The mission of the Center for Land-Based Learning is to inspire, educate, and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards. We achieve this mission by providing experiential education programs for high school students (the SLEWS, Caring for our Watersheds, and FARMS Leadership Programs) and a beginning farmer training and development program (the California Farm Academy). These model programs provide hands-on experiences through which participants develop leadership skills and create connections to environmental, agricultural, and food system careers. Our programs span 27 California counties and reach over 2,000 people each year.

Our Youth Programs

This position would split time between three youth programs within the Center for Land-Based Learning (approximately SLEWS 50% and FARMS 50%, though percentages will vary by year/season depending on the needs of the programming).

The SLEWS (Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship) Program, an award-winning environmental education program, engages California high school students and teachers in meaningful environmental stewardship that allows students to practice scientific skills, learn from natural resource professionals, and expand on classroom concepts, while accomplishing real habitat restoration projects on farms, ranches and open spaces. We strive to provide meaningful educational experiences while achieving the most effective ecological impact on the land. The coordinator must therefore have a strong background in, and passion for, experiential education, habitat restoration and program coordination. The SLEWS Program just celebrated its 20 year anniversary, and is just as relevant today as the year it was created.

The FARMS (Farming, Agriculture & Resource Management for Sustainability) Program provides high school students with hands-on experiences and career development opportunities in all aspects of the agriculture and natural resources industries. FARMS participants are provided with a multi-year, progressive approach to entering these industries. The experience begins with Tier 1, the FARMS Leadership Program, in which students engage in career exploration. In Tier 2, FARMS Advanced, students focus on workforce development and hands-on skills training in the field, and in Tier 3, students engage in job shadows and paid internships.

❖ FARMS Leadership Program: Over the course of a school year, participants attend monthly field days on farms, ranches, wildlife areas, agriculture businesses, colleges and universities, where they gain valuable insight into the food and agriculture industry, associated careers and college opportunities. Coordinators infuse the day with team building activities, lessons about healthy food choices, and time to reflect on the many careers involved in food and agriculture production. The FARMS Leadership Program is the oldest in the nonprofit’s history, established in 1993, and serves 14 counties and 30 schools across the state.

❖ FARMS Internship Program: In partnership with the Thousand Strong Internship Program born out of the City of Sacramento Mayor’s Office, the FARMS Internship Program provides students with an opportunity to participate in a year-long paid urban agriculture internship. Targeting both hard and soft skills development, the internship provides up to 25 students from Grant Union and Luther Burbank High Schools with the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience in urban agriculture as well as workforce development training. Starting in the summer, interns work up to 300 hours through the end of the school year in their schools’ urban gardens, on community urban farms, and/or on habitat restoration projects throughout the city. Interns also participate in 40 hours of workforce development training including, but not limited to, weekly community building circles, leadership activities, and individualized college and career readiness training.

Job Summary

The Center for Land-Based Learning is seeking a full-time Youth Programs Coordinator. This position reports to the SLEWS and FARMS Program Managers. The Youth Programs Coordinator will assist with the execution of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley Programs. This position must be able to collaborate across a diverse set of restoration, landowner (both private and public), and education partners to plan, implement, and assist in leading a robust season of agricultural and habitat restoration projects for high school youth in the greater Sacramento Region. Projects may be in Yolo, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Colusa, or additional counties depending on the year, and includes assisting with program outreach, curriculum development, direct student support, volunteer training and recruitment of mentors that serve in key roles to teach the curriculum, and helping to implement creative place-based learning experiences.

The position will be based out of the Center for Land-Based Learning’s office at 40140 Best Ranch Road, Woodland, CA. Hybrid model is an option.

