VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Position title: Classroom Gardening and Cooking Program Volunteer
Organization: Growing Chefs
Location: Lower Mainland, BC

Assignment goal: Lead a hands-on, interactive classroom gardening and cooking program that teaches kids about healthy food and healthy food systems! We believe in the importance of connecting young children to their food through hands-on learning, getting their hands in the dirt, and teaching them how their food choices impact their personal health and the health of the environment. Get kids excited about growing, cooking, and eating good, nutritious food with Growing Chefs!

Our mission: Connecting chefs, kids, and communities to foster systemic change towards healthy, sustainable, just food practices.

Why we do it:

• To improve the health and nutrition of kids and youth
• To make local food accessible and sustainable
• To support a healthy, sustainable and just food system
• To build community communities through food

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Meet with your classroom team in advance of each lesson to review lesson outlines and plan lesson delivery
• Adhere to Foodsafe health and safety procedures including proper hand-washing and food handling when preparing and serving food in the classroom
• Report to and receive direction from school staff and Growing Chefs’ staff
• Maintain a clean and safe learning environment for all
• Build and maintain positive relationships with students by embracing values of collaboration, patience, encouragement, and openness
• Provide students with direction and support as they slice, dice, chop, pickle, and try new foods
• Encourage student participation and celebrate students' curiosity and accomplishments
• Adapt lesson delivery to meet the needs of the classroom and students that you are working with, as directed by their classroom teacher
• Clean and safely store program equipment in between lessons

Position location: An elementary school near you! We work with schools all across the Lower Mainland and will pair you with a school that works for you.

Time commitment: Volunteers will facilitate 4 lessons across 4 consecutive weeks. Lessons will run on the same day and at the same time every week, either in the late morning or early afternoon. Volunteers should expect to dedicate 2 hours a week to volunteering in the classroom.

Boundaries:

• Volunteers are not to take photos of children under any circumstances
• Volunteers are to use designated adult washrooms while at school. Growing Chefs staff and/or school staff can direct you to adult washrooms
• Volunteers should never be left alone with students. Growing Chefs staff or school staff must always be present
• Volunteers are not to administer medication. Growing Chefs staff and school staff are trained to administer emergency medication, if needed

Qualifications:

• A love of good food and a passion to share it
• A desire to be part of a community
• Experience working with children is not required but is an asset
• FoodSafe Certification is not required but is an asset

Other requirements:

Before joining us in the classroom, all volunteers must:

1. Complete a screening call with Growing Chefs staff
2. Apply for a Vulnerable Sector Check
3. Attend an orientation session
4. Provide Growing Chefs with two character references

Orientation and training: All volunteers must attend an orientation before joining us in the classroom. At the orientation, we will introduce our programs and discuss policies, procedures, and behavioral expectations that our volunteers must abide by when working in schools.

Support and supervision: Volunteer teams will work under the supervision of school staff and Growing Chefs staff while at school. If volunteers need support outside of their scheduled shift, they are welcome to reach out to Growing Chefs’ Volunteer Coordinator, Sam, at sam@growingchefs.ca .

Volunteer benefits:

• Work on a team of other volunteers who are passionate about supporting food justice and food literacy in Vancouver schools
• Gain experience working with youth in a school environment
• Develop your classroom management and teamwork skills
• Be a part of our rad community of supporters by attending engagement and appreciation events

How to apply: Fill out the application form on our website: https://www.growingchefs.ca/volunteer-with-us/. If you have questions about volunteering with Growing Chefs or need support applying, please email sam@growingchefs.ca .

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