, requiring availability for evenings and weekends. Ideal candidates are passionate about education, self-motivated, and able to adapt to changing situations.
A Bit About Us

Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment is a fast-growing, national nonprofit organization based on a campus of over 600 acres of coastal farmland in Freeport, Maine. Our work is dedicated to creating a world where agriculture and food systems support farmer viability, thriving ecosystems, and vibrant communities. Through regenerative farming demonstration and training, innovative research, and collaborations, Wolfe’s Neck Center works to advance agriculture - on our own farm, regionally, and nationally - to accelerate holistic change in food systems and mitigate the effects of a changing climate.

Public Programs

Wolfe’s Neck Center’s Public Programs connect thousands of visitors of all ages with our farm and sustainable agriculture each year. Educators will play a role in both formal and informal education, with offerings ranging from answering questions for first-time visitors, sensory explorations in the barn with toddlers, guided nature hikes in the forest, to leading workshops in our education kitchen. These programs are both free & fee-based, pre-registered programs, as well as spontaneous barn tours and talks.

What Are Farm Programs Educators?

Reporting to the Visitor Programs Manager as a part of the Visitor Education and Experience Department, the Farm Programs Educator engages with guests in formal and informal programs across the campus to enhance their experience, while helping keep the public and our livestock safe and happy. This temporary position shifts seasonally: mid-March - May: Programs mostly offered on weekends and evenings, with some field trips during the week. (20-30 hrs) May – September 1 st: Peak season – peak field trips leading into regular daily summer programming, including weekends and evenings. (35-40 hrs) September 2 nd – November 2 nd: Programs mostly offered on weekends and evenings, with some field trips during the week. (20- 30 hrs)

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

● Lead and create programs with a wide range of audiences to facilitate a deeper connection to our unique farm and ecosystems

● Provide farm guests with accurate information about Wolfe’s Neck Center’s history, agricultural operations, natural ecosystems, community events, and various programs ● Help guests meaningfully and safely engage with various aspects of the farm, including livestock, production fields, and tractor rides

● Care for our education spaces and livestock, including the education gardens and the animals in the Wishcamper Education Barn

● Working regular evenings and weekends, often as the only onsite education staff member

● Assist with field trip programming, from preparation to delivery to clean-up

What We’re Looking For

With over 30,000 visitors each year, Public Program Educators connect people to farming and our mission. WNC is looking for individuals who are passionate about education with a desire to introduce people of all ages to the farm, our livestock, and the unique ocean ecosystems the farm rests upon. Farm Programs Educators operate multiple programs on any given day, often without direct support and supervision, so candidates must be self-motivated, self-sufficient, and reliable. As with any educational program, situations can change quickly (weather, animal issues, etc.) so educators must be confident, flexible, and not easily flustered with change. Prior farm, livestock, ecology, and fruit & vegetable knowledge is not required, but candidates must be excited about the opportunities to become well versed in our different practices and overall mission. Qualifications The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job successfully. If you do not fit this description perfectly but believe that you would be a good fit for this position, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or apply. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

● Degree, some higher education, and/or experience equivalent in environmental education,childhood education/development, agriculture, food systems, or related fields

● Ability to assist with livestock chores, including egg collecting, milking small livestock, hay and manure cleanup, etc.

● Motivation and interest in caring for our education gardens including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, etc.

● Motivation to help develop existing programmatic areas as well as creating new educational programs and opportunities.

● Desire to interact with livestock and introduce thousands of people to small-scale agriculture and Wolfe’s Neck Center, all in the variety of weather offered by Maine spring-fall ● Ability to be trained to safely operate a tractor pulling a wagon. (Must be 21+)

● Ability to manage program registration efficiently and graciously, walk-on participants, questions from the general public, while also helping to collect program data.

● Experience with Google Suite in order to track data, metrics, and create content where applicable Requirements

● Legally able to work in the United States (we cannot provide VISA sponsorship)

● Successful Completion of a background check

● Must be 21+ years of age in order to operate a tractor under Wolfe’s Neck Center insurance

● Ability to work from the Wolfe’s Neck Center campus in Freeport, ME

Terms of Employment

The Farm Programs Educator is a seasonal position, running March-October, based at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport, ME. Compensation includes: $18.00-$19.00/hr depending on experience, to be paid on a bi-weekly basis; potential for low-cost on-site housing; free rentals for bikes, kayaks, and canoes (dependent on availability); free oceanfront camping (dependent on availability); 25% discount in the Farm Café and Farm Store.

To Apply: Please submit an online application, along with your resume and a cover letter explaining why you’d be a fantastic Farm Programs Educator. The application can be found on our website. If you are unable to upload your cover letter and resume to the application, you can email them to Michael Messina, our Visitor Programs Manager, at mmessina@wolfesneck.org with “Farm Programs Educator” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Non-Discriminatory Selection Process Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment welcomes a diverse pool of candidates. In accordance with federal Equal Opportunity laws, Wolfe’s Neck Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, sexual orientation including gender identity or expression, veteran status, or physical or mental disability in the hiring of its employees. Applicants are selected based on t