Core Responsibilities

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

Student & Landowner, Education & Watershed Stewardship (50%):

• Work with Program Manager and partners to select, develop and plan restoration projects for SLEWS Program field days
• Assist Program Manager in coordinating and co-facilitating approximately 30 hands-on student field days per year
• Work with Program Manager to develop and maintain relationships with restoration partners, landowners, guest speakers/presenters, schools, alumni and funders
• Recruit and train up to 60 partners and volunteers to serve as mentors for student field days with the direction of the Program Manager
• Assist Program Manager in creating and executing the spread of outreach materials such as PowerPoint presentations, posters, slideshows and the SLEWS video
• Assist in the handling all logistics for student field days including ordering food, bringing tools, providing educational materials as well as coordinating with partners, teachers and mentors
• Help to plan and implement CLBL events and supporting other CLBL programs as needed
• Assist Program Manager in developing and maintaining effective organizational systems for SLEWS Program supplies, equipment and paperwork
• Update and administer pre- and post-program surveys, compiling results, and sharing data with partners and funders

FARMS Leadership Program (20%):

• Assist Program Manager in recruiting participating FARMS schools and students:
• Ensure school applications, administrator agreements and other paperwork are completed and on file with CLBL admin;
• Assist Program Manager in creating engaging and hands-on student recruitment presentations
• Assist in annual student recruitment participants: Conduct school presentations and coordinate student recruitment and selection. 5-7 students per school for a total of ~30 students per program cohort
• Assist Program Manager in planning and implementing all aspects of FARMS Leadership field days, including annual field day calendar, individual field day agendas, securing site hosts and speakers/presenters, food (breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages), and coordinating transportation and directions to events. Approximately one field day per month from October – May, per cohort
• Assist Program Manager in collaboration with site hosts and speakers/presenters to provide hands-on learning experiences for FARMS students
• Assist Program Manager in planning and organizing educational curriculum, including but not limited to, youth development and leadership activities, sustainable agriculture and environmental education lessons, social/emotional skills development, and workforce development workshops
• Co-facilitate the delivery process of curriculum noted above during FARMS field days 
• Assist Program Manager in updating curriculum for FARMS Community Action Project (CAP) and provide support to teachers and students in coordinating and implementing CAPs

FARMS Internship Program (30%):

• In partnership with teachers at Luther Burbank High School and Grant Union High school, oversee internship work hours and help to lead garden/field learning activities
• Assist Program Manager in developing and maintaining an effective communication system with students, teachers, and industry partners
• Co-develop and co-facilitate workforce development training (40 hours required), leadership development opportunities and experiential learning activities throughout the year. This will include workshops, field trips to other urban farms and gardens in the region, and field trips to post-secondary institutions with agriculture and natural resource programs
• Assist Program Manager and teachers at both schools to recruit and facilitate guest speakers for career exploration and connection to local industry
• Assist Program Manager in performing all administrative duties for intern supervision, including internship orientation and onboarding, forms and requirements, and offboarding
• Perform all intern payroll duties and utilize Workday and Career Catalyst Platforms to assist interns in any additional administrative needs

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• A desire to assist in the advancement of CLBL’s mission and work including that conducted by its youth programs.

Additional Qualifications:

• Proven writing skills, detail-orientation, and ability to communicate effectively
• A demonstrated ability and willingness to work effectively with youth
• An ability and willingness to work with diverse partners and stakeholders
• Willingness and desire to engage in the critical and reflective feedback process
• Ability to work in the field (lifting, hiking, planting, etc.)
• Experience in either formal or informal educational programs preferred but not required
• A background in ecological restoration and/or sustainable agriculture preferred but not required

Hours, Benefits, and Compensation:

This is a 40 hour/week non-exempt position. Occasional evenings and weekends will be necessary. Range from $23-$26/hour, commensurate with experience. This position includes medical, vision, and dental benefits, vacation, sick days and 12 paid holidays after 3 months of employment. CLBL also provides the opportunity to enroll in Flexible Health Spending Accounts, supplemental insurance through Colonial Insurance, and 401(K)/Roth IRA options.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:

The Center for Land-Based Learning provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.