The Sustainability Educator implements Spark-Y's STEM programming through action-oriented systems education. They engage in real-world, hands-on projects with a diverse range of students while cultivating community connections by forming strong positive relationships with project stakeholders, community partners, and school teachers/ administrators.
Timeframe: June 27th - Aug 18th
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Age Requirements: 18 - 24 years old
Hours: 20 - 30 hrs/week
About Spark-Y
Spark-Y has been empowering youth since 2009 with hands-on engagement opportunities focused on agriculture, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and STEM. We work with a variety of schools, businesses, partner organizations, and community entities in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.
Job Description
Hours: Mondays from 9am - 12pm (+ flexible prep hours) and Tuesdays - Thursdays from 9am - 4pm
Start Date: Monday, June 27th (Off: July 1st - 5th)
End Date: Thursday, August 18th
Pay: $15/hr, Sustainability Certification, and possible compensation for transportation
Sustainability Apprentices will supervise and mentor a team of Spark-Y Interns. You will report directly to Spark-Y programming staff for assistance tackling real-world projects within the community and developing trainings for Interns to complete. Apprentices are responsible for planning, budgeting, and coordinating tasks that include but are not limited to:
Hands-on Builds
Fish and Plant care (Aquaponics)
Farming and Greenhouse Operations
Community Education Events and Programming
Marketing and Design
Eligibility and Skills Required
Interns must be 18 - 24 years old and have the ability and willingness to:
Communicate effectively (oral and written) with team, supervisors, and clients.
Work independently and on a team to accomplish tasks.
Lead by example to motivate team members to accomplish tasks.
Perform tasks outdoors for long periods of time that may include standing, bending, kneeling, climbing stairs and ladders.
Have an interest in topics related to sustainability, urban farming, STEM education, and/or community building.
Hiring Process and Timeline
To apply, please send your resume to interns@spark-y.organd complete this google form by May 13 at 5pm. Applicants will be selected for interviews in the first week of May.
At Spark-Y we value passion, community, balance, integrity, and growth.
Our leadership and staff build collaborative relationships with our partners and team members to empower ourselves and others. We’re a forward-thinking organization fueled by resourceful innovators that take the initiative to better serve our mission. EEOC Employer.
Timeframe: July 6th - Aug 18th
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Age Requirements: 14 - 17 years old
Hours: 15 hrs/week
About Spark-Y
Spark-Y has been empowering youth since 2009 with hands-on engagement opportunities focused on agriculture, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and STEM. We work with a variety of schools, businesses, partner organizations, and community entities in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.
Job Description
Hours: Tuesday - Thursday from 10 am - 3:30 pm (30 minute lunch break)
Start Date: Wednesday, July 6th (orientation day)
End Date: Thursday, August 18th
Pay: Stipend of $500, Sustainability Certification, and possible compensation for transportation
Sustainability Interns will work collaboratively with their team under the supervision and mentorship of Spark-Y apprentices and staff to tackle real-world projects within the community. 3+ Hours weekly will be dedicated to professional development and skill building. Interns are responsible for assisting in tasks that include but are not limited to:
Hands-on Builds
Fish and Plant care (Aquaponics)
Farming and Greenhouse Operations
Community Education Events and Programming
Marketing and Design
Eligibility and Skills Required
Interns must be high school aged (14-17 years old) and have the ability and willingness to:
Communicate effectively (oral and written) with team, supervisors, and clients.
Work independently and on a team to accomplish tasks.
Find motivation to persevere and complete tasks in a timely manner.
Perform tasks outdoors for long periods of time that may include standing, bending, kneeling, climbing stairs and ladders.
Enter your “growth zone” by challenging yourself to try new things.
Hiring Process and Timeline
To apply, please send your resume to interns@spark-y.org and complete this google form by May 13 at 5 pm. Applicants will be selected for interviews in the first week of May.
At Spark-Y we value passion, community, balance, integrity, and growth.
Our leadership and staff build collaborative relationships with our partners and team members to empower ourselves and others. We’re a forward-thinking organization fueled by resourceful innovators that take the initiative to better serve our mission. EEOC Employer.
The following blog post was written by Andrew Rubin Co-Teacher at Spark-Y’s partnership with Friendship Academy, a twice-per-week STEM Enrichment program for elementary youth.
We’ve been having a blast at Friendship Academy during our Enrichment Spark-Y class! While most students were interested in STEM and sustainability before signing up, our hands-on, team-building activities have made the young scholars even more fascinated with all things science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
It may come as no surprise that making slime - using chemistry to bond glue to an activator - was very, very popular. Taliyah S, 3rd grade, put it best when she said, “I loved making slime because it’s fun and we can do it as a group.” Other students agreed how important it was to work together, as well. Also, of course, they simply liked it because, “I’m not going to lie…I just wanted to play with it after we were done,” remarked Nhia M, 9 years old. That’s okay, too!
We were perhaps most impressed with the reasons why so many students wanted to try out new experiments, learn more about STEM, and gain more knowledge. Most spoke about the future, especially involving their families or communities. One such student was Kaben P., 3rd grade, who said, “ I want to be able to grow my own food and feed my family without going to the grocery store.” Noel T, took it one step further by including the entire planet, “I liked learning about plants because they help the Earth and I really want to help the Earth, too.” That’s one of our goals, too! He later added, “I want to get really smart so I can do well in college.”
Whether it was water testing, engineering a bridge with popsicle sticks, creating crystals, or building marshmallow catapults, we had so much joy working together and learning. Taliyah S eloquently stated, “It’s very noisy but it’s really fun for creative and artistic kids. We can take turns.”
We look forward to building our very own aquaponics system in the classroom and sharing our adventures with you!
