Location of Service: 2518 Jacob Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996
About University of Tennessee Garden:
The UT Gardens include plant collections located in Knoxville, Crossville and Jackson, Tennessee. Designated as the official botanical garden for the State of Tennessee, the collections are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. The Gardens’ mission is to foster appreciation, education and stewardship of plants through garden displays, educational programs, and research trials. The Gardens are open during all seasons and are free to the public. For more information, see the Gardens’ website: utgardens.tennessee.edu.
POSITION SUMMARY:
- Provide curriculum-based garden and nutrition education
- Perform youth and family-oriented outreach
- Assist with planning and implementing educational programs for teachers and other adults
- Improve accessibility of educational content through web-based platforms and interpretation
- Assist with the daily care and maintenance of a diverse collection of plants across various garden landscapes
- Develop leadership and agriculture workforce preparation skills
- Assist garden staff with other tasks as assigned
- Approximately 10-15% of time spent on horticultural tasks to inform educational practice
The member(s) in this position will have the opportunity to gain the following skills/credentials:
- Environmental education
- Verbal and written communication
- Community outreach and educational programming
- Classroom instruction
- Content development and planning
- Project management
- Horticulture/garden skills and knowledge
SITE PREFERENCES/QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required
- Experience working with children and youth in an educational setting
- Basic knowledge of environmental education
- Basic garden/horticulture knowledge preferred but not required
- Ability to present and speak in educational settings
- Able to work independently and on a team
Equal Opportunity Statement: AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, generic information, military service, or reprisal.