Garden Coordinator Volunteer - Santa Maria

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Do you have a passion for promoting nutrition and sustainability with young children? We have a wonderful volunteer opportunity for a gardening enthusiast to serve as Garden Coordinator for Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) in Northern Santa Barbara County.

CAPSLO is private non-profit Migrant Head Start and Early Head Start agency whose mission is "committed to eliminating the causes of poverty by empowering low income individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through a wide array of community-based program and actions." Our farm to preschool interventions in the center and family child care setting achieves this mission through providing opportunity to children to deepen their connection to their food supply and nutritious choices through a hands-on based garden curriculum.

The position will involve partnering with the nutrition content team, local center staff, gardening clubs, and local nurseries/nursery supply businesses to support outdoor classroom activities with preschoolers, as well as participating in hands-on gardening activities with the providers, teaching staff, and children. The Garden Coordinator will be supported by local staff and use lessons learned from other counties. Helpful background (but not required) is any training or experience in nutrition, local food supply, community outreach, environmental science or sustainable agriculture. Ages served include infants to preschool age.

Garden Coordinator responsibilities:

• facilitates development of the different gardens at Head Start sites

• assesses and prioritizes needs of those gardens

• gathers resources from community partners

• coordinates and brings garden helpers time and talents to the gardens

• works with center supervisors and care providers to incorporate the outdoor classroom into the children’s routines and activities.

Time Commitment: 3-6 hours per week during the growing season. During off season, less than 3 hours per month or as needed.

Requirements:

• Must pass background check

• Provide TB clearance

• Two references related to community volunteering or childcare

Please contact Wendy Minarik via email atwminarik@capslo.org and fill out a volunteer application at www.capslo.org/sec-volunteers