Food Science & Garden Education Intern – SOAR Elementary Summer Program (Summer 2026)

Food Science & Garden Education Intern

SOAR Elementary Summer Program (Summer 2026)

The Burlington School District believes a diverse and culturally proficient faculty and staff are pivotal to the creation of a strong learning and working environment that supports student achievement and success. BSD administrators lead inclusive school communities with our vision: Cultivating caring creative and courageous people. - Join the journey.

The Mission of the Burlington School District is to graduate students who:

• Value different cultures;
• Engage with the community;
• Communicate effectively;
• Think creatively;
• Skillfully solve problems; and
• Achieve at their highest academic intellectual and personal potential.

The Burlington School District is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Food Science & Garden Education Intern to support our Summer Opportunities and enRichment (SOAR) Elementary Program. This paid internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in garden-based education food science instruction nutrition education curriculum development and student engagement.

The SOAR program supports elementary students through academic enrichment social-emotional learning and experiential learning opportunities designed to reduce summer learning loss. The Food Science & Garden Education Intern will work alongside the Districts Food Science Coordinator to facilitate outdoor garden lessons cooking activities and nutrition education experiences for students in grades K5.

• Support the development of garden-based lessons and cooking activities.
• Co-facilitate outdoor garden instruction for elementary students in grades K5.
• Assist with school garden maintenance including planting watering weeding harvesting and pest management.
• Prepare materials and learning spaces for instructional activities.
• Support student participation during food science and cooking lessons.
• Assist with program cleanup and organization of materials and equipment.
• Document student learning experiences through written summaries and reflections.
• Create a digital SOAR Summer Cookbook to share with students families and staff.
• Assist with collecting and organizing student and staff feedback regarding program experiences.
• Support program data collection analysis and reporting activities.

Through this internship candidates will gain experience in:

• Curriculum and lesson development
• Garden-based and experiential education
• Elementary student engagement and classroom management
• Food systems and sustainability education
• Culinary and nutrition instruction
• Garden maintenance and organic growing practices
• Data collection and program evaluation
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Communication and public education
• Creative problem-solving and adaptability

Successful candidates will possess:

• Interest in food science nutrition gardening environmental education or youth development.
• Experience working with children in an educational camp recreation or youth-focused setting.
• Basic understanding of safe food handling practices and proper hygiene.
• Willingness to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Interest in gardening and sustainable growing practices.
• Strong organizational communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Reliability professionalism and punctuality.
• Basic familiarity with Canva or similar graphic design software.
• Reliable transportation.

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to push or pull garden carts wheelbarrows and equipment.
• Ability to bend kneel and work outdoors for extended periods.

SOAR Program Dates:June 29 2026 July 30 2026

Primary Location:Integrated Arts Academy (IAA)
6 Archibald Street
Burlington VT 05401

Program Schedule:MondayThursday approximately 8:00 AM4:30 PM

Additional garden support planning research and program evaluation work may occur before and after the SOAR program and may include flexible remote work opportunities as approved by the supervisor.

• $20.00 per hour
• Up to150 total hours
• Maximum earnings of$3000

• Complimentary school lunch on SOAR instructional days.
• Professional experience working with Burlington School District educators and students.
• Opportunities to develop skills in education food systems gardening and program evaluation.
• Access to surplus garden produce when available.

The selected candidate must successfully complete:

• Criminal background check
• Vermont fingerprinting process

Please note that the fingerprinting fee is the responsibility of the applicant.

To apply please submit:

• Resume
• A brief paragraph describing your interest in the internship and how it aligns with your educational or career goals

Required Experience:

Intern