About School & Community Garden Volunteer Opportunity

Position:
Garden-based Nutrition Education: School & Community Garden Volunteer

Location:
Our summer garden locations takes place at each of our of partner schools in Lansing: Willow Elementary School, Vivian Riddle Elementary School, Sheridan Road School, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Public School Academy. Our community garden locations include: Pine & St. Joe, ARRO, and Grace Lutheran Garden

Description:
Volunteers will work as part of our School Garden Nutrition Education team helping to teach students about making food choices that are healthy for their bodies and our planet. Volunteers will also work as part of our Community Gardens to assist gardeners with various gardening related projects. Depending on skills and interests, volunteers will also have opportunities to help develop activities and gain experience working in schoolyard gardens and greenhouse.

Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in facilitating the “Garden Club” summer camp program
- Collaborate with nutrition educators to implement lessons and activities
- Lead groups of students in cooking healthy recipes, taste testing, and other related games and activities
- Assist in facilitating physical fitness activities
- Assist in school and community gardens and greenhouse
- Other duties and tasks as assigned

Qualifications:
- Enthusiastic about learning and teaching
- Able to set a positive example for young people
- Passionate about improving access to and knowledge of healthy foods and lifestyles
- Eager to assist in low-income communities
- Dependable, punctual, courteous, personable, and respectful when working with the public
- Transportation to programming, either personal vehicle or knowledge of CATA bus system
- Prior experience with education, plant-based cooking, nutrition, urban organic gardening, community
development, and social justice, desired but not required
- A large repertoire of kid-friendly jokes, food puns encouraged

Contact Information:
Lynsey Felty
AmeriCorps Community & School Gardens Coordinator
NorthWest Initiative
530 W. Ionia Street. Suite D
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 999 - 2894
Fax: (517) 999 - 2897

Family-Friendly

Parents and children are invited and encouraged to get involved.