Shelburne Farms is proud to host postgraduate education fellows, who are early in their careers in the fields of farm-based and place-based education. Our education fellows learn from and work alongside our staff in a variety of our education programs. Fellows also live onsite and are immersed in the daily rhythms of the farm and the cycle of the seasons.  

This is a fellowship in the field of education. A majority of the fellow’s time is spent teaching and learning with our school field trip programs with additional time spent among our early childhood, outreach, family, and public programs. Our school programs work primarily with elementary-age youth for place-based, seasonally-themed field trips and local community outreach. Outreach programs occur onsite at schools. Early childhood programs are half-day nature and play-based programs for preschool aged children. Our family and public programs happen mainly in the evenings or on the weekends with a variety of programs and special events offered throughout the year. 

Time may also be spent with our educational farmyard and summer day camp for January–December Fellowship placements. The educational farmyard is open to the general public and also provides school, camp, and youth group visits from May through October where visitors explore their connection to farm animals to understand where our food and fiber originates. Summer day camp serves mainly elementary aged youth attending themed nature and place-based programing onsite from mid-June through August.

Mentorship is provided by education staff members; educational resources are shared; and experiential learning is embraced through goal setting, independent exploration, reflection and writing. Graduate level assignments encourage exploration, reflection, and synthesis of the variety of experiences had by fellows during their tenure with Shelburne Farms. Additional time is spent identifying goals and pursuing a personalized professional learning plan, completing education support projects, and engaging in other areas of the farm. Shelburne Farms is committed to fostering a culturally aware learning community that is open to multiple perspectives. Fellows are provided with feedback on their strengths and areas of improvement to further develop their teaching practice and professional development plan.  

Fellowships are offered as temporary employment from May/June–November 2024 or January–November 2025. In addition to the difference in length of fellowship, the audiences and educational approaches differ from season to season therefore the two fellowship placements are not identical experiences. Applicants can apply for both but may only be selected for one placement. Please indicate in your letter of interest for which placement options you would like to be considered.

Responsibilities

• Participate in an orientation to Shelburne Farms and to the fellow role.
• Participate in educator prep days, staff training, observation of programs, and professional development sessions.
• Create and pursue professional goals and a personalized learning plan.
• Check in regularly with mentors and periodically with supervisor to discuss performance, professional goals, and learning plan.
• Observe, team teach, and teach activities for Shelburne Farms school programs, outreach, children’s farmyard, family and public programs (seasonally specific).
• Participate in daily program set-up and debrief meetings with education team.
• Support and/or teach family programs and public events on occasional weekends.
• Participate in and/or provide support for seasonal special events typically on weekends.
• Attend planning meetings for programs and spend time preparing lessons and materials.
• Work on education support projects, your personalized learning plans, and/or fellowship syllabus assignments when not teaching.
• Communicate effectively with coworkers to create a respectful and communicative work environment.
• Maintain and contribute to a tidy shared work space and living space (if living onsite). 
• Receive and incorporate constructive feedback from supervisor and mentors into teaching practice.
• Practice reflection on teaching skills, learning, and daily work and incorporate new learning for continued professional growth.
• Support a continuous effort to foster a culturally aware learning community, open to multiple perspectives.

Qualifications

• College graduate.
• Prior experience or serious professional interest in teaching, education, sustainability, or farm-based education.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn about education practices and programs; communicating with a variety of audiences; farming practices; food systems; animal care; and education for sustainability.
• Prior work experience with camps, formal or informal education programs.
• Positive and flexible attitude with co-workers and visitors.
• Solution-oriented mindset when faced with challenges.
• Demonstrate initiative and display motivation in work and to seek out learning opportunities.
• Ability to follow directions in assigned tasks and work independently.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion within teaching practice and work environment. 
• Ability and awareness of self and others when working on a team, ability to step up and lead and step back and follow as needed.
• Communicative with an interest in engaging with people of different ages and backgrounds.
• Openness to receive supportive praise and constructive feedback and make adjustments with a growth mindset.

Requirements

• Available to work core, weekly, onsite schedule.  
• Additional weekly hours may vary to include early morning chores, flexible work time for fellowship assignments, pursuing goals, completing projects, and attending meetings.
• Ability to work periodic, scheduled weekend programs; schedule will be planned with your input in advance.  
• Commitment to work a full season (May/June–November 2024 or January–November 2025).

Physical Working Conditions

• Indoor and outdoor work environment.
• Varied weather conditions.
• Ability to move over uneven terrain.
• Ability to work with and around large farm animals, hay, manure, and animal bedding
• Commitment to contribute to and maintain a tidy shared work space and living space (if living onsite). 

Compensation

• Salaried, exempt position. Stipend paid biweekly.
• Shared, onsite housing provided.
• Possibility to receive graduate credit (arranged by applicant).
• Possibility to receive health benefits (for January–November fellows).
• Discount at Welcome Center Store.

To Apply

Please email a resume, letter explaining your interest in the position, contact information for two references and season preference in the subject line (whether you are looking to apply for the May/June–November 2024 position or the January–November 2025 position) to workandlearn@shelburnefarms.org

• May/June–November 2024 Fellowship: We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis and will update this website when the position is filled.
• January–November 2025 Fellowship: We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis and will update this website when the position is filled.

Timeline

Application materials are reviewed and interviews offered on a rolling basis until the deadline. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview for the fellowship position.  

Shelburne Farms is committed to fostering a culturally aware learning community that is open to multiple perspectives.