Hourly Rate: $17.96 – Check out the YMCA’s total compensation package!

Location: Cedar Glen YMCA Outdoor Centre

Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Employment Type: Contract Part Time Hourly (5 months)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: May 16, 2025

Deadline to Apply: February 15, 2025 at 5:00pm

Be the Spark! Join our passionate Farm Team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

Reporting to the Farm Supervisor, the Farm Educator/Assistant Market Gardener supports the day-to-day implementation and oversight of Farm Camp programs. This position provides support in delivering the highest quality farm education to camp participants that aligns with the overall mission, vision and values of the YMCA. As the assistant market gardener you provide help and assistance to the market gardener in the day-to-day operations of the market garden outside of the hours of farm camp programming and prep. 

The Farm Camp Educator/Assistant Market Gardener plays an essential role in the planning and implementation of the farm camp programs.  

The Farm Educator/Assistant Market Gardener must be child-focused, enthusiastic and committed to delivering safe, fun and engaging camp programs.   

In this role, you will: 

Support all farm camp programming, including farm tours, harvesting, seeding, transplanting, and other educational activities on the farm Deliver safe and high-quality farm camp programs, meeting program delivery expectations as outlined in the program support materials. Work with Farm Supervisor to adapt programs based on seasonal availability of produce, weather conditions, camper interests, etc Coordinate availability of produce for farm camp with the farm staff to ensure campers can experience fresh vegetables during their programming Maintain the camper gardens to ensure the success of produce, enabling learning opportunities throughout the growing season Keep the camp spaces safe, clean, and tidy at all times. Adhere to all Health and Safety guidelines Maintain an ongoing inventory of ingredients and materials for Farm Camp, and communicate the need for restocking materials to Farm Supervisor, keeping within budget guidelines  Proactively support the Farm Supervisor and other members of the farm team. Engage in group meeting and coaching sessions throughout the duration of the contract, build strong relationships with coworkers, and communicate clearly. Act as a positive role model for children, youth, and fellow staff Participate enthusiastically with campers in all activities including daily programs Aid the market gardener with carrying out the daily operations needed on the farm (i.e., planting, weeding, harvesting, washing and bunching), as identified by Farm Supervisor or Market Gardeners Lead a crew of helpers (interns, volunteers, visitors) in an efficient and supportive manner. Support farm operations and education on a regular basis based on needs of the farm Proactively support all farm team members. Positively participate in group meeting and coaching sessions throughout the duration of the contract Follow work schedule developed by Farm Supervisor to include occasional travel between farm locations Perform other duties as assigned

You bring: 

Minimum 1 full season of experience as an environmental educator or camp counselor in an outdoor setting   Leadership in organizing educational activities and garden tasks  Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of agriculture, gardening, cooking, or a related field Minimum age 17 by first day of employment   Experience working with children preferred  Organized, flexible, adaptable, and possesses excellent written and oral communication skills  Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers  Ability to routinely perform repetitive physical labour on a regular basis   Must have a personal arrangement to commute to site. YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre is not accessible by public transit   Current Standard First Aid and CPR “C” Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging 

What you need to succeed: 

Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 165 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2020–2025 strategic plan, Ignite the Light, which outlines how we are focused on boosting well-being and promoting equity across the Greater Toronto Area.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.