Common Ground | Intern

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Common Ground welcomes applications from individuals interested in interning on our site. Most internships are available during the summer, but other opportunities may be available during the school year. For information about internships, contact Rebecca Holcombe at rholcombe@nhep.com or at 203.389.4333 x1213. Applications may also be mailed to:

Rebecca Holcombe

Director of Community Programs

New Haven Ecology Project, Inc.

358 Springside Ave

New Haven, CT 06515

We currently seek applicants for three internships during summer of 2009: for camp counselors, garden interns, and youth crew interns.

Common Ground Camp Counselor

The Common Ground Ecology Camp is operated by the New Haven Ecology Project, which is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. Campers enjoy lessons and activities that take advantage of the site’s 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals.

The primary work of the intern will be to serve as one of the lead camp counselors for either the 6-8 or 9-12 year old age group (possible openings for ages 4 – 5, please inquire if interested). Interns will learn camp curriculum, lead lessons and activities, participate in field trips, and in all other ways be involved in the daily operations of the camp. Camp curriculum is provided, but the opportunity to develop additional lessons and activities or a special project with the campers is available if desired. Interns who wish to work BEFORE June 22 will also have the opportunity to participate in a great deal of hands-on work on our on-site organic farm (planting, weeding, greenhouse care, general garden work, helping with animal care, etc).

Specific skills/experience required for the internship:

Ability to work with children in a patient, nurturing manner and manage behavior without yelling, threats, etc (staff training provided to help learn skills in this area)
Interest in and basic knowledge of the natural world
Willingness to get dirty and work hard in all weather (including summer heat & humidity and/or rain)
Ability to work on a team of adults and teenagers, including both taking and giving direction
Work includes being a supervisor and role-model for high school students working as assistant counselors. Some teenage counselors may be close in age to the Yale Fellow, so the ability to work with a group of peers while still maintaining appropriate supervisory boundaries is essential.
Ability to carry a daypack with supplies (up to 20 lbs), to hike several miles, to lift up to 30 lbs, and to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day
Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs

Additional requirements:

There will be two overnight campouts that all staff are required to work. Staff stay in their own tents (not with campers). The campouts are on a Thursday night, with early dismissal for campers and staff on the following Friday.
All adult staff must attend “CPR for the Professional Rescuer” and become certified. Common Ground will pay for this training.

Detailed program description and goals

The Common Ground Ecology Camp strives to provide a diverse group of children with a fun, safe summer experience, emphasizing building friendships and developing an appreciation for the natural world. Campers experience nature as an exciting place to explore, and discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected. The camp was founded in 1991, and has been under the leadership of its current director since the summer of 2001. Since its inception, the camp has served a diverse group of campers, integrating low-income, primarily minority children from some of New Haven’s poorest neighborhoods with their middle to upper class suburban counterparts. The campers come together on “common ground” as they discover that we all have the responsibility and opportunity to help protect the Earth. Over the past eight summers, the camp has evolved from a small group of campers and staff to an energetic community of over 200 children and adults who come together to learn about how all things are connected, from dirt and sun to the food on our plate and the water we drink.

The primary goal of the Common Ground Ecology Camp continues to be to help children discover the wonder and excitement in the natural world, and to turn that enthusiasm into everyday actions that help promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This goal is accomplished through a variety of structured and unstructured activities and lessons that inspire children to teach their families about recycling, pick up litter, take advantage of city parks for hiking and recreation, grow a garden, ask their parents to purchase locally grown food, and start a compost pile in their backyard because they learned to appreciate the impact of these actions during their time in Ecology Camp. Many campers come back year after year and some eventually return as camp counselors to share what they have learned over many summers at Common Ground.

It is also worthwhile to note that the children, schools, and local communities touched by the Common Ground Ecology Camp also benefit from the breaking down of barriers erected by race, class, neighborhood lines, and socioeconomic status. The camp serves a very diverse group of families from all over the city and surrounding towns, and when campers come together to complete a challenging hike, build a shelter from leaves and branches, and giggle the night away in a tent, they make friends with children that they may never have met outside of camp. Many of these children keep in touch with their camp friends all year long, thus connecting neighborhoods and families and emphasizing the idea that all things (and people) are interconnected.

