Joining as an Intern or Camp Counselor
Below is a list of the various internships and camp counselor positions that are offered throughout the year.
Position/Program Descriptions
- Visiting Students Program Internships
- Visiting Students Program Children's Garden Internship
- Farm & Arts Internship
- Farm & Arts Teen Leadership Program
- Kids! Can! Cook! Summer Day Camp Counselors
- Overnight Farm Camp Counselors
- Overnight Farm Camp Summer Staff
Visiting Students Program Internships
For a description of the Visiting Students Program, please click here.
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 Grade 3 through 10 and help lead farm-based learning 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 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.
The Fall Internship begins during the last week of August and runs 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 begins during the second week of January and runs 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 $450 per month stipend. By using hands-on teaching methods, the programs create 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, consider joining us!
For more information, please contact Helen.
Children's Garden Internship
The Visiting Students Program Garden Intern is responsible for leading gardening activities with small groups of children from at least 20 different school classes and 3 sessions of summer camp. You will be trained to take on all aspects of managing, maintaining, and leading our well-established educational gardening program through a full gardening season. The position begins in mid-January and runs through the third week in November.
Candidate should be at least 21 years of age and have experience maintaining a large garden, working with children ages 8 to 15, and have a 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, paid vacation, plus a stipend.
For more information, please contact Helen.
Farm & Arts Internship
The Farm and Arts Program offers an internship opportunity to gain experience and skills through active participation in the growth and development of a farm-based education program. An Intern at the Farm and Arts Program will participate in all aspects of the programming, thus gaining familiarity with farm-based, Waldorf, and place-based education as well as farm and garden work. The intern in return, will offer valuable help in the areas of research, administration, program development and implementation of the various program activities. By the end of the Farm and Arts internship, an intern will have gained the skills necessary to fill both administration and teaching roles in an agricultural education program. The Farm and Arts intern will work collaboratively with both the Learning Center Director and the Farm and Arts Program Manager. The Farm and Arts intern is responsible to the Farm and Arts Coordinator. The Farm and Arts Intern will work a total of 40 hours per week. Room and monthly stipend included. This internship will last from September through May.
Fore more information, please contact Indigo.
Farm & Arts Teen Leadership Program
The Farm & ArtsTeen Leadership Program allows young teens who have been involved in a previous program to experience the rewards of mentorship. Teen Leaders take on responsibility, helping Farm & Arts staff with younger participants while experiencing the joy of passing on knowledge to the next generation. While working alongside program staff, the teens deepen their relationships to those from their own neighborhood and often help build bridges between urban and rural communities.
A written essay and personal interview are required to join the Leadership Program. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis.
For more information, please contact Indigo.
Kids! Can! Cook! Summer Day Camp Counselors
Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center offers a summer counselor position 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, and practical farm work.
Kids! Can! Cook! counselors are responsible for guiding children ages 8 to 13 through daily farm, cooking, craft, 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.
Third week of June to third week of August, includes required staff training.
For more information, please contact Caroline.
Overnight Farm Camp Counselors
Each year, we hire about 20 counselors to help care for and mentor the children in the various programs. 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 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 $1,600 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 $1850 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 $1,600 per season plus room and vegetarian organic meals.
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 Helen.
Field Camp Assistant Director
The Field Camp Assistant Director is responsible for organizing and running all the operations of the Field Camp under the guidance of a permanent staff member. The Assistant Director, with the permanent staff member, makes hiring decisions of counselors, creates daily, weekly and seasonal schedule of activities and off-site outings/events for camp. The Assistant 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. The Assistant Director may need to talk with a campers' parents in order to resolve an issue. Camping and hiking skills are also required for this position. Lifeguard certification is a plus.
The Field Camp Assistant Director position can start as early as Mid-January or as late as April/May 1st. For training purposes, the earliest start date is preferred. Salary for the Field Camp Assistant Director is $3000 during the camp season, plus room and board. The Field Camp Assistant Director will receive an additional compensation during the time prior to camp at the rate of $450 per month.
For more information, please contact Helen.
Assistant Cooks
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.
Assistant Cook positions have a salary range, based on experience and number of hours worked, starting at $1,600 for the season, plus room board. 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.
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 supports and reports to the Camp Director.
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 7 weeks, June 25 to August 12. 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.
The Nurse/House Parent salary is based on experience with a range starting at $5,000, plus room and board.
For more information, please contact Helen.