Service Site: Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center
Address: 8913 W Hwy 50 Salida, CO 81201
Start Date: 1/13/25 End Date: 12/14/25

Program Overview
Localizing our food system is one of the most impactful and actionable steps we can take to solve so many of our global problems . Across the central Rocky Mountains and southwestern Colorado, AmeriCorps service with Mountain Roots Healthy Futures Program builds social, economic, and environmental health for rural communities. We work with organizations throughout the region who are leaders in their fields, activating community-driven initiatives including Farm to School, Regenerative Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Community Food Security), and other programs in public health, conservation, and the environment. With Healthy Futures AmeriCorps, you’ll build a bridge from college to career while building and sustaining healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment.

Organization Overview
Guidestone Colorado is dedicated to growing a vibrant agricultural future through education, community building and partnerships. Guidestone’sprogramsprovide a continuum of engagement for agricultural learning which enables
community members of all ages to participate in meaningful experiences and gain practical skills. Our strategies and
programming are founded on the belief that these experiences will ultimately lead to resilient local food systems, healthier youth, adults, and communities, and a vibrantfuture for local agriculture.

Service Description
The Ranch & Homestead Experiential Educator will run education programs at the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center and is a good fit for a member who is passionate about working with youth, supporting local agriculture, ranching, agricultural history, traditional arts and experiential education, and building connections in the community. The position offers space for a member’s creativity, through opportunities to help with agriculture-focused programs and incorporate arts and hands-on traditional skills into the ranching curriculum. The position is focused on pioneer, homestead, and ranching education and includes exposure to fundraising, marketing, and farm and ranch production.

Guidestone operates the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center with the vision of bringing the story of the land
and history to life through events, programs, and community celebrations to create a dynamic living, historical, and
cultural interpretation and agriculture education center that bridges the past to the future of agriculture in our
community. The Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center provides a home base for Guidestone operations, is a
primary site for Farmhands Youth Education Programs, and will continue to grow to support community events and
agritourism opportunities in the Upper Arkansas Region.

AmeriCorps Member Primary Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Support all aspects of summer camp development, including descriptions, scheduling, and implementation
  for 1-day and 3-day camps for ages 5-11 engaging kids in ranching, homesteading, traditional arts, history &
  storytelling, and animals to connect them with the land and agricultural traditions.
• Support the development and implementation of Spring Break programs, Friday enrichment, Little Spurs
  preschool programs, after-school programs, and school field trip programming at the Homestead.
• Assist with the development of teaching and interpretation materials.
• Ensure a safe, effective, and positive learning environment, and empower students to connect to the land and
  learn about history, traditional arts, and agriculture.
• Provide tours and visitor center support when open to the public.
• Assist with the development and implementation of community events, including AgriSummit, Pumpkin
  Patch, Music at the Mill, and other events at the Hutchinson Homestead and Hutchinson Ranch.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

• Support production activities at the Community & School Farm in the spring and fall as needed.
• Support Guidestone events and adult education, such as plant sales, open houses, and classes.

Location and Service Conditions:
This position is based at the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center and will potentially involve service at the
Community & School Farm, Hutchinson Ranch, or other sites in the community to support community outreach
events. The position will primarily involve days of service outdoors, with indoor space available in case of inclement
weather. Co-work office space is provided at the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth in outdoor settings. Particularly with youth ages 5-12
• Experience working in a ranch setting
• Background or experience with experiential education, environmental studies, livestock and/ or poultry,
  traditional arts and homesteading skills
• Passionate, patient, flexible, intelligent, creative, kind, caring, self-motivated
• Experience with Word, Excel, GoogleDrive suite of office management, or comparable computer skills
• Strong professional communication skills
• Clean driving record

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications:

• At least 17 years old at start of service
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED
  during the term of service. Members must obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award.
•  Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website
  checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202

Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Program Benefits

• $19,440. Living Allowance – AmeriCorps Member(s) will receive total stipend paid $810 bi-weekly
• $7,395 Education Award / Tuition Assistance – AmeriCorps Member(s) can receive an Education Award
  upon successful completion of service. This can be used to pay back student loans, or to further your education.
• AmeriCorps members will receive a bi-weekly living allowance of $810, totaling $19,440 over
  the service period.
• Members are also eligible for an Education Award of $7,395 upon successful completion of
  service. This can be used to pay back student loans or to further your education.
• Members may receive professional development and training, plus covered travel costs for attendance at state or regional conferences.
• Eligible AmeriCorps Members can receive healthcare benefits and childcare assistance.
• Members may be eligible for Federal program assistance (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)
• Members may qualify for student loan forbearance (postponing the payment of loans) while in service.
• Alumni benefits include priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers of National Service and
  the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate educational debt.

About the Living Allowance
An AmeriCorps Living Allowance is not a wage, salary, or hourly pay. You are enrolling in a SERVICE position,
not a job. The Living Allowance is a stipend designed to support the basic necessities of the individual while in
service, such as room and board, utilities, and transportation. Carefully consider this when applying.