Employment Opportunities
VISITING STUDENTS PROGRAM: Internship Positions
Join our Farm and Educational Program staff on a unique 400-acre biodynamic dairy farm that combines care for the land and the creation of a welcoming place for children and young adults. The Visiting Students Program focuses on a respect for the earth and for each other. During the school year classes from Waldorf and other private schools 
stay on the farm for one week. Twenty different schools participate throughout the school year. Interns and staff host classes from 3rd through 10th grades and lead activities such as animal feeding, gardening, map and compass courses, botany walks, barn cleaning, bread baking, butter making, exploring and seasonal projects of apple cider pressing and maple syrup making. Interns share organic meals with the children and supervise house and Dining Hall cleaning tasks. Interns are introduced to biodynamic sustainable agriculture and the view of childhood from the Waldorf School prospective. 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. For a more detailed description of the position, see “A Day in the Life of an Intern”.
The internship program operates through the school year for the fall and spring semesters. The Fall Internship begins the last week of August until the 3rd week in November. There are three positions available. The interviewing process begins in January and continues until all positions are filled.
The Spring Internship work dates are from the second week of January until the first week in June. The interviewing process begins in September and continues until positions are filled. There are four positions available.
Compensation includes room and board (organic vegetarian meals) plus $400 per month stipend. Our program by using hands-on teaching methods creates a true learning experience for both the staff and the children. If you are at least 21 years of age, enjoy working with children, have a love of the outdoors, animals and farm life, come join us. Complete our application and return it to us with a copy of your resume and the names and phone numbers of three working references, preferably employers who have seen you working with children, and a cover letter describing your interest in this position. Once we have received your application, we will contact you for an interview. We look forward to hearing from you.
This Waldorf-based residential farm/environmental education program is located on a modern 400-acre full-scale diversified biodynamic dairy farm located in Upstate New York, in the Berkshire/Taconic range, 2 ½ hours north of New York City. The Hawthorne Valley Farm produces biodynamic milk, yogurt, cheese and quark. A ten-acre market garden supplies enough produce for two CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), green market sales in New York City and a retail health food store which is on the premises. The farm’s dairy herd is virtually self-sufficient, relying on its own feeds, manure and compost. Hawthorne Valley School, a kindergarten through 12th grade Waldorf school is located across the street from the Visiting Students Program. All of the branches listed above are part of the Hawthorne Valley Association. Please see our link section to view more information on each of our sister branches.
Children's Garden Internship
This position is filled. The Visiting Students Program is in the process of hiring a Garden Intern to work in our children's garden. Thirty different classes visit us each year and 100 children during our summer season, this position is responsible for leading the gardening activities for all these children. This intern will be trained to take on all aspects of managing, maintaining, and leading educational activities in our children's garden throughout the course of a full gardening season. This is a great opportunity for someone to take on all the responsibilites of a well-established educational gardening program. This position can begin as early as January 15, 2009, if possible. We will continue to interview for this position until the right candidate is found.Requirements
Candidate should be at least 21 years of age and have experience maintaining a large garden, working with children ages 8 to 15, love of the outdoors, animals and farm life. Excellent communications and people skills are required. Position will require working some weekends. Compensation includes room, board of tasty organic vegetarian meals, plus a stipend.
Contact
Please send cover letter, resume and the name and phone numbers of three working references to: Hawthorne Valley Farm, Main House, 327 Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 Attn: Helen Enright or call (518) 672-4790 or e-mail Helen@vspcamp.com
SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM
SUMMER CAMP POSITIONS
Summer at Hawthorne Valley Farm Camp helps children build a reverence for life and community awareness though living, playing and working together on an active farm. Learning arises out of the daily experience of life and work on the farm. Through these experiences, children stretch boundaries and realize new capacities within themselves. We invite you to become part of this community and help children grow and blossom from simple summer pleasures shared deeply with friends and staff.
Our Camp is separated into two camps, a House Camp for children ages 8 through 11 and the Field Camp for campers ages 12 to 15. The House Camp has a one-week session for ages 8 & 9; a two-week session for ages 9 and 10; and a three-week session for ages 10 and 11; and has an enrollment of 28 campers for each session. The House Campers live in the main farmhouse. The Field Camp has a one-week session for ages 12-13; a two-week session for ages 12 & 13 and a three-week session for teenagers ages 13 to 15. The Field Camp has shelters in the secluded woods on the farm and an enrollment of 15 campers per session. While the camp strives to complement the educational approach of Waldorf schools, campers are accepted from all backgrounds. Visit our camp page for more specific information about the camps.