Daily work involves being an integral part of this community, teaching, playing, mentoring, getting dirty, eating strawberries, rounding up chickens, bandaging knees, and making memories.

Internship logistics and details

Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered between April 1 and November 1, 2009. Minimum commitment is 8 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Interns who are applying to work with the Youth Crew or with Summer Camp MUST work from June 22 through August 14, 2009. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired.

Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days!

Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing.

Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood.

Common Ground Garden and Market Assistant
New Haven Ecology Project is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. The site includes 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals.

The primary work of the intern will be to assist in maintaining our one-acre organic farm and to help us launch two specific new projects for summer 2009: 1. Expand our production of fall and winter crops in order to attend market through November; 2. Offer a new on-site market stand on Wednesday afternoons. By implementing these projects, we will increase our revenues at market (making our non-profit farm more financially self-sustaining) and make more local, organic food available to more New Haven consumers (by attending an extended season market and having an additional on-site market)

Specific skills/experience required for the internship:

Good communication and interpersonal skills with people of all ages
Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task
Willingness to get dirty, hot, and to work hard physically
Willingness to ask questions, and also take initiative, to work both with and without direct supervision
Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day
Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs
An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and local food
Maturity, and the willingness to be a positive role-model to young people working on the farm (including teenagers ages 14 – 18)

Detailed internship description and goals

The internship will have two distinct activities and goals:

1. Working on the one-acre organic farm, including helping to expand our root and storage crop production.

Expanding in this area will allow us to attend market through November, making our non-profit farm more financially self-sustaining. This will also provide more seasonal vegetables to Common Ground High School’s lunch program, and make more local, organic vegetables available through November to the New Haven community.

Farm work will be done with our full time Garden Manager, caring for the farm through the growing season. Working on the farm, the intern will gain experience in all aspects of planting, growing, and maintaining a diversified organic vegetable operation. Common Ground grows nearly 10,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Specific farm tasks may include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, preparing for market, preserving food, maintaining irrigation, keeping crop records, fixing fences, mowing, and a variety of other tasks. Interns may also learn to operate the tractor. Several summer programs for children ages 4 – 18 take place on the farm. Interns do not have daily responsibilities for working with these programs, but must be mature and a good role model for all children on the farm. Interns may sometimes lead small work groups of teenagers who are employed by Common Ground, and will have the opportunity to interact with and lead groups of younger children (summer campers) if desired.

2. Managing an on-site farm stand on Wednesday afternoons.

Interns will have primary responsibility for setting up and managing our new Wednesday on-site farm stand, assisted by the Common Ground Youth Crew. An on-site market has been in high demand by our local neighborhood, and especially by the nearly 100 summer camp families who pass through the farm daily to drop-off and pick-up their children. By establishing this market, we are increasing potential farm revenues and making local, organic food more easily available to the New Haven community.

Most weeks are structured as follows:

Monday: Interns will work with our Site Manager and/or Assistant Chef on Mondays, as our Garden Manager and Youth Crew have the day off. This provides a nice change of pace and the opportunity to learn from a different mentor. Work will usually involve disease and pest management in the garden, ongoing weekly garden tasks, and cooking and/or preserving the leftovers from market.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are devoted to general farm care, including working with the Youth Crew in the garden. Planting, weeding, harvesting, and managing Wednesday market fill up the days.
Friday is spent harvesting for Sunday market, assisted by the Garden Manager and the Youth Crew.

Internship logistics and details

Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing.

Common Ground Youth Crew Co-Leader

Internship position summary

The New Haven Ecology Project is home to a Common Ground High School and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. We are located in West Rock Park in New Haven. The site includes 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals.

