Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. It is our mission to build the collective capacity of young people in our community to bring about healing, personal transformation, social connection, and systemic change. We work in a deeply collaborative environment that is committed to embodying the values that we seek to foster in the world. Everyone who joins our staff is part of a family of educators, activists, thinkers and artists who are committed both to our work with young people and to nurturing a healthy and supportive organizational culture. 

Note: Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, immigrants, and people with working class backgrounds to apply. If you’re excited about a role, but not sure if it’s right for you, apply anyway! We look forward to learning about you.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please fill out our volunteer application form and we’ll be in touch as volunteer opportunities arise. We also have several paid teen employment positions open each season, which you can learn about here. Join our mailing list to be the first to know about future opportunities.

REGEN COORDINATOR

Location: Hudson, NY
Start Date: March 1, 2023
Schedule: See below for scheduling details

ReGen Teens program engages and employs teenagers as environmental justice and food justice leaders in Hudson, NY.

Now entering its sixth year, our ReGen Teens program at Kite’s Nest is growing in exciting ways. This position is integral in expanding the capacity of this program. In collaboration with the Environmental Justice Program Director, the ReGen Coordinator will support with group activities and work sessions with teen staff at our garden, greenhouse, and on field trips; provide one-on-one mentorship and support to teen staff; and support the development of teen-led regenerative businesses. The ReGen Coordinator will also coordinate our community compost program and work with our River City Community Garden Manager to manage our 40-family community garden.

Responsibilities include: 

General

  • Participate in physical and dirty outdoor work, including gardening, food-waste composting, construction, heavy lifting, site and infrastructure maintenance.

ReGen Teens Program

  • Support with providing transportation for youth as needed for trainings and field trips (Kite’s Nest van provided).

  • Support EJ Director in maintaining regular communication and coordination with teens and families about program scheduling and special events.

  • Support EJ Director in leading consistent work sessions with teen staff, including hands-on activities that integrate gardening, greenhouse propagation, cooking, composting, nature exploration, green business management + entrepreneurship, art creation, and community education. Prepare for and lead certain activities and sessions independently. 

  • Support EJ Director in gathering and organizing supplies and materials needed for program implementation.

  • Support with youth-run enterprises, currently focused on their bike-powered smoothie business, including farmers markets and community events; work with youth staff to develop business plans and manage finances.

  • Occasionally work with Kite’s Nest outreach team to implement outreach strategies that include tabling at events, building relationships with schools, flyering and outreach calls. 

  • Create social media posts about program activities; support youth in creating social media posts and marketing materials. Contribute photo documentation to shared albums.


River City Garden

  • Coordinate with River City Garden Manager to buy culturally relevant seeds, start seedlings, and tend plants in the greenhouse to be distributed to gardeners; coordinate with RCG Manager for gardener access to the greenhouse 

  • Coordinate with Operations Director and community partners to generate translated signage and other communication materials 

  • Coordinate with operations team to purchase tools and materials for gardeners and coordinate with RCG Manager to distribute materials in an equitable manner

  • Provide support with gardener scheduling and communications; collaborate with RCG Manager to plan registration days and community work days and communicate with gardener community about event schedules and expectations

Compost Program

  • Manage compost admin: respond to compost sign-up form by registering applicants, setting up invoices and automatic payments, and sharing compost drop-off guidelines

  • Manage compost system staff: oversee tending of compost through teen programming and teen staff work days; coordinate and oversee compost volunteers; hire and oversee compost technician position 

  • Oversee general structure, sanitation, and communications related to the compost system; coordinate with operations team to respond to any site or systems problems and maintain standards of cleanliness and ease of access


ReRoot Site Restoration Project

  • Support EJ Director in coordinating and implementing ReRoot site restoration and bio/mycoremediation project on eastern parcel with Teen Staff and volunteers (already well underway) 

  • Support EJ Director to coordinate and implement ReRoot compost system upgrade project in coordination with contractors

  • Coordinate additional soil testing to demonstrate soil improvement results

  • Contribute photo documentation of ReRoot site restoration project efforts


Ideal candidates demonstrate most or all of the following: 

  • Experience working with teenagers, and a demonstrated ability to develop meaningful relationships of mutual respect with youth. 