Openings for 2010 Season
The Field Camp Director is responsible for organizing and running all the operations of the field camp. The Director, with the permanent staff, makes hiring decisions of counselors, creates daily, weekly and seasonal schedule of activities and off-site outings/events for camp. The Director is responsible for the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of 15 campers and 4 other counselors. Strong leadership, supervising and communication skills are required. Qualifications include, experience working with teenagers in an outdoor setting (camp and farm), working as a team player while being an effective supervisor, and being able to address and resolve difficult issues (behavioral/sleeping habits/illness) of campers and staff. Often, the Director will need to talk with parents of the campers in order to resolve some issues. Camping and hiking skills are also required for this position. Lifeguard certification is a plus.
Nurse/House Parent Postion
This person is responsible for the medical needs and well-being of up to 45 campers ages 8 to 15 and 25 counselors and permanent staff members per session of camp. Along with typical camp nursing duties this position is also responsible for daily household chores (laundry, etc.), maintenance of an old farm house, and directing the flow of children to and from activities. This position is a support position to the Director of the camp.Responsibilities: Dispense meds, homeopathic remedies, dietary supplements, administer first aid for minor injuries, ensure the health and safety of campers and staff, daily sick calls, weekly health checks, communicating specific camper health needs (allergies, special diets) to staff, medical record keeping, liaison with state health department, local doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, communicate with parents, accompany sick/injured campers or staff to the hospital or to medical appointments. Be a "summer mom/dad" to our campers, direct children to and from activities ensuring the proper attire is worn, wake up children, comfort homesick children, water plants, monitor staffing requirements, and when time permits participate in camp activities and events.
Qualification and Requirements: Licensed RN and available to work for 8 weeks, June 21 to August 15. Applicant should have prior working experience with children, be a responsible and hard-working team player, with a friendly, nurturing bedside manner, strong assessment abilities, and confidence in own nursing skills. A familiarity with an anthroposophical approach to child wellness is helpful but not required. A love of nature and farming is a plus. New nursing graduates are welcomed.
Other Openings
House Camp Counselors work with small groups of 7 - 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 diary products. Lifeguard certification is a plus.
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.
Counselor-In-Training is a training program for those who are 17 years old and interested in becoming a counselor. The CIT works with the room group counselors and staff. Applicants should have a strong interest in working with children, have an enthusiastic outgoing disposition and mature enough to be a positive influence on children.
The Field Camp is geared to the older child and teenager ages 12 to 15. The campers work for part of the day on the farm alongside professional staff in the retail store, bakery, dairy plant and camp kitchen as well as in food growing, processing and preparation. In the afternoon there is plenty of time for traditional camp activities. The campers and counselors live in platform tents in a wooded area on the farm. See Field Camp Programs for more information about this camp.
Field Camp Counselors work under the leadership of the Field Camp Director. They are responsible for guiding the campers through the various departments of the farm and traditional camp activities such as swimming, art & 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 reward 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.
Assistant Cookswork 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. There are three positions available.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL SUMMER POSITIONS:
Applicants 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 should apply. See above descriptions of each job for the specific skills required. Camping, hiking, music, orienteering, life guarding experience, or storytelling skills are a plus.
WORK DATES: Counselor and Assistant Cook training begins in June. See Employment Application for specific start dates. Camp ends the second week of August. The Field Camp Director position can start as early as Mid-January or as late as April 1st. For training purposes, the earliest start date is preferred.
LOCATION: We are located in the Berkshire/Taconic foothills in upstate rural New York, 2 ½ hours north of New York City, along the Hudson River. See our map for exact location.
HOW TO APPLY: Complete the application and return it to us with a cover letter describing your interest in our program, your resume, and the names and phone numbers of three working references, preferably employers who have seen you working with children. Once received we will contact you for an interview. We begin reviewing resumes for our counselor positions in January We begin reviewing resumes for our counselor positions in January and usually contact applicants starting in February.
COMPENSATION:House Camp counselors receive $1600 per season plus room and Dining Hall meals (all vegetarian, organic meals). The Nurse House Parent's salary is based on experience with a range starting at $4,800, plus room and board. Field Camp Counselors with extensive previous experience receive $1850 per season (plus room and board). Salary for the Field Camp Director is $3000 during the camp season, plus room and board. Field camp director will received additional compensation during the time prior to camp at the rate of $400 per month. Assistant Cook positions have a salary range, based on experience and number of hours worked, starting at $1,800 for season, plus room board. CITs receive $750 for the camp season plus room and board. Lifeguard certification is a plus; if you are hired as a lifeguard, the above rate will be increased by $200.
Feel free to call us at (518) 672-4790 if you have any questions.
Send application to: Tessa Schmidt, Assistant Director, Hawthorne Valley Farm, Main House, 327 Rt 21C, Ghent, NY, 12075 Fax: (518) 672-7608, e-mail Helen@vspcamp.com