The primary work of the intern will be to co-lead the Common Ground Youth Crew, a job training and employment program for underserved urban youth ages 14 – 18. Youth Crew work includes all tasks related to maintaining our market garden (weeding, planting, harvesting), daily farm animal care (food, water, cleaning), small carpentry projects, and cooking and preserving the food from our farm. In addition, a central goal for summer 2009 interns is to help us launch free Saturday Open Farm Days, in which the general public is invited to explore the farm, hosted by the Youth Crew and their Crew Leaders. This new initiative is central to our mission of making our programs accessible to a diverse spectrum of the greater New Haven community.

Specific skills/experience required for the project:

Good communication and interpersonal skills with people of all ages
Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task
Willingness to get dirty, hot, and to work hard physically
Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day
Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs
An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and local food
Maturity, and the willingness to be a positive role-model and co-leader for young people working on the farm (including teenagers ages 14 – 18)
Work includes being a supervisor and role-model for high school students, some of whom may be close in age to the Yale Fellow. The ability to work with a group of peers while still maintaining appropriate supervisory boundaries is essential.

Additional requirements:

Our new Saturday Open Farm Day program will require working on Saturdays from Saturday, July 11 through Saturday, August 8 (five Saturdays). Between those dates, the work week will be Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off. Weeks before and after will be Monday through Friday.

Detailed internship description and goals

Interns will co-lead the Common Ground Youth Crew in partnership with a Common Ground staff member experienced in leading and mentoring youth. The Youth Crew works Tuesday through Saturday beginning July 6, including helping to host the Saturday Open Farm Days. Weeks prior to July 6 will be spent working with the Youth Crew co-leader to develop activity plans, work projects, and youth development and life skills curriculum. Interns will also assist our Garden Manager with any spring garden tasks prior to the start of Youth Crew. In this way, interns will be familiar with the farm and with the Youth Crew curriculum before the start of the program.

During the Youth Crew session, interns who have carpentry experience (or are interested in learning) may also choose to take on any number of small to large construction and repair tasks. Projects may include maintenance/repair of farm and garden buildings and equipment and/or working on building new structures or small projects with the Youth Crew.

Farm work will be done with our full time Garden Manager, caring for the farm through the growing season. Working on the farm, interns will gain experience in many aspects of planting, growing, and maintaining a diversified organic vegetable operation. Common Ground grows nearly 10,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Specific farm tasks may include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, preparing for market, preserving food, maintaining irrigation, keeping crop records, fixing fences, mowing, and a variety of other tasks. Interns may also learn to operate the tractor.

The anticipated weekly structure devotes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to general farm care, including working with the Youth Crew in the garden, daily food and water for the farm animals, and cleaning of animal houses as scheduled. Special cooking and carpentry projects are also scheduled throughout the week. Friday is harvesting day, and the majority of the day is spent picking, washing, weighing, packing, and otherwise preparing for Farmer’s Market. Saturday is Open Farm Day, during which the Youth Crew and their leaders rotate between leading farm tours for visitors and doing regular farm chores. Common Ground attends Sunday Farmer’s Market at Edgewood Park. This is not part of the Youth Crew work week, however paid hours are sometimes available for the Youth Crew and/or interns to help at market if desired.

In order to broaden our reach in the community and better publicize the learning opportunities on the farm, the Youth Crew and their leaders will also set-up an educational booth at the Downtown Farmer’s Market for several Wednesday Market special events. The Youth Crew and their leaders will work together to determine the exact nature of these events, but they generally involve food/recipe tasting with foods from our farm alongside educational materials about local and/or organic foods.

Internship logistics and details

Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing.


