Washington Academy – Farm and Garden – Student Support Specialist

 Washington Academy’s campus. current garden donates from 1-2,000 pounds of food a year to a local food pantry to combat food insecurity and increase access to fresh, healthy produce. Roughly 5,000 square feet of outdoor space and a small unheated greenhouse are used to cultivate. In addition, our campus serves over 80 residential students from over 15 different countries and students who are members of the Passamaquoddy tribe. Through surveys of students in the sustainable agriculture class and community members who frequent the food pantry, the crop offerings are ever-evolving. Through the garden’s integration into the student experience in science classes and the Sustainable Agriculture class, it fosters continued belonging in the community and student exposure to traditional gardening practices as well as a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and other flowering plants.

The position itself will require facilitating a hands-on class period in which students work the garden and learn about gardening/farming practices. The smoothest transition will be for members with at least 6 months to one year of gardening and/or farming experience with vegetable crops as well as project management facilitation or mentorship work with adolescents. The work will be completed alongside other master gardeners both on campus and in the community, two of which are in the science department. The member will also work closely with the site supervisor, the Assistant Head of School, to ensure the student experience is in keeping with the school mission and that partnerships with the local food pantry, with the kitchen staff, and the science department are strong to support the longevity of this project and this position. The final expectation is to facilitate service projects, ongoing sustainability club participation in the garden, as well as providing opportunities for residential students to have more consistent time in the garden.

Preferential that the member lives in our dorm to bring awareness to the garden, integrating it into the culture and life of the resident students, and to discern the needs of the students more readily in both nutrition, cultural engagement surrounding sharing food, and how the garden can best serve their goals for high school learning and community engagement. Daily responsibilities include working with students in the garden, detailing needs of the garden to the Healthy Acadia liaison and Assistant Head of school, assisting any and all classes who come down to the garden in engaging with the garden crops and work, supporting after school clubs who want to work in the garden, and coordinating with support of the Healthy Acadia partner to ensure food is delivered to the food pantry. By performing resident responsibilities including chaperoning weekend events once a month, and providing supervision one evening each week, members receive room, board, and internet at no charge!