Summer Camp Counselor, Farm & Arts Day Camp Counselor, Farm-To-Table Summer Camp Cook in Ghent, New York

Hawthorne Valley Farm is seeking creative, energetic, mindful individuals who are interested in the arts, agriculture, and education. Summer camp counselors will work collaboratively to foster a fun, inclusive environment for our campers aged 8-16. Our summer camp staff guide children through hands-on, nature-based activities while living on our 900-acre organic, diversified Biodynamic® farm. We are hiring House Camp Counselors, Field Camp Counselors, Farm-to-Table Summer Camp Cooks, and a Summer Camp Registered Nurse.

Hawthorne Valley is located in Ghent, NY, just 2.5 hours north of Manhattan and 40 minutes south of Albany.

House Camp Counselors: Our residential House Camp provides campers ages 8 to 13 the opportunity to live and work on a real working farm. We wake to the rooster’s crow and end our day with stories and songs. Our campers live in our 200-year-old farmstead and experience an old-fashioned, technology-free summer in the country with long days spent swimming in our pond, hiking our hills, singing, creating handicrafts, gardening, and playing outdoors in the fresh air! Farm House Camp staff will live in the farmhouse with the children in shared adult living quarters. All of our meals feature delicious, home-cooked fare created from food produced on our Biodynamic® farm and other Hudson Valley organic growers. Meals are eaten with the children in our family-style dining hall. Most requests and all dietary restrictions are gladly met.

House Camp Counselors are responsible for the primary care and co-managing of a dorm room with up to 6 campers. Counselors lead or assist with various aspects of camp sports, swimming in our pond, craft activities, games, hikes, and farm chores. Applicants must love working with school-aged children and be willing to enthusiastically guide our young campers through a joyful camp experience. House Camp counselors live in the Main House along with campers or right adjacent to the Main House.

Residential camp staff will work six days per week during camp sessions with one scheduled day off. This camp is in session for six weeks of programming with two paid weeks of training prior to camp.

Salary Range – $2,500 – $2,750 for the seven-week long season, pay is commensurate with experience and desired skills. Waterfront certification will be provided for those who are currently certified Lifeguards; re-certifications will be provided for those with current First Aid/CPR/AED training. Room and board included.

Mandatory Training – June 19 – June 24
Camp Duration – June 26 – August 5

Field Camp Counselors: At our residential Field Camp, counselors guide campers through the day beginning with farm apprenticeship in our kitchens and fields, afternoons of hiking, crafts, explorations, offsite adventures in the Hudson Valley, and evening hangouts. Activities vary but may include:

~Swimming ~Sculpture ~Woodworking~ Soccer ~Natural dying~ Watercolor

~Nature games~ Handcrafts ~Yoga~ Storytelling ~ Bonfires~ and more!

Our program is centered around providing campers with the opportunity to live a communal, farm-to-table experience in a place where they can unplug and be themselves.

All of our meals feature delicious, home-cooked fare created from food produced on our 900-acre Biodynamic farm and other Hudson Valley organic growers. Meals are eaten with the children in our family-style dining hall. Most requests and all dietary restrictions are gladly met. Staff lives in simple platform tents in the Field Camp grove near campers lodged in rustic cabins. Counselors work six days on and have one scheduled day off per week, with intermittent breaks during each day. Camp is in session for six weeks. There are two paid weeks of training prior to camp.

Salary Range – $2,750 – $3,000 for the eight-week long season, pay is commensurate with experience and desired skills. Waterfront certification will be provided for those who are currently certified Lifeguards; re-certifications will be provided for those with current First Aid/CPR/AED training. Room and board included.

Mandatory Training – June 12 – June 24
Camp Duration – June 26 – August 5

Summer Camp REGISTERED NURSE: Hawthorne Valley Farm Summer Camp program has an opportunity for a nurse who enjoys working with children ages 8 to 16! Join us at our unique Farm Camps in the heart of the Hudson Valley in Ghent, NY! Come live, learn, and be a “summer mom/dad” to our campers while using your nursing skills. In your downtime enjoy all the wonders of nature and animals on our 900-acre Biodynamic Farm! During our camps children experience a working farm and, through active participation, learn practical skills, develop social relationships, and gain a deeper sense of self and relationship to nature. A portion of our campers are from New York City and its boroughs and they have visited the farm before during our school year program and attend Waldorf or private schools. Medical needs in the past have been colds, sprains, homesickness, stomach flu, cramps, poison ivy, small cuts, and bruises, etc.

