Garden Steward & Educator

Summit Community Gardens + EATS, alongside the Utah Conservation Corps (UCC), is excited to accept applications for the role of Garden Steward & Educator. This position is an AmeriCorps Individual Placement Position, which will work together with the Garden Manager to support seed-to-soil education for youth in garden camp and the restoration and maintenance of garden spaces.

Term of Service: 450-hour term; approximately May 16-August 30, 2026
Location: Park City, UT
Service Schedule: This is a 30 hour per week position that will run for 15 weeks, from mid-May through the end of August. Start and end dates can be flexible for the right candidate.
Questions about the Position: Contact Jess Collette, Garden Manager, jess@summitcommunitygardens.org.

ABOUT THE UTAH CONSERVATION CORPS (UCC)
The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) is an AmeriCorps program dedicated to developing the conservation leaders of tomorrow. We engage in projects throughout the state of Utah that address goals relating to environmental conservation, building leadership, strengthening education on local issues, providing hands-on training and skills to members, all while building the next generation of America’s workforce. Our vision is to create thriving communities and conserve the natural heritage of Utah and the Intermountain West. The UCC supports Utah’s pride in our tradition of service and volunteerism to get things done.

PARTNERING ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Summit Community Gardens - EATS is a non-profit organization with a mission to gather, learn, and grow in our gardens and schools. We envision an inclusive growing community focused on learning, connection, nutrition, and stewardship for current and future generations. We operate Summit County's only public community garden, centrally located in Park City, just off Old Ranch Road at 4056 Shadow Mountain Drive. The 1.5-acre garden consists of both community plot rentals and a large Demonstration Garden which is used for education and growing around 2000 pounds of food annually, which is donated to those that need it most. We operate a garden camp for 260 children, about 20 percent of whom attend on full scholarship. During the school year, we lead school-based programs for another 2,000+ children, focusing on nutrition, cooking, and the science behind the seed-to-soil cycle.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Summit Community Gardens - EATS, alongside the Utah Conservation Corps (UCC), is excited to accept applications for the role of Garden Steward & Educator. This position is an AmeriCorps Individual Placement Position, which will work together with the Garden Manager to support seed-to-soil education for youth in garden camp and the restoration and maintenance of garden spaces. This position will partly be focused on the areas of the garden that are not engaged in food production, including water-wise and fire-wise perennial beds, a 4-compartment compost system, native grass areas, and a small orchard of 10 immature fruit trees. This position will be responsible for ensuring these spaces are properly maintained and stewarded, through planting, mulching, pruning, weed mitigation, and more. This position will also collaborate with our Education Team, who facilitate an 8 week summer camp, to steward raised beds and garden plots that are used to teach camp participants gardening skills and practices, including planting seeds and harvesting. In this role, the Garden Steward & Educator will be responsible for maintaining the garden beds to ensure they are properly weeded, watering, pruned, and harvested, as well as engaging summer camp participants in understanding how food grows, from healthy soil to harvest to tasting. While not part of the camp staff, this position collaborates closely with the Education Team.

The position is a 450-hour AmeriCorps member who will serve between May 16 and August 12, 2026 (approximately). This position will be supervised by the Garden Manager.

