SEEDlings seeks a Co-Coordinator

Location: Durham, North Carolina

The SEEDlings Co-coordinator works with the other co-coordinator to plan and implement programs for the SEEDlings after-school program and Summer SEEDlings, programs of SEEDS, an educational garden in downtown Durham, NC.

SEEDlings is an after-school program which teaches children healthy living skills and appreciation for the natural world while having fun, in a garden context. The program’s goals include: to be a safe place for children after school and to teach respect for all people and other living things. During their time in the program, our goals for the kids are: to learn where food comes from; about healthy eating; to learn to care for themselves, others and the environment; and to learn discipline and how to work together. Daily activities focus on gardening, nature, exercise, and nutrition–indoors in our multipurpose room and kitchen and outdoors in our 1 ½ acre Southside Garden. Each day (3:30-5:45 pm) includes a healthy snack (sometimes prepared by the children) and homework time. The program serves children in 1st through 5th grade and is provided at a low cost to families.

Summer SEEDlings is four weeks of half-day camp indoors in our multipurpose room and kitchen and outdoors in our 1 ½ acre Southside Garden. Camp hours are 8 am – noon, Monday – Friday for kids completing 1st – 5th grades. The program’s goals include: to teach respect for all people and other living things; to teach where food comes from and about healthy eating; and to teach youth to care for themselves, others and the environment. Activities in Summer SEEDlings include: gardening, cooking, martial arts, dance, environmental experiments, games, nature crafts, weaving, caring for garden creatures and water play. The 2009 weekly themes were: Bountiful Birds, Fun, Food and Fantastic Fabrics, NC Animals of the Garden, and You Are What You Eat.

The SEEDlings Co-coordinator is responsible for the following:

School year SEEDlings Program:

* Plan 2-3 educational, movement and creative programs per week for 12 children in activities such as gardening, cooking, appreciating nature, and caring for the environment.
* Coordinate homework time utilizing up to 10 volunteers per day.
* Coordinate with special volunteers/volunteer groups who come to provide intermittent programming (such as nutritionists, environmental educators, university clubs, etc.).

Summer SEEDlings Program:

* Plan 2 weeks of theme-based half-day camps.
* Lead indoor and outdoor activities for up to 16 kids.
* Recruit, train, and supervise volunteer camp counselors.

Both Programs:

* Create brochures and registration materials and get them translated into Spanish.
* Communicate with parents.
* Plan field trips.
* Plan measurable objectives and implement program evaluation.
* Purchase program supplies and snack food.
* Create and follow budget.
* Write articles for SEEDS’ bi-annual newsletter, monthly e-newsletter, and quarterly board reports.
* Take photos of activities.
* Maintain cleanliness of SEEDlings areas in the building and garden.

The successful candidate will:

* Have 3-5 years experience working with elementary age children,
* Have gardening interest and experience,
* Have cooking interest and experience,
* Have experience with environmental education and/or nature studies,
* Have strong communication skills and sense of humor,
* Be self-motivated, independent and willing to work as part of a team.

The position’s hours are 25 hours per week. An additional 10 hours per week as Volunteer Coordinator are available to the SEEDlings co-coordinator. The salary starts at $12 per hour. With 30 or more hours per week, an employee receives full health insurance.

The newly hired SEEDlings Co-coordinator position will begin on May 1, 2010 and will overlap with the current co-coordinator for one month.

Interested candidates will email cover letter and resumé to Lucy Harris: lharris@seedsnc.org