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Hawthorne Valley Farm: Various positions

Position/Program Descriptions

Place Based Learning Center Internships

The Place Based Learning Center at Hawthorne Valley Farm is a Waldorf-based residential farm/environmental educational program located on a modern 400 acre, full-scale diversified biodynamic dairy farm. We are located 2 ½ hours north of New York City in the beautiful Hudson Valley. During the school year classes visit from Waldorf and other private schools and stay on the farm for one week. Interns and staff host classes from Grade 3 through 10 and help lead farm-based learning activities. Over the course of their five-day stay students have the opportunity to bake bread, clean the barn, work in the garden, ride horses, help prepare meals, explore our woods, create crafts, learn map and orienteering skills and many other activities. Interns share organic meals with the children and supervise house and Dining Hall cleaning tasks. Interns are introduced to biodynamic agriculture and the view of childhood from a Waldorf perspective. Interns together with the staff are responsible for nurturing the physical, emotional, social and spiritual well being of each child during their stay at the farm.

Desired Qualifications:

  •  Experience working with children in an outdoor setting and leading hands-on activities
  • Ability to maintain an atmosphere of teamwork using strong communications and organizational skills
  • Ability to live on campus in shared living quarters
  • Some practical knowledge of farming, animal care, gardening, making crafts; Waldorf education is a plus
  • A personal passion, energy and drive to enthusiastically work with children
  • The ability to lift and carry 30 to 50 pounds
  • Age of 21 or older

Responsibilities:

  •  Lead place-based residential farm and nature activities on a daily basis with groups of 6 to 9 children
  • Provide a nurturing, responsive environment to students and guests of program
  • Share daily and weekend animal care and occasional weekend shifts

The Fall Internship starts the last week in August and runs until the first week in December.  The Spring Internship begins mid-January and ends the second week of June. There are two to three positions available per semester.  Please e-mail for exact dates.  Compensation includes room and board (organic vegetarian meals) plus $650 per month stipend. If you are at least 21 years of age, enjoy working with children, have a love of the outdoors, animals and farm life, consider joining us!  Please send cover letter, Hawthorne Valley Application for Employment, resume and the names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses of three work references, preferably employers who have seen you working with children to Helen Enright by email, [email protected], or mail to: Hawthorne Valley Farm, Main House, 327 Route 21C, Ghent, NY  12075 or fax to: (518) 672-7608.  For more information please call 518-672-4790.

For more information, please contact Helen.

Kids Can Cook Summer Day Camp Counselors

The Hawthorne Valley Farm Place Based Learning Center is looking for summer counselors (junior and senior counselors) to work full time at our Kids Can Cook Summer Day Camp. This position will require counselors to teach and participate in: growing, preparing, and sharing food; land-based craft activities; hands-on animal care swimming and practical farm work. Hawthorne Valley Farm is a 400-acre diversified farm in Ghent, New York. The Farm’s Place Based Learning Center serves as a resource to inspire, strengthen, and transform the connection between people and the living land with the goal of providing opportunities to children for farm-based, artistic experiences within the context of a working biodynamic farm.

Kids Can Cook counselors are responsible for guiding children ages 8 to 13 through daily farm, cooking, craft, swimming and garden activities during each 10-day camp session. Counselors need to have a strong commitment to creating experiences that will connect children to the land and foster a greater ecological awareness in later life.

Counselors must have a passion for and love of children and the ability to be creative, patient, and flexible. campers will be coming to us from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and financial backgrounds.

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Leading, supporting, and supervising groups of children ages 8 – 13 through daily activities
  • Teaching lessons on gardening, agricultural crafts, cooking, and animal care
  • Setting a good example for campers and counselors-in-training
  • Engaging enthusiastically in all camp activities
  • Assisting with set-up and clean-up of daily activities
  • Attending a week-long pre-camp training session
  • Attending daily staff planning meetings with the director and fellow counselors

Successful candidates should:

  • Have genuine love and enthusiasm for children and farming
  • Have experience working with children
  • Have experience and/or willingness to learn how to work with children in a farm-based setting
  • Have experience with and ability to plan crafts, cooking, farm animal, and/or gardening activities
  • Have or be willing to obtain certification in standard first aid and CPR (lifeguard training desirable but not necessary)
  • Be excellent communicators
  • Be enthusiastic, collaborative, lively, and fun!

Dates:  June 23rd to August 22nd, includes mandatory staff training
Salary: $1,800 – $2,500 including room with some meals provided
How to apply: Please email a resume and cover letter describing your interest and qualifications. Please include two references.
Deadline: Please submit your application as soon as possible!

For specific questions about the camp, please email camp director Indigo Ocean.

Overnight Farm Camp Counselors

Each year, we hire about 20 counselors to help care for and mentor the children in the various programs. Applicants age 21 or older with experience working with children, an interest in gardening/farming/camping, the ability to work well with others, enthusiasm and a love for children, the outdoors and animals are welcome to apply. Camping, hiking, music, orienteering, life guarding experience, or storytelling skills are a plus.

Training begins in June. Camp ends the second week of August.

House Camp counselors work with small groups of 7 to 9 campers, building positive group interactions as the campers participate in nature and farm experiences. The days are formed to flow between individual activities and all-camp experiences such as morning and evening gatherings, swimming and the sharing of family style meals together. Our camp emphasizes organic and biodynamic vegetarian meals with fresh vegetables from our farm and surrounding farms, whole grains, our own bakery bread and dairy products. Lifeguard certification is a plus.

House Camp counselors receive $2,000 per season plus room and vegetarian organic meals.

The Field Camp is geared for older children and teenagers ages 12 to 15. The campers and counselors live in platform tents in a wooded area on the farm. Field Camp Counselors work under the leadership of the Field Camp Assistant Director. They are responsible for guiding the campers through the various departments of the farm and traditional camp activities such as swimming, art and crafts, hikes, off-site camping trips, attending cultural events, campfires, etc. The Counselors are responsible for helping the campers form a tight-knit community where every one learns to meet the challenges and reap the rewards of living and working together. Previous experience working with teenagers, camping and communication skills are all required for this position. Lifeguard certification is a plus.

Field Camp counselors with extensive previous experience receive $2,500 per season plus room and meals.

Specialty counselors lead activities with small groups of children such as cooperative games, archery, horseback riding, art and crafts. Experience or knowledge in these fields is helpful.

Specialty counselors receive $2,000 per season plus room and vegetarian organic meals. Lifeguard certification is a plus; if you are hired as a lifeguard, the above rate will be increased by $200.

For more information, please contact Helen.

Overnight Farm Camp Summer Staff

Each year, we hire a summer staff team to help care for and mentor the children in the various Overnight Farm Camps. Applicants with experience working with children, an interest in gardening, farming, and camping, the ability to work well with others, enthusiasm and a love for children, the outdoors and animals are welcome to apply. Camping, hiking, music, orienteering, life guarding experience, or storytelling skills are a plus.

For more information, please contact Danielle Fontaine, Camp Director.

Assistant Cooks

assistant_cooksAssistant Cooks work with the Dining Hall Manager to prepare all vegetarian meals for at least 75 campers and staff. Experience in cooking for a large number of people using whole grains and vegetables is required. Since campers are periodically in the kitchen, the assistant cooks need to be a positive influence on children. There are three positions available.

Assistant Cook positions have a salary range, based on experience and number of hours worked, starting at $1,800 for the season, plus room board.

For more information, please contact Danielle Fontaine, Camp Director.