PRIMARY DUTIES (80 % DIRECT SERVICES)
• Prune, weed, and otherwise maintain water-wise and fire-wise perennial zones, as well as a small orchard of around 10 young apple and cherry trees.
• Work to restore native grasses and plants and engage in noxious weed mitigation in grassy areas of the garden.
• Oversee the compost system of the garden, ensuring that materials are being added and processed properly to aid in the creation of healthy, beneficial compost.
• Collaborate with the Education Team to create and lead hands-on opportunities for children to learn in the garden by engaging students in growing, tasting, and appreciating fresh, healthy foods.
• Facilitate the stewardship of growing beds for the Education Program and camp participants, including planting, weeding, and otherwise maintaining them.
• Guide students through composting, healthy soil practices, and seed-saving projects to promote environmental stewardship.
• Develop a data tracking plan and collect and report AmeriCorps impact data timely and accurately.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES (20% maximum time served can be member development and training)
• Attend required USERVE Volunteer Management sessions.
• Attend required USERVE Member Gatherings and Active Engagement Retreats.
• Complete required UCC Orientation Modules.
• Learn fruit tree care and maintenance practices as part of the Wasatch Back Fruit Tree Project with Utah State University Extension offices.
• Work with Summit County Open Space team to utilize biocontrol and other weed management practices.
• Training from SCG-EATS team on how to implement regenerative agricultural practices and grow food in a high-altitude setting.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS
AmeriCorps Requirements (all below required):
• Be a United States citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Eligible to serve in an AmeriCorps State/National term. Please note that AmeriCorps rules limit the number of education awards an individual may earn. No member may earn more than the aggregate value of two (2) full-time education awards.
• It is a requirement to obtain a high school diploma or GED before one is eligible to use the Education Award.
• Candidates must submit to and pass a background check.
• Full-day schedules will include a 30-minute lunch break that does NOT count toward term of service hours.

Position Specific Requirements:
• Knowledge of sustainable, organic gardening practices or a strong desire to learn.
• Organized, motivated, and able to work independently and as part of a group.
• Excellent communication skills, positive attitude, and the ability to solve problems creatively.
• A positive and professional manner.
• Experience working with children in outdoor settings.
• Ability to create an encouraging, fun environment for children.
• Familiarity with positive discipline strategies.
• Desire to work outdoors in variable weather conditions.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds and be on your feet for extended periods of time.
• Spanish-speaking ability would be a giant plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This AmeriCorps member will receive the following benefits:
• $5,400.00 living allowance is divided and paid in even bimonthly (TWICE per month) disbursements throughout the term of service. Note: this is taxable income.
• $1,956.35 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (available to members after successful service term)
• Federal, student loan forbearance and, workers compensation for all members. More information can be found here.

HOW TO APPLY
Research shows that candidates often don’t apply for positions if they are unsure if they meet all the position qualifications and skillsets. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested! You will be asked to submit a cover letter addressed to Jess Collette, a resume, and a document containing contact information for at least two professional references. Please have these documents ready and apply by submitting an application at: https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CA1e5AsThdxWlM

Equal Opportunity Program
Utah Conservation Corps is an equal opportunity program. Utah Conservation Corps and Utah State University do not discriminate or tolerate discrimination based on an individual’s identity. UCC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for application and service with our programs. To request reasonable accommodation please visit https://www.usu.edu/hr/current-employees/ada/

UCC’s Zero Tolerance Policies
The following behaviors will result in immediate termination. At no time may the UCC AmeriCorps member:
• Engage in activities that pose a significant emotional or physical safety risk to others, including harassment, creating a hostile work environment, or bullying
• Possess, consume, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during the performance of service activities or while living and working at the UCC project site, campsite, or in UCC vehicles (which includes showing up to work hungover); and
• Fail to notify the UCC of a criminal arrest or conviction during their term of service.

AmeriCorps Members as Team Leaders. Programs may create positions where AmeriCorps members provide an additional layer of leadership and support for members under certain conditions. All the activities and prohibitions that apply to AmeriCorps members also apply to Team Leaders. Team Leaders are not permitted to act in a staff capacity, including supervising members. Team Leaders must not be responsible for program development and coordination; however, they may assist by providing information and resources on best practices or by helping to develop portions of the program such as the training curriculum. Under no circumstances should an AmeriCorps member serving as a Team Leader be the individual legally responsible for the program or other members.

Unallowable Team Leader activities include: signing member timesheets; evaluating member performance; disciplining AmeriCorps members; enrolling/dismissing AmeriCorps members; writing and/or signing program reports; managing the program’s payroll and budget.