Youth Farm Intern- Windy City Harvest

Title: Windy City Harvest Youth Farm Intern

Location: Chicago, IL

Reports to: Manager of Education and Wellness

Year-Round or Seasonal: Seasonal

Full-time: 37.5 hours

Seasonal Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview

Work with Chicago's most innovative sustainable urban agriculture training program, the Chicago Botanic Garden's Windy City Harvest Youth Farm. Youth Farm interns work as part of a dedicated, energetic team at one of our sustainable farms. They work alongside high school students to produce sustainably grown food in the Chicago communities of North Lawndale and Washington Park. Youth Farm participants learn the principles of sustainable agriculture, teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurship as they cultivate crops and their own careers and professional skills. The Chicago Botanic Garden has three internships open at the Washington Park Youth Farm and North Lawndale Youth Farm.

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Assist in training 16 to 19 high school students in organic farming techniques, including weeding, planting, and harvesting.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and a collaborative spirit when working alongside a diverse group of participants, including youth, adult learners, veterans, and formerly justice-involved trainees, in an agriculture-focused job-training setting.
• Facilitate team-building exercises to strengthen collaboration and communication among participants.
• Support coordinators and educators in supervising students during a range of activities, including farm tasks, landscaping, safe tool use, and adherence to food safety protocols.
• Serve as a substitute instructor if the Windy City Harvest Farm Coordinator is absent.
• Lead weekly hands-on lessons for small crews of three to five Youth Farmers.
• Provide detailed daily feedback for each student using the Windy City Harvest Straight Talk format, communicating observations to the coordinator and student crew leader.
• Immediately report any concerns regarding student safety, well-being, or interpersonal conflicts to the coordinator or manager.
• Assist with additional program and operational needs, such as preparing and setting up meals and snacks and managing daily supplies.
• Provide support across Windy City Harvest farm sites as needed, contributing to general farm operations.
• Assist with the delivery of produce and program supplies using Chicago Botanic Garden vehicles, following departmental fleet standards.
• Help implement the crop plan for sustainable vegetable production, incorporating succession planting, integrated pest management, and season extension strategies in line with standard operating procedures to meet sales goals.
• Act as a resource for program information for project partners, community members, and Chicago Botanic Garden staff; assist with tours as needed.
• Support site maintenance, including tool and machinery care, and help maintain a clean, safe working environment.

Qualifications for the Windy City Corps program:

• Experience working with youth; background in outdoor or experiential education is a plus.
• Ability to complete DCFS background check and Illinois Mandated Reporter Training upon hire.
• Basic knowledge of horticulture and/or sustainable agriculture is preferred.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to shifting schedules and program needs; availability for occasional evening, early morning, and Saturday shifts is required.
• Willingness and ability to perform physical labor in all weather conditions, including rain and extreme heat.
• A positive, solutions-oriented attitude and a genuine interest in the intersection of youth development and urban agriculture within a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

Physical Demands:

This is an urban farm setting. Staff must be able to work on their feet all day in all weather conditions performing manual labor. This will involve frequent lifting, standing, walking, bending, farm tool usage, machinery operation, and speaking to the public, staff, and program participants. Staff are also required to lift, push, and pull items up to 50 pounds. Staff are expected to work in multiple locations.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.