  • Experience and interest in one or more of the following: urban regenerative agriculture, environmental/food justice activism, environmental education, culinary arts, greenhouse production and management, food waste management, bioremediation, cooperative business management.

  • Experience managing/supervising employees and/or volunteers; an interest in the unique challenges and joys of supporting and guiding youth staff.

  • An understanding of the connections between environmental injustice, racial injustice, food insecurity, and generational trauma impacting communities; and a passion for supporting community-led solutions. 

  • An ability to collaborate with a co-teacher and to work independently as needed; adaptive, curious, and able to give and receive constructive feedback.

  • A strong commitment to anti-oppressive values and practice.

  • Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and work in an outdoor environment year-round. 

  • Comfortable working with food waste, soil and compost

Work schedule and compensation: 

This position will average 22 hours per week, with the intention of growing the position and increasing hours in 2025. Seasonal changes will create a fluctuating schedule over the course of the year, though there is flexibility depending on the applicant’s availability:

  • Spring (April-May): Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, Friday team meetings, plus occasional weekend work sessions. 

  • Summer (Late June - August): 3-4 days/week, plus occasional weekend work sessions. 

  • Fall (September - November): 2 afternoons/week, plus meetings; occasional weekend work sessions. 

  • Winter (December - March): Greenhouse and compost management, planning, program prep, and admin. Flexible hybrid work schedule. 

Pay is $24/hour, with a part-time benefit package, including paid vacation, wellness/sick days, professional development funds, wellness fund, & employer-provided 401(k) plan.

HOW TO APPLY:  Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Applications due now.

SJLA LEAD EDUCATOR (SUMMER)

Location: Hudson, NY
Duration: May 13th, 2024 - August 16th, 2024  (In Person work starts June 24th, 2024)

Social Justice Leadership Academy (SJLA) summer intensive is a five-week summer leadership program for teens (ages 13-19) based on the principles of social justice and youth-led change. SJLA brings together local youth from different backgrounds, primarily youth of color growing up in Hudson. Over the course of five weeks, youth develop meaningful relationships of trust and mutual support, identify issues impacting their community, gain critical tools for political analysis, create art (music, film, radio, poetry) to express their ideas, gain leadership skills, and connect with inspiring people and organizations. 

We are seeking a Lead Educator for our summer Social Justice Leadership Academy. This position will work closely with our SJLA Director and our experienced team of educators to coordinate all aspects of this program: You will collaborate with a team of educators to design, plan and lead curriculum, including hands-on workshops, group discussions, arts projects, experiential learning activities and field trips. You will serve as a mentor to Youth Fellows building meaningful relationships with youth and community members. As a youth employment program you will also support the compassionate development of youth leaders in the areas of  accountability, responsibility and teamwork. 

Compensation: This is a Seasonal Contracted Position. Seasonal Flat Rate: $6,250 *

  • Approx 235 hours.

* Please Note: This position could be combined with the posted SJLA Lead Educator Spring position. If these two positions are combined a comparable compensation packet would be arranged. 

SCHEDULE + RESPONSIBILITIES

SJLA Planning Phase of  Program: (May 13th - June 24th) (Remote Option)

Responsibilities Include: 

  • (3) Planning Meetings with SJLA Director 

  • Lesson plan design + Workshop prep

SJLA Summer Program Schedule: (June 25th - Aug 9th) (In Person)

Hours: Not to exceed a total of 130 hours 

Responsibilities Include: 

June 25th - July 5th 

  • Attend Staff Orientation and Training Session 

  • Participate in Team Planning/ Prep Sessions 

  • Additional Planning support and preparation including but not limited to: 

    • Youth Staff orientation

    • Site preparation

    • Additional workshop and curriculum development

July 8th - Aug 9th: SJLA SUMMER (5 Weeks: Mon - Fri 8:30am - 4:30pm) 

  • Lead daily workshops; support with transitions and time keeping 

  • Organize group games + team building activities

  • Support with the overall Safety + Care of participants in program 

  • Provide SEL support 

  • Supervise and provide leadership development support for teen staff 

  • Help facilitate restorative justice circles and peer mediation as needed

  • Support with supervision and safety during field trips 

  • Help with Direct Action events and other community organizing initiatives 

  • Support youth with organizing and leading community events 

  • Participate in daily setup and clean-up of our outdoor classroom 

  • Participate in regular team feedback and planning sessions 

  • Resource management of supplies and materials 

  • Print agendas for the day and organize daily class materials/ paperwork 

  • Support class daily setup and breakdown; while mentoring Youth Staff to complete their daily opening and closing tasks 