Responsibilities:

• This position is responsible for the medical needs of 72 campers ages 8 to 16, and 20 staff per session of camp. This includes our day and residential camps.
• Ensures compliance with the Columbia County Department of Health camp health regulations.
• Dispensing medicines, performing first aid, daily sick calls
• Maintaining all medical records and documentation on campers and staff
• Screening of incoming campers for any health issues
• Liaison to camper parents
• Accompanying campers/staff to doctors when needed
• Provide a nurturing and responsive environment to campers, guests and other staff members.
• Help to ensure the smooth operations of the daily needs of the camp by being flexible and attentive to details.
• Support Camp Director, Camp Managers and counselors with upholding all camp medical protocols
• Support Campers with any behavioral, health, emotional or learning issues

Desired Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse with current license in New York State with current CPR/AED certification
• Experience working with children ages 8 to 16 is a plus
• Nurturing personality able to work with all age groups and needs including homesickness.
• A good work ethic with an ability to be flexible, work as a team member with all age groups.
• Strong time management, communication, organizational and record-keeping skills.
• Strong assessment skills and some knowledge of homeopathic medicines is a plus
• Ability to live on campus in a private room for the 8 week camp season.
• The ability to lift and carry 50 lbs
• Age of 21 or older (new nurse graduates are encouraged to apply)

There is a mandatory two-week training for camp. The start date of the training is June 12. (This start date is a little flexible for the right candidate.) The dates of the camp are June 26 to August 5, 2022. The salary for the Summer Camp Nurse is $8,000 for the 8 week season which includes a private room and all organic meals. Please note: Our available housing is small and cannot accommodate partners, children, or pets. If you have a child, ages 8 to 12, please let us know to determine if there would be available in one of our camp sessions. Your child would only be able to stay on campus during the duration of the session (1 to 2 weeks, depending on the age of the child).

Farm-To-Table Summer Camp Cook: Join us at our unique Farm Camps in the heart of the Hudson Valley! Hawthorne Valley Farm’s Place-Based Learning Center is hiring for our Residential Camps Dining Hall Kitchen staff.

Hawthorne Valley Farm is a place where children can experience a working farm and through active participation learn practical skills, develop social relationships, and gain a deeper sense of self and relationship to nature. Our program activities are designed to bring children and staff closer to nature, each other, and themselves, foster healthy food choices and build strong communities. Our camps offer children the opportunity to spend their summers in a no-tech, nature-based, Waldorf-inspired learning environment on our 900-acre working biodynamic farm. Our kitchen features organic, home-cooked vegetarian meals sourced from our farm, gardens, bakery, kraut cellar, and creamery as well as other organic Hudson Valley growers.

Responsibilities:

• Working in a busy and lively kitchen environment preparing meals for up to 70 campers and staff
• Ensuring compliance with the Columbia County Department of Health camp regulations
• Prepping, cleaning, plating, meals from a pre-approved kid-friendly recipe
• Learning all the food allergies and sensitivities of campers and adhering to specific menu changes due to allergies
• Provide a nurturing and responsive environment to campers, guests, and other staff members
• Helping to ensure smooth operations of the daily needs of the Kitchen by being flexible and attentive to details
• Supporting Dining Hall Manager and Camp Director with upholding all camp food-related protocols

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience cooking primarily vegetarian meals for large groups in a commercial kitchen environment.
• Knowledge of various food allergies and sensitivities
• Safe Serv certification
• Ability to follow a recipe
• A good worth ethic with an ability to be flexible and work as a team member with all age groups, including campers
• Strong time management, communication, and organizational skills
• The ability to lift and carry 50 lbs
• Previous cooking experience is required

We are currently seeking 3 cooks to help our Kitchen Manager serve three meals and two snacks per day to our campers and camp staff. The position runs for 8 weeks, including 2 weeks of training and 6 weeks of camp sessions. The positions call for rotating 6-8 hour shifts six days per week with one full day off per week.

Salary Range – $2,500- $3,500 for the camp season. Salary is commensurate with experience. Room and board are included.

Dates- Mandatory Training: June 12 – June 24
Camp Duration: June 26 – August 5