KinPark Youth Urban Farm Camp Leader

What:

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for a Camp Leader for the summer at KinPark Youth Urban Farm, located at the Kinsmen Park on Alderlea St. This position reports directly to the Program Manager.

KinPark Youth Urban Farm

After site plan presentations were made and subsequently approved by North Cowichan and City of Duncan councils in late 2012, CGC’s Skills link team of 6 local youth, began to bring their vision of an urban farm on park land to life. This included the transformation of a quarter acre of grass at Kinsman Park into a lush growing space and the construction of a passive solar greenhouse next to the retrofitted pool building.

What has emerged since is a youth-led urban farm and demonstration site based on the principles of permaculture, that aims to train young people how to grow food and run a business, provide increased access to local and sustainably produced food, and educate community members of all ages on various aspects of urban agriculture.

Since July 2014, KinPark expanded it’s programming by adding in a summer camp called KinPark Kids Camp. Every summer, KinPark blossoms with learning, laughter, and magical friendships from children and their families attending KinPark Kids Camp. This camp is for children ages 6 to 10 to engage in hands-on learning that includes growing, harvesting, cooking, and all-things related to sustainability.

Eligibility:

• To be eligible, youth must be
• be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
• This is an 8 week position with the option of extending
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Who:
CGC is a non-profit organization that has been focusing on environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region since March 2004. CGC’s mandate is to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers, increasing capacity for local food production (both urban and rural), and empowering people with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to feed their community.

Our Vision and Purpose:
We envision a food secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment and to each other. Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive, and healthy local food systems and vibrant social fabric. 

Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.

CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other.

CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement and community building.  

CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration. 

CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence.

Our Perks
CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen. 

Diversity and Inclusion
CGC believe that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us. 

When:
CGC is hiring for summer 2023 full-time/35 hours per week for 8 weeks with Summer Youth Employment. KinPark is open 9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, with some evening or weekend events.

Wage: $20

Duties:

Camp Activities

• Organize coordination of all camp activities including setting up weekly schedules
• Supervise and schedule camp counselors
• Supervise all campers
• Provide appropriate medical attention as required
• Report any medical or behavioural concerns to the Program Manager
• Complete daily updates with Program Manager
• Plan, organize, and implement all activities
• Coordinate field trips and other organization partnerships
• Assist with administrative support
• Ensure the farm is clean before and after camp
• Ensure the kitchen area and restroom are kept sanitary
• Communicate with parents regarding any issues that occur during camp 

Other

• Perform other duties as required by the General Manager and Project Manger 

Communications: 

• Communicate clearly with participants, consultant, steering committee, and staff.
• Communicate with all parents and caregivers of campers providing camper updates, and assisting with problem solving and solutions when issues arise with campers.
• Keep the Manager fully informed on the status of the project deliverables.

Working Conditions: 

• The KinPark Kid's Camp Leader will work on a full time basis, 35 paid hours per week. This is an outdoor farm activity based camp with some indoor indoor activities, so the Camp Leader should be prepared for the weather.

Experience and Skills: 

The ideal candidate has:

• Two years of experience working with children, setting up and organizing activities.
• Training in conflict resolution
• Proven facilitation, communication and leadership skills
• Experience in marketing and media relations
• Workable knowledge of social media, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other computer programs.
• Experience at a community non-profit organization an asset.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates a willingness to be flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Relationship Building: Establishes and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the program.
• Communication: Speaks, listens, and writes in a clear, thorough, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develops new and unique ways to promote the program and engage community.
• Volunteer Supervision: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to engage and inspire volunteers to assist with programs.
• Organizational Skills: Sets priorities, develops a work schedule, monitors progress towards goals, and tracks details, data, information, and activities.
• Problem Solving: Assesses problem situations to identify causes, gathers, and processes relevant information, generates possible solutions, and makes recommendations to the Manager and/or resolves the problem.

Benefits: 

• Free parking
• $25/month credit at CGC’s grocery store for recovered food
• Discounted summer camp for employee’s children
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code