Center for Cold Climate Food Security at Western Colorado University Garden Management -AmeriCorps

 

 

Position Title:  Center for Cold Climate Food Security at Western Colorado University Garden Management – VISTA Summer Associate

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placement

Site Location:

Western Colorado University

146 Kelley Hall 1 Western Way Gunnison, CO 81231

Terms of Service:


* Start Date: 6/1/2026


* End Date: 8/9/2026


* AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hours (Minimum-Time)

Purpose:


* Food insecurity is high among college students and this project helps deliver cost-free, nutritious food to this population.

Food produced in campus growing spaces is given out to students and community members for free.


* A position focused on garden maintenance allows the rest of our work to focus on direct engagement with student learners, which in turn will expand our ability to increase food production.

 
Description of Duties:

The Summer Associate will focus on capacity-building activities that produce internal planning resources, documentation tools, and community engagement materials.

Duties may include compiling labor market research summaries, developing workforce resource inventories, creating community asset maps, organizing environmental data sets, drafting partnership coordination frameworks, designing planning templates and resource guides, and assisting with public-facing informational workshops, outreach campaigns, or site observations.

Activities are designed to strengthen host organizations’ capacity, guide long-term workforce and environmental program development, provide tangible connections between planning tools and community needs, and support measurable outcomes in workforce access, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

The Campus Garden Lead will grow nutritious, delicious food on campus!

 

Duties include the following:

?         Manage growing spaces for efficient food production: (with guidance from supervisor) share in garden planning; assist with transplanting, seeding, and succession growing plans; harvest food.

?         Maintain tidy spaces: weed growing spaces and walk ways; clean growing areas; organize storage areas and shed; remove any trash or useful equipment.

?         Monitor and adjust watering systems in the growing spaces.

?         Organize daily opening and/or closing shifts for the hoop house.

?         Practice strong and constructive communication in the garden spaces.

 

 
Qualifications:


* Desired education level: Some College


* Language requirement: English


* United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien


* At least 17 years of age


* Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award


* Agrees to provide inform...