Farm to Early Care and Education – Garden Internships

Learn about planning, planting, maintenance, and harvesting of gardens in childcare centers and family child care homes. This internship provides hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, garden management, and environmental education. The intern will work closely with staff and students to promote a healthy, educational, and collaborative gardening experience. Join us for one of the following internship experiences, both located at Wake County Smart Start in Raleigh, NC:  

  • Spring Semester 2025 Internship (20 hrs/week for 10 weeks between approximately March-May 2025)
  • Summer 2025 Internship (40 hrs/week for 8 weeks)

Professional development opportunities are included for the summer internship. Participants will be paid $16/hour. Travel to Wake County Smart Start and housing are not included.

For more information, please contact Shironda Brown at sewilli3@ncsu.edu

Spring Internship Dates: March – May 2025

Summer Internship Dates: May 19 – July 25, 2025

Apply
The application period is open until positions are filled.

Background

CEFS’ Farm to ECE program seeks to establish a sustainable local food market by linking North Carolina childcare providers with regional food sources. This initiative aims to improve the nutritional intake of over 250,000 children aged 0-5, a vulnerable population served multiple meals and snacks daily in ECE settings.  

The program creates a potential market for local farmers, but logistical challenges, particularly coordinating volume and distribution, have hindered past efforts. Despite these hurdles, there’s significant potential to develop this market by aggregating demand among childcare centers and optimizing distribution networks.  

Farm to ECE interns will play a crucial role in supporting Wake County Smart Start.

Their tasks will include connecting childcare centers with farmers, caterers, and food hubs to source local ingredients. This collaboration fosters direct relationships between producers and consumers, promotes local agriculture, and ensures young children have access to nutritious, locally sourced meals and snacks. This initiative ultimately contributes to a healthier community and a more resilient food system.

Internship Overview

For spring and summer 2025, we are looking for Student Garden Interns to assist Wake County Smart Start with planning, planting, maintenance, and harvesting of gardens in childcare centers and family child care homes. This internship provides hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, garden management, and environmental education. The intern will work closely with staff and students to promote a healthy, educational, and collaborative gardening experience. 

Duties will include:

  • Support the organization and execution of gardening activities, including soil preparation, composting, and harvesting crops.
  • Work with students, staff, and volunteers to educate about gardening, sustainability, and nutrition.
  • Monitor plant health and provide basic care, including pest management, pruning, and disease prevention.
  • Maintain garden tools and equipment, ensuring they are in good working order.
  • Assist with the preparation and distribution of garden produce, including harvesting, sorting, and packaging.
  • Help plan and implement educational programs and activities related to gardening, environmental sustainability, and healthy eating.
  • Keep records of garden activities, crop growth, and harvest yields.
  • Participate in regular team meetings with Wake County Smart Start and collaborate with other interns, volunteers, and staff.
  • Assist in the creation of signage, promotional materials, and social media posts to highlight garden events and activities

Interns will be paid $16/hr.

Internship Site: 

Wake County Smart Start (Raleigh, NC)

Minimum Experience/Education:

  • Currently enrolled in a 4 year or community college program, preferably in environmental science, horticulture, education, or related fields.

Required Skills:

  • Interest in gardening, sustainable agriculture, environmental sustainability, or nutrition.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, especially with students and community members.
  • Physical ability to perform outdoor work, including lifting, bending, and standing for extended periods.
  • Knowledge of gardening techniques, plant care, or interest in learning more is a plus.
  • A positive attitude, reliability, and a willingness to learn.
  • Enthusiasm for local foods and a respect for farmers and producers from diverse rural communities

Preferred Experience and Skills:

  • Experience with technology and online platforms
  • Good communication skills and self-motivated
  • Knowledge of, or experience working with farmers and rural communities
  • Personal laptop

Expectations for Interns:

General Expectations:

  • Regular communication with Host Mentor and CEFS Intern Coordinator/Farm to ECE Management Team
  • Timeliness to meetings/deadlines
  • Initiative + self-direction 

Getting Started:

  • Attend orientation
  • Set up initial meeting with Host Site + Intern Coordinator

Weekly:

  • Check in with Host Mentor about goals and progress
  • Check in with Intern Coordinator
  • Meet with other Farm to ECE Garden Interns and Farm to ECE Management Team
  • Work 20 hours/week during the spring or 40 hours/week during the summer

Meetings:

  • RSVP for calendar invites via google calendar
  • Be on time for in-person and virtual events
  • Be prepared with updates, questions, and next steps
  • Advanced warning for cancellations + reschedule for that same week (if possible)
  • Attend whole group meetings (as scheduled)
  • Attend professional development (as scheduled)

Communication:

  • Prompt communication + responses
  • Follow code of conduct when communicating

Hours and Payment:

Code of Conduct for Interns:

Interns shall:

  1. Represent CEFS and Host Sites with professionalism and courtesy
  2. Demonstrate respect towards others at all times
  3. Abide by the rules, policies, and procedures of the Host Sites they serve
  4. Abide by the rules, policies, and procedures of CEFS regarding a Drug-Free Workplace, Anti-Harassment, and Anti-Discrimination
  5. Direct concerns, problems, and suggestions to their Host Site Mentor and Intern Coordinator
  6. Will follow code of conduct of host site organization, for example: dress code
  7. Pass a background check and drug screening

At no time may an Intern:

  1. Engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state, or federal law
  2. Engage in activities that pose a significant safety risk to others
  3. Engage in political advocacy during paid work hours

The following acts also constitute a violation of the program’s rules of conduct:

  1. Unauthorized absence
  2. Use of profanity, abusive, or inappropriate language
  3. Refusal to comply with the instructions of their supervisor
  4. Stealing or lying
  5. Harassment of any kind, including sexual, verbal, and physical harassment
  6. Engaging in any activity that may physically or emotionally damage other interns in the program or people in the community
  7. Unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of any controlled substance or illegal drugs during the term of employment
  8. Consuming alcoholic beverages during the performance of work-related tasks
  9. Being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs during the performance of work-related tasks
  10. Failing to notify supervisors of any criminal conviction that occurs during the term of employment

This internship is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the North Carolina Division of Public Health.