[2026] Farm Educator, Fresh Air Camps

Hudson Valley, NY
Seasonal
Entry Level

FARM EDUCATOR
Fresh Air Camps | Hudson Valley, NY | June 15 – August 15, 2026 

Since its founding in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free life-changing outdoor experiences to more than 1.8 million children from underserved communities in New York City. Young people also participate in year-round leadership. Career exploration and educational programs. For more information, visit www.FreshAir.org. 

The Fresh Air Fund also owns and operates the Sharpe Reservation, which houses five of the six Fresh Air Camps, and the Sharpe Reservation Environmental Center, which serves over 18,000 visitors each year. The Fresh Aid Fund also operates Camp Junior, a camp for young people from the Bronx in Harriman State Park. 

Life as a Farmer educator:  

 The Farmer Educator plays a key role in delivering high-quality Agricultural programming and ensuring a safe, engaging camp experience for all participants. Each Farmer educator leads a specific activity area daily, reviewing preexisting lessons, developing lesson plans, and teaching six one-hour periods daily. Farmers provide active supervision, instruction, and encouragement to campers while fostering skill development, creativity, exploration, and teamwork.  Farmer Educators also support daily garden maintenance, animal care, and a camp-wide composting program.  

This position requires living on-site at camp from June 15 to August 15, 2026. Compensation for this role is $2,800 for the summer. Shared housing and meals are provided. The role is fully in person and reports to the Farm Director.  

What You’ll Do:  

  1. Plan and implement lessons for the Farm programs. 

  1. Teach six class sessions each day on topics such as basic animal care, the farm food chain, composting, and organic gardening. 

  1. Participate in the compost program after daily farm classes. 

  1. Perform daily chores, including morning and evening feedings, cleaning, milking, and other tasks that may require heavy lifting. 

  1. Support garden upkeep, including weeding, planting, and harvesting. 

  1. Handle daily compost pick-ups from dining halls and assist with the morning breakfast program. 

  1. Maintain general cleanliness of all farm facilities. 

  1. Ensure the health and well-being of domestic livestock and the ongoing care of the gardens. 

  1. Educate campers about the compost program, encourage participation, and help manage the compost pile. 

  1. Ensure camper safety in all program areas. 

  1. Collaborate with fellow staff, contributing skills and ideas to enhance the farm program. 

  1. Participate fully in all assigned camp activities. 

  1. Prioritize camper needs and make decisions in their best interest. 

  1. Handle stressful situations appropriately in a fast-paced, interactive environment. 

  1. Explain and enforce camp policies, rules, and traditions. 

  1. Serve as a positive role model, investing time with campers to support growth and learning. 

  1. Properly use and care for camp equipment and facilities. 

  1. Understand and follow all emergency procedures. 

  1. Perform other duties as assigned to support the success of the camp community.  
     

What We’re Looking For:  

  1. Must be at least 18 years old by the start of camp. 

  1. Two years of college with coursework in animal science, biology, botany, or related environmental sciences preferred. 

  1. A minimum of one year's experience working with children is required. Staff must be passionate about working with children.    

  1. One year of teaching experience in an outdoor setting is highly preferred, with a demonstrated ability to design activities that are based on experiential/active learning theory 

  1. Passionate about working with livestock and plants. 

  1. Current driver’s license is preferred. 

  1. Interested in working and living outdoors for the summer.   

  1. Emotionally mature with a willingness to work as a team player and to maintain a positive attitude.   

  1. Flexible and willing to accept challenges and step outside your comfort zone. 

  1. Physical ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, talk, and hear. 

  1. Ability to regularly lift and move items weighing 20+ pounds. 

  1. Comfortable working in wet, humid, and hot outdoor conditions. 

  1. Available for the full duration of the summer program. 
     

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and to protecting the participants we serve, The Fresh Air Fund requires all camp staff to meet applicable vaccination requirements in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, and to be fully vaccinated against polio and MMR. As new public health issues arise, the Fresh Air Fund may require additional vaccinations. Proof of vaccination or an approved exemption will be required as a condition of employment.  

Compensation & Perks:  

  • Compensation for this position is $2,800 for the summer.  

  • All meals and housing are provided during camp.  

  • The opportunity to gain valuable experiences in leadership, communication, and teamwork that will stand out on any resume. 

Ready to join us!  

To apply, please complete a Farm Staff Application. We are hiring on a rolling basis and encourage interested applicants to apply as early as possible. No calls or recruiters, please. 

The Fresh Air Fund is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in its work and on its staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations, and communities to apply. 

The Fresh Air Fund Terms and Conditions:

1. Messages are sent by The Fresh Air Fund and its recruiting partner CampHire (Camp2Career, LLC) to candidates who apply for jobs and consent to receive SMS communications related to recruitment and hiring. Candidates provide their phone number during the application process and must actively opt in to receive SMS updates. Messages include job application updates, interview scheduling, interview reminders, interview confirmations, hiring updates, and other employment-related notifications. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Candidates can reply STOP to opt out at any time or HELP for assistance. Links to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use are provided at the time of consent.

2. You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text "STOP" to the short code. After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. If you want to join again, just sign up as you did the first time and we will start sending SMS messages to you again.

3. If you are experiencing issues with the messaging program you can reply with the keyword HELP for more assistance, or you can get help directly at privacy@freshair.org or 800-367-0003.

4. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages

5. As always, message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to you from us and to us from you. Message frequency may vary. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your wireless provider.

6. If you have any questions regarding privacy, please read our privacy policy below.

Privacy Policy:

We collect your mobile number and related opt-in data for the delivery of SMS messages. Your mobile opt-in data and consent will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

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