Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. It is our mission to build the collective capacity of young people in our community to bring about healing, personal transformation, social connection, and systemic change. We work in a deeply collaborative environment that is committed to embodying the values that we seek to foster in the world. Everyone who joins our staff is part of a family of educators, activists, thinkers and artists who are committed both to our work with young people and to nurturing a healthy and supportive organizational culture.
Note: Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, immigrants, and people with working class backgrounds to apply. If you’re excited about a role, but not sure if you meet all the qualifications, apply anyway! We look forward to learning about you.
We are currently hiring for a seasonal Lead Garden Educator for the ReGen Teens summer program. See below for details.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please fill out our volunteer application form and we’ll be in touch as volunteer opportunities arise. We also have several paid teen employment positions open each season, which you can learn about here. Join our mailing list to be the first to know about future opportunities. Coming to community events is a great way to build relationship and get to know us.
Lead Garden Educator (ReGen Teens Summer Program)
Program: ReGen Teens
Location: Kite’s Nest
Duration: Summer 2025 (July 1st–August 15th)
Compensation and Hours: Seasonal Estimated Rate: $3,900* ($25/hr). This is a Seasonal Contracted Position. Approx. 156 hours or 24hrs/week for 6-7 weeks. *This may vary based on any changes in weekly schedules and hours based on each week’s activities.
ReGen Teens is a regenerative agriculture, gardening, land stewardship and food justice program focused on restoring our local ecologies. The collaborative sessions involve learning mainly with hands-on tasks in the garden, on the land and with the compost system at Kite's Nest. We work closely in the community garden and connect with local farm partners and food businesses, and local environmental organizations. The ReGen program currently manages the community and learning gardens, the compost operation, greenhouse and recently the gardening and landscaping of an urban food forest and pollinator meadow. We also engage in community design, creative media and arts, and co-operative business skills. The ReGen Teens sessions will also involve field visits to local farms, youth conferences, visits into nature and creative events.
We are seeking a Summer Lead Garden Educator for our ReGen Teens program. This position will work closely with our Environmental Justice Director to inform and coordinate the program and to lead ReGen sessions. You will collaborate with the team to design, plan and lead curriculum, including hands-on workshops, group discussions, arts projects, experiential learning activities and field trips. You will serve as a mentor to the ReGen teen staff building meaningful relationships with youth and community members. As a part of this youth employment program you will also support the compassionate development of youth leaders in the areas of accountability, responsibility and teamwork.
Please Note: This position is open to be extended into an available part-time staff position into the Fall. If you are interested in the position, there will be an opportunity to interview. If you are interested in this position, but have limited availability, please apply anyway, and we can discuss other options.
Responsibilities include:
Collaboratively design and prepare curriculum and lesson plans in the areas of regenerative agriculture, market gardens, greenhouse production, environmental justice, food justice, leadership development, and business development.
Leading consistent work sessions with teen staff, including hands-on activities that integrate gardening, greenhouse propagation, cooking, composting, nature exploration, green business management + entrepreneurship, art creation, and community education. Prepare for and lead certain activities and sessions independently.
Providing routine maintenance and care for the gardens, landscape and agroforestry projects across the site, including the community garden, learning gardens, food forest and pollinator meadow projects.
Assisting with updates across the gardening areas and the coordination of materials and harvest for use across programs, food and community engagements.
Co-managing our compost system and community operation for the gardens and facilitating the engagement with our compost subscription members.
Support the launch and maintenance of youth-run cooperative enterprises, including our currently-operating compost operation and future production greenhouse; work with Teen Staff to develop business plans and manage finances.
Assist in organizing and facilitation of community and mutual aid engagements and offerings such as tours, workshops and volunteer days.
Help to develop and deepen partnerships with community organizations, including youth groups, environmental justice groups, and land projects in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and NYC.
Support EJ Director in gathering and organizing supplies and materials needed for program implementation.
Providing transportation for youth as needed for trainings, activities and field trips (Kite’s Nest van provided).
Support EJ Director in maintaining regular communication and coordination with teens and families about program scheduling and special events.
Occasionally work with Kite’s Nest outreach team to implement outreach strategies that include tabling at events, building relationships with schools, flyering and outreach calls.
Create social media posts about program activities; support youth in creating social media posts and marketing materials. Contribute photo documentation to shared albums.
Ideal candidates demonstrate most or all of the following:
Experience working with teenagers, and a demonstrated ability to develop meaningful relationships of mutual respect with youth.
Experience and interest in the following: urban regenerative agriculture, environmental/food justice activism, environmental education, culinary arts, greenhouse production and management, food waste management, bioremediation, cooperative business management, ecological restoration and agroforestry.
Experience managing/supervising employees and/or volunteers; an interest in the unique challenges and joys of supporting and guiding youth staff.
An understanding of the connections between environmental injustice, racial injustice, food insecurity, and generational trauma impacting communities; and a passion for supporting community-led solutions.
An ability to collaborate with a co-teacher and to work independently as needed; adaptive, curious, and able to give and receive constructive feedback.
A strong commitment to anti-oppressive values and practice.
Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs and work in an outdoor environment year-round. Participate in physical outdoor work, including gardening, food-waste composting, construction, heavy lifting, site and infrastructure maintenance.
Work Schedule and Compensation:
This is a Seasonal Contracted Position with a Seasonal Estimated Rate of $3,900* ($25/hr). This position will be an average of 24 hours per week with hours included for preparation before the Summer program for prep, and after for close out activities.(July 8th–August 8th). *
Program schedule is as follows:
July 1–7 : Summer Program Prep (16-24 hrs)
Orientation and Training
Preparation, Planning and Curriculum Support
July 8–August 8 : ReGen Summer Program
(5 Weeks | Tuesday – Friday | 24-32 hrs/week)
The program schedule for ReGen Teens Summer is Tuesday to Friday 9am-4pm plus time before for setup and after for packing up. From July 16th or 23rd till August 6th on Wednesdays, the ReGen Teens will participate at the Waterfront Wednesday Markets and the Wednesdays will shift to a 12-7pm schedule.
August 11 - August 15: Summer Program Close Out (8-16 hrs)
Site Reorganization and Semester Wrap-Up
Participate in end of Summer Reflections
*This may vary based on any changes in weekly schedules and hours based on each week’s activities.
HOW TO APPLY: Please complete this application form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format, and to complete a writing sample question. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications received by June 18 will be prioritized.