About the Role
North Country School & Camp Treetops seeks a full-time Farming Fellow to join our educational farm in the Adirondacks. Over the course of this year-long fellowship, you will immerse yourself in the daily tasks and seasonal cycles that sustain our campus farm—from starting seeds and growing crops to caring for livestock, managing rotational grazing, and working with horses. You’ll also help create a hands-on, place-based learning experience for nearly 300 campers and students, guiding them through barn chores and integrating them into the rhythms of farm life. This unique opportunity blends farming and education, offering a meaningful way to inspire the next generation to discover “the joy in meaningful work.”
Requirements
Farm Education & Operations (75% of time)
As a key member of the farm team, you will work closely with the Educational Farm Director and Equine & Livestock Manager to help care for the farm. Simultaneously, you will provide students and campers with experiential learning opportunities that integrate hands-on farm work with our seasonal rhythms. You will help to:
Lead children through twice-daily barn chores, mucking stalls, feeding animals, and turning them out to pasture.
Care for livestock including chickens, turkeys, pigs, sheep (monitoring for signs of labor), and horses.
Harvest chickens and turkeys as part of annual community-wide harvests that serve an educational purpose while also providing a clear demonstration of where food comes from.
Participate in hay deliveries throughout the year
Work in production gardens and perennial gardens, including tending to over 30 varieties of flowers, 25 varieties of vegetables and herbs, and tomatoes in our greenhouses.
Lead campers through farm-related activities, connecting them to the natural environment (ages 8-14).
Help integrate the farm into programming and curriculum, including supporting Edible Schoolyard (ESY) classes.
Assist with experiential learning projects and outdoor activities that connect academic concepts students learn about in the classroom to the farm and the natural world.
Lead community mornings during the summer with large, farm-based jobs involving the entire community.
Farm Logistics & Planning (10%)
In the winter and spring, your role will shift toward preparing for the upcoming growing season. You’ll collaborate with the farm team to create the annual crop plan, order livestock such as laying hens and pigs, and prepare for seasonal events like lambing and maple sugaring. This time will also involve maintaining farm records, managing systems for ordering and planning, and deepening your farming knowledge through ongoing professional development. Your efforts will be crucial in ensuring that the farm is well-prepared for the busy growing season ahead.
Horsemanship & Riding Instruction (10%)
As part of your responsibilities, you’ll be involved in caring for our horses and will assist with horseback riding lessons based on your comfort and ability. You’ll also help school horses as needed. Your horsemanship duties will tie into farm operations and be an essential part of your overall contribution to the community.
Assisting the NCS Outdoor Program (5%)
When school is in session from September-May, you’ll help lead various outdoor activities. Similar to recess, “out-time” provides students an opportunity to engage in activities that spark their interests, like riding lessons or helping with farm tasks such as hay deliveries or sheep care. You’ll also participate in Saturday Trips, which are full-day excursions that involve hiking, skiing, or exploring local museums and events. These trips will offer opportunities for the students to engage with the outdoors beyond the farm, expanding their learning and adventure in the Adirondacks.
Skills You Bring to Our Community
At least one year of working with horses and horseback riding experience
One season of gardening or livestock-related experience helpful, but not required
Clear verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work both independently and part of a team
Organizational skills and attention to detail
Prior experience working with, or a willingness to learn how to operate farm equipment
Apply on Website: https://northcountryschool.org/about-us/employment/farming-fellow/
About the Company
Located on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY, Camp Treetops and North Country School sit on a 220-acre campus amid majestic mountain peaks in New York State’s Adirondack Park. Since 1921 and 1938 respectively, we have been nationally renowned for pioneering educational programs rooted in progressive practices and experiential learning. Both Camp and School guide children to engage the natural world, take on intellectual and physical challenges in a nurturing community, and cultivate independence and creativity.