Gardening Instructor

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Gardening Education: Teach teens the fundamentals of gardening, including soil preparation, planting, growing, and harvesting fruits and vegetables.
• Greenhouse Management: Oversee the care and maintenance of the greenhouse, including managing plant health, watering schedules, and environmental controls.
• Holistic Gardening Practices: Introduce and implement holistic gardening methods that support plant health, environmental sustainability, and personal well-being.
• Raised Beds: Manage and maintain the raised garden beds, ensuring they are productive and well-maintained throughout the growing season.
• Harvesting and Processing: Educate teens on the harvesting process, including when and how to harvest produce, and how to process and store the harvested goods.
• Student Engagement: Foster a positive and engaging atmosphere for teens, encouraging their participation and interest in gardening and environmental stewardship.
• Safety and Maintenance: Ensure all gardening activities are conducted safely, and maintain equipment and tools in good working condition.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise teens at an average of 15:1, instructor: teen ratio

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of gardening techniques, greenhouse management, and holistic gardening practices.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Interest in working with teens

Qualifications

• Relevant certifications or educational background in horticulture, environmental science, or a related field preferred.
• Certifications also accepted in lieu of a university degree.
• Proven experience in gardening, horticulture, or a related field.
• Previous experience teaching or working with teens is a plus.
• Familiarity with specific Chicago neighborhoods is required.
• Experience teaching, specifically teenagers, is highly preferred.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion is required.
• Genuine interest in environmental sustainability and a passion for working with young people.

About Us

After School Matters is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that annually offers after-school and summer programs to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond.

ASM has engaged more than 450,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens.

ASM offers paid apprenticeships led by professionals in the fields of arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Our nationally respected youth development model has been replicated in cities across the country and earned us the City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Programs take place at community locations throughout the city, including four ASM buildings: downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts and Orleans, the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and the Pullman community at Gately Park. Currently, After School Matters’ annual operating budget is approximately $48M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization.