Internship in Sustainable Agriculture and Community Outreach

ABOUT US:

The mission of Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is to provide exceptional learning opportunities in a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawaii. Our work is grounded in HPA's Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Pursuit of Excellence, and Wonder.

Located on Hawaii Island, one of the most beautiful places on the planet, HPA is a co-educational, college-preparatory, day and boarding school that serves kindergarten through 12th grade. Our students live and study within rare landscapes, precious ecosystems, and a mix of world cultures. We embrace these attributes to create unique programs, research partnerships, and growth opportunities to empower students with a sense of purpose and the real-world skills to explore and reinvent that purpose over a lifetime. HPA's goal is to be among the greenest of schools and to undertake a leadership role in sustainability education, where our campus serves as a living laboratory that sends engaged citizens and agents of change into the world.

We seek individuals who believe in our school mission and core values and who share our commitment to the children of Hawaii Island as well as the dynamic young people who come to HPA from around the world.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The school is looking for an intern for the Sustainable Agriculture and Community Outreach program. The sustainable agriculture and community outreach intern will apprentice at Ulu Mālama Terrace Farm and the Ulumau Garden at the HPA Upper Campus and Village Campus respectively. This individual will serve as our community food outreach coordinator; connecting the school gardens to our Waimea community. They will learn and implement sustainable agriculture practices and grow fresh food for those in need within our island community. They will learn best practices to educate and enhance the learning experience of our current students in grades K-12.

INTERNSHIP GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sustainable Agriculture: To learn and implement regenerative agriculture practices while developing and maintaining a connection to our island.

• Open communication and collaboration with garden coordinators
• Assist with seeding, cultivation, soil amending, harvesting, and produce distribution
• Organization and record keeping of farming systems
• Be an advocate for farm to school education for our students ages 5-18

Education: To learn how to implement garden-based classes in an outdoor setting using place-based experiential learning.

• Help maintain a safe and welcoming outdoor classroom environment
• Build relationships with students and the community through food
• Provide positive, caring, empathetic treatment of students
• Exhibit enthusiasm for place-based curriculum

Community Outreach: To learn about issues of food security that uniquely affect our island home and to partner with local groups that are serving our community.

• Assist in food production for community partners
• Build relationships with community food organizations and local farmers
• Keeping records on food distribution

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous knowledge and/or a passion for farm to table education.
• Ability to lift 50lbs
• Enjoy working outside in variable weather conditions and uneven terrain
• Ability to perform each essential job function satisfactorily - working both independently and alongside others
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and community members as needed
• Ability to use computers for classroom instruction and record keeping.