  • Archive class materials

  • Support with the culture of hospitality at Kite’s Nest, greeting guest educators as they arrive, getting them oriented to the space

  • Support with Final Event planning

  • Support with end of summer assessments 

SJLA Post Summer Program (Aug 12th-16th) (In Person) 

Responsibilities Include: 

  • Work with team to clean and reorganize classroom space for next program cycle

  • Participate in end of Summer Reflection


IDEAL CANDIDATE:The ideal candidate has experience as a youth educator working with BIPOC youth, experience with curriculum design and facilitation, has experience as an organizer, has a knowledge and deep grasp of social justice issues/ anti-capitalism/ liberation struggles and a passion to create communal and systemic change, has knowledge of restorative and transformative justice and conflict resolution skills,  has an understanding and practice of healing modalities for themselves and young people, is flexible and adaptable, inventive,  and enjoys fun youth centered environments. 

HOW TO APPLY:  Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format, and to complete a writing sample question. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Applications received by April 1 will be prioritized. 

Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, immigrants, and people with working class backgrounds to apply.

afterschool program driver (spring)

Location: Hudson, NY
Duration: April 9 - May 31 and Sep - Nov (fall semester, dates TBD)
Start Date:  Tuesday, April 8
Pay Rate: $50/shift

Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. We are a small organization, currently run by a core team of 8 staff members; each semester we are joined by a crew of contract educators and volunteers. We are looking for a part-time, seasonal Afterschool Program Driver to join our team this Spring. 

The Afterschool Program Driver will support our vibrant Arts & Media afterschool program and SJLA program by assisting our team with vehicle care and transporting participating youth ages 7-18 home from programs.

Responsibilities include:

  • Working with program team to gather youth who are being driven home that day

  • Preparing dropoff route based on attendance 

  • Ensuring First Aid kit, route list, and emergency contact binder are in the van before transporting youth home from program 

  • Ensuring any phone/GPS systems are connected and set up before leaving Kite’s Nest 

  • Transporting youth home and making sure they enter their homes or connect with their guardians safely

  • Ensuring all youth wear seatbelts and remain seated during transportation

  • Maintaining a culture of care and respect amongst passengers during transportation

  • Following all traffic and safety guidelines while transporting youth 

  • Safely communicating with guardians about arrival times (communicating only when the vehicle is parked and never using your phone while driving)

  • Ensuring that vehicle is fueled and has wiper fluids before and after completing the drop-off route (prepaid gas cards are provided)

  • Ensuring vehicle is clean and sanitary by quick vacuuming, clearing trash, cleaning under the seats, and wiping down surfaces before or after transporting youth. 

  • On winter weather days, arriving early to prepare the vehicle by removing snow, warming up the engine, and if necessary, checking wiper fluids (or, if you’re not able to do so, communicating the need to do so with Operations Director)

  • Reporting any vehicle maintenance information and considerations to Operations Director 


Schedule: This is a part-time, seasonal position with shifts on the following days:

  • Tuesdays, 5:30-7pm

  • Wednesdays, 5:30-7pm

  • Fridays, 6:30-8:00pm

Driver will pick up youth at Kite’s Nest (58 N. Front Street in Hudson) unless otherwise indicated by the program team. All drop-off locations are within 15-20 minutes of Kite’s Nest. 

Ideal candidate: The ideal candidate is a confident driver and parent of a young person participating in Kite’s Nest programs, or another close community member or partner of Kite’s Nest. Preferred candidates are over 26 years of age and have experience driving a 15 passenger van or other large passenger vehicle. Good attendance and reliability are a must for this essential position. We’re open to hiring multiple drivers if you can only do some dates or one semester.

To be considered for this position, applicants will need to:

  • Have a clean driving record and be approved when added to our insurance policy

  • Pass a background check for working with youth

  • Provide names and contact information for 3 references

  • Have recently completed a CPR/First Aid course or be willing to complete one (time to complete the course will be paid in addition to the driving day rate)

Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, trans and gender nonconforming people, people from poor and working class backgrounds, queer people, people with disabilities, parents, and women to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:  Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Applications are due now.