	Internships INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Common Ground welcomes applications from individuals interested in interning on our site. Most internships are available during the summer, but other opportunities may be available during the school year. For information about internships, contact Rebecca Holcombe at rholcombe@nhep.com or at 203.389.4333 x1213. Applications may also be mailed to: Rebecca Holcombe Director of Community Programs New Haven Ecology Project, Inc. 358 Springside Ave New Haven, CT 06515 We currently seek applicants for three internships during summer of 2009: for camp counselors, garden interns, and youth crew interns. Common Ground Camp Counselor The Common Ground Ecology Camp is operated by the New Haven Ecology Project, which is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. Campers enjoy lessons and activities that take advantage of the site’s 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals. The primary work of the intern will be to serve as one of the lead camp counselors for either the 6-8 or 9-12 year old age group (possible openings for ages 4 – 5, please inquire if interested). Interns will learn camp curriculum, lead lessons and activities, participate in field trips, and in all other ways be involved in the daily operations of the camp. Camp curriculum is provided, but the opportunity to develop additional lessons and activities or a special project with the campers is available if desired. Interns who wish to work BEFORE June 22 will also have the opportunity to participate in a great deal of hands-on work on our on-site organic farm (planting, weeding, greenhouse care, general garden work, helping with animal care, etc). Specific skills/experience required for the internship: Ability to work with children in a patient, nurturing manner and manage behavior without yelling, threats, etc (staff training provided to help learn skills in this area) Interest in and basic knowledge of the natural world Willingness to get dirty and work hard in all weather (including summer heat & humidity and/or rain) Ability to work on a team of adults and teenagers, including both taking and giving direction Work includes being a supervisor and role-model for high school students working as assistant counselors. Some teenage counselors may be close in age to the Yale Fellow, so the ability to work with a group of peers while still maintaining appropriate supervisory boundaries is essential. Ability to carry a daypack with supplies (up to 20 lbs), to hike several miles, to lift up to 30 lbs, and to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs Additional requirements: There will be two overnight campouts that all staff are required to work. Staff stay in their own tents (not with campers). The campouts are on a Thursday night, with early dismissal for campers and staff on the following Friday. All adult staff must attend “CPR for the Professional Rescuer” and become certified. Common Ground will pay for this training. Detailed program description and goals The Common Ground Ecology Camp strives to provide a diverse group of children with a fun, safe summer experience, emphasizing building friendships and developing an appreciation for the natural world. Campers experience nature as an exciting place to explore, and discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected. The camp was founded in 1991, and has been under the leadership of its current director since the summer of 2001. Since its inception, the camp has served a diverse group of campers, integrating low-income, primarily minority children from some of New Haven’s poorest neighborhoods with their middle to upper class suburban counterparts. The campers come together on “common ground” as they discover that we all have the responsibility and opportunity to help protect the Earth. Over the past eight summers, the camp has evolved from a small group of campers and staff to an energetic community of over 200 children and adults who come together to learn about how all things are connected, from dirt and sun to the food on our plate and the water we drink. The primary goal of the Common Ground Ecology Camp continues to be to help children discover the wonder and excitement in the natural world, and to turn that enthusiasm into everyday actions that help promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This goal is accomplished through a variety of structured and unstructured activities and lessons that inspire children to teach their families about recycling, pick up litter, take advantage of city parks for hiking and recreation, grow a garden, ask their parents to purchase locally grown food, and start a compost pile in their backyard because they learned to appreciate the impact of these actions during their time in Ecology Camp. Many campers come back year after year and some eventually return as camp counselors to share what they have learned over many summers at Common Ground. It is also worthwhile to note that the children, schools, and local communities touched by the Common Ground Ecology Camp also benefit from the breaking down of barriers erected by race, class, neighborhood lines, and socioeconomic status. The camp serves a very diverse group of families from all over the city and surrounding towns, and when campers come together to complete a challenging hike, build a shelter from leaves and branches, and giggle the night away in a tent, they make friends with children that they may never have met outside of camp. Many of these children keep in touch with their camp friends all year long, thus connecting neighborhoods and families and emphasizing the idea that all things (and people) are interconnected. Daily work involves being an integral part of this community, teaching, playing, mentoring, getting dirty, eating strawberries, rounding up chickens, bandaging knees, and making memories. Internship logistics and details Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered between April 1 and November 1, 2009. Minimum commitment is 8 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Interns who are applying to work with the Youth Crew or with Summer Camp MUST work from June 22 through August 14, 2009. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired. Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days! Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing. Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Common Ground Garden and Market Assistant New Haven Ecology Project is home to a charter high school and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. The site includes 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals. The primary work of the intern will be to assist in maintaining our one-acre organic farm and to help us launch two specific new projects for summer 2009: 1. Expand our production of fall and winter crops in order to attend market through November; 2. Offer a new on-site market stand on Wednesday afternoons. By implementing these projects, we will increase our revenues at market (making our non-profit farm more financially self-sustaining) and make more local, organic food available to more New Haven consumers (by attending an extended season market and having an additional on-site market) Specific skills/experience required for the internship: Good communication and interpersonal skills with people of all ages Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task Willingness to get dirty, hot, and to work hard physically Willingness to ask questions, and also take initiative, to work both with and without direct supervision Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and local food Maturity, and the willingness to be a positive role-model to young people working on the farm (including teenagers ages 14 – 18) Detailed internship description and goals The internship will have two distinct activities and goals: 1. Working on the one-acre organic farm, including helping to expand our root and storage crop production. Expanding in this area will allow us to attend market through November, making our non-profit farm more financially self-sustaining. This will also provide more seasonal vegetables to Common Ground High School’s lunch program, and make more local, organic vegetables available through November to the New Haven community. Farm work will be done with our full time Garden Manager, caring for the farm through the growing season. Working on the farm, the intern will gain experience in all aspects of planting, growing, and maintaining a diversified organic vegetable operation. Common Ground grows nearly 10,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Specific farm tasks may include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, preparing for market, preserving food, maintaining irrigation, keeping crop records, fixing fences, mowing, and a variety of other tasks. Interns may also learn to operate the tractor. Several summer programs for children ages 4 – 18 take place on the farm. Interns do not have daily responsibilities for working with these programs, but must be mature and a good role model for all children on the farm. Interns may sometimes lead small work groups of teenagers who are employed by Common Ground, and will have the opportunity to interact with and lead groups of younger children (summer campers) if desired. 2. Managing an on-site farm stand on Wednesday afternoons. Interns will have primary responsibility for setting up and managing our new Wednesday on-site farm stand, assisted by the Common Ground Youth Crew. An on-site market has been in high demand by our local neighborhood, and especially by the nearly 100 summer camp families who pass through the farm daily to drop-off and pick-up their children. By establishing this market, we are increasing potential farm revenues and making local, organic food more easily available to the New Haven community. Most weeks are structured as follows: Monday: Interns will work with our Site Manager and/or Assistant Chef on Mondays, as our Garden Manager and Youth Crew have the day off. This provides a nice change of pace and the opportunity to learn from a different mentor. Work will usually involve disease and pest management in the garden, ongoing weekly garden tasks, and cooking and/or preserving the leftovers from market. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are devoted to general farm care, including working with the Youth Crew in the garden. Planting, weeding, harvesting, and managing Wednesday market fill up the days. Friday is spent harvesting for Sunday market, assisted by the Garden Manager and the Youth Crew. Internship logistics and details Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered between April 1 and November 1, 2009. Minimum commitment is 8 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Interns who are applying to work with the Youth Crew or with Summer Camp MUST work from June 22 through August 14, 2009. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired. Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days! Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing. Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. Common Ground Youth Crew Co-Leader Internship position summary The New Haven Ecology Project is home to a Common Ground High School and a non-profit urban farm and environmental education center. We are located in West Rock Park in New Haven. The site includes 20 acres of forested hiking trails, wildlife and diverse natural habitats, and a working organic farm that includes production and education gardens and a variety of farm animals. The primary work of the intern will be to co-lead the Common Ground Youth Crew, a job training and employment program for underserved urban youth ages 14 – 18. Youth Crew work includes all tasks related to maintaining our market garden (weeding, planting, harvesting), daily farm animal care (food, water, cleaning), small carpentry projects, and cooking and preserving the food from our farm. In addition, a central goal for summer 2009 interns is to help us launch free Saturday Open Farm Days, in which the general public is invited to explore the farm, hosted by the Youth Crew and their Crew Leaders. This new initiative is central to our mission of making our programs accessible to a diverse spectrum of the greater New Haven community. Specific skills/experience required for the project: Good communication and interpersonal skills with people of all ages Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task Willingness to get dirty, hot, and to work hard physically Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and local food Maturity, and the willingness to be a positive role-model and co-leader for young people working on the farm (including teenagers ages 14 – 18) Work includes being a supervisor and role-model for high school students, some of whom may be close in age to the Yale Fellow. The ability to work with a group of peers while still maintaining appropriate supervisory boundaries is essential. Additional requirements: Our new Saturday Open Farm Day program will require working on Saturdays from Saturday, July 11 through Saturday, August 8 (five Saturdays). Between those dates, the work week will be Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off. Weeks before and after will be Monday through Friday. Detailed internship description and goals Interns will co-lead the Common Ground Youth Crew in partnership with a Common Ground staff member experienced in leading and mentoring youth. The Youth Crew works Tuesday through Saturday beginning July 6, including helping to host the Saturday Open Farm Days. Weeks prior to July 6 will be spent working with the Youth Crew co-leader to develop activity plans, work projects, and youth development and life skills curriculum. Interns will also assist our Garden Manager with any spring garden tasks prior to the start of Youth Crew. In this way, interns will be familiar with the farm and with the Youth Crew curriculum before the start of the program. During the Youth Crew session, interns who have carpentry experience (or are interested in learning) may also choose to take on any number of small to large construction and repair tasks. Projects may include maintenance/repair of farm and garden buildings and equipment and/or working on building new structures or small projects with the Youth Crew. Farm work will be done with our full time Garden Manager, caring for the farm through the growing season. Working on the farm, interns will gain experience in many aspects of planting, growing, and maintaining a diversified organic vegetable operation. Common Ground grows nearly 10,000 lbs of fresh produce annually, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Specific farm tasks may include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, preparing for market, preserving food, maintaining irrigation, keeping crop records, fixing fences, mowing, and a variety of other tasks. Interns may also learn to operate the tractor. The anticipated weekly structure devotes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to general farm care, including working with the Youth Crew in the garden, daily food and water for the farm animals, and cleaning of animal houses as scheduled. Special cooking and carpentry projects are also scheduled throughout the week. Friday is harvesting day, and the majority of the day is spent picking, washing, weighing, packing, and otherwise preparing for Farmer’s Market. Saturday is Open Farm Day, during which the Youth Crew and their leaders rotate between leading farm tours for visitors and doing regular farm chores. Common Ground attends Sunday Farmer’s Market at Edgewood Park. This is not part of the Youth Crew work week, however paid hours are sometimes available for the Youth Crew and/or interns to help at market if desired. In order to broaden our reach in the community and better publicize the learning opportunities on the farm, the Youth Crew and their leaders will also set-up an educational booth at the Downtown Farmer’s Market for several Wednesday Market special events. The Youth Crew and their leaders will work together to determine the exact nature of these events, but they generally involve food/recipe tasting with foods from our farm alongside educational materials about local and/or organic foods. Internship logistics and details Seasonal availability and duration: Internships are offered between April 1 and November 1, 2009. Minimum commitment is 8 weeks of full-time work, 35 – 40 hours per week. Interns who are applying to work with the Youth Crew or with Summer Camp MUST work from June 22 through August 14, 2009. Additional weeks may be added before or after those dates if desired. Compensation: Internships at Common Ground are not funded and no pay is available for the positions. Many interns have been successful with securing funding through their college, and we are happy to complete any paperwork that will help an intern secure academic credit and/or funding for their efforts. Free seasonal vegetable gleanings are available most days! Housing: Housing is not provided, however we are happy to recommend resources for securing affordable housing. Transportation: Parking is available on-site, as are bicycle racks. We have a bus-stop on site (take the B1 bus from the New Haven Green), and we are walking distance from New Haven’s Westville neighborhood.