about

CRMS is a college-preparatory independent boarding school located in the mountains of western Colorado. CRMS’s average enrollment is 165 students in grades 9-12 from a variety of countries around the world. We provide students with a transformative education through an inclusive community on our 300-acre campus, a rigorous academic program in our classrooms, and experiential learning on our public lands.

CRMS seeks to be a learning environment where students and faculty with diverse lived experiences and backgrounds and a respect for the outdoors can challenge their intellect, hone life skills, while developing skills and character. It is our goal to provide access to all youth to the transformative powers of the outdoors. We are a community that welcomes and values differences so that we may understand, grow, and support each other in our quest for a culture of inclusivity, equity, and belonging. 

The CRMS Fellow Program invites recent college graduates the opportunity to gain teaching skills in our Active and Residential programs while sharing their unique gifts with CRMS students.  Additionally, Fellows assist as substitute teachers, provide study support in the Learning Center and may opt-in to classroom observation and participation in coordination with CRMS faculty members.

RESIDENTIAL: Living and working in a residential dormitory, Fellows gain practical training in residential education.  Fellows serve on a weekend duty team nine weekends per year, facilitate a weekly restriction work crew, and participate in evening dorm duties averaging two to three nights a week. Fellows also assist with several Weekend Rendezvous, which provide overnight weekend adventures for our students.

ACTIVE: Involvement in our Active program including:

• The Sports Program (kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, numerous types of skiing and snowboarding activities, running, soccer etc.);  
• The Service Program (ex. ceramics, bike shop, recycling and sustainability, outdoor trip logistics, etc.);
• The Outdoor Program, including Outdoor Orientation, Fall Trip, and Spring Trip, which include backpacking as well as expeditions linked to our Sports Program.
• Interim, a week-long immersive course of study

ACADEMIC: Diverse experiential teaching opportunities available through the Active and Residential programs as well as self-motivated classroom observation and participation in coordination with CRMS faculty members in a specific subject area (History, Math, Literature, Modern Languages, Science, Art, Technology, College Counseling). 

The Fellow Program is a one-year appointment. Employment begins early August 2021, and extends through early June 2022. While at CRMS, fellows will receive room and board, a season ski pass to the four areas of Aspen, a $10,000 stipend, and health benefits.

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Individuals with a college degree who are interested in experiential education, working with teenagers, and gaining firsthand experience working with students from across the globe in an inclusive independent board school setting. Individuals who work well collaboratively as well as independently. Candidates dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and individuals from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply. Strong personal experience in kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding and/or skiing/snowboarding preferred. 

If interested, please send a cover letter, resume, and CRMS Application to: 

Jessica McGrath
Colorado Rocky Mountain School
500 Holden Way, Carbondale, Colorado 81623 

or electronically to:  jmcgrath@crms.org. 

For more information, please contact the school at 970-963-2562.  Position open until filled.

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountain School, an independent day and boarding high school, has an organic garden program with vegetable gardens, a young orchard, a small nursery, and a large-scale composting system. CRMS is located on a 350-acre ranch in Carbondale in western Colorado between Glenwood Springs and Aspen at an elevation of 6200 feet.

Job Responsibilities: The Garden Assistant participates in all non-administrative activities of the garden as needed.  This includes soil preparation, planting, mulching, protecting crops with covers, watering, weeding, fertilizing, planning, harvesting, cleaning produce, preparing produce for storage, preserving produce, arranging flowers, maintaining tools, minor repairs on buildings and equipment, and cleaning of the buildings and work areas. The Assistant plays a large role in the yearly plant sale (a Saturday and Sunday in mid-May), which will impart a different skillset; knowledge of perennials and annuals, marketing, sales, and customer relations. There is also the opportunity for the Assistant to gain skills pertaining to operating a skid-steer, tractor, and various construction and landscaping projects. The Assistant will help with the compost program weekly. The Assistant works with the Garden Manager to plan, lead, and/or supervise student work crews. If the Assistant has sole responsibility for supervising a work crew, the assistant will take attendance, write reports, and submit them by the appropriate deadline. At times, the Assistant may be called upon to work in/on the campus landscape outside the garden. The assistant will take an active role in supervising and training Garden Interns. The Assistant may also be asked to attend a 5-day outdoor adventure trip (such as backpacking) with another faculty member and students from CRMS in the fall. Also in the fall, the garden assistant will help plan for a special evening, the Harvest Dinner, where the CRMS community comes together to celebrate the food from the garden. This may include contributing a poem, or reading, or giving a small speech to the student body.

Time Commitment:  The Assistantship runs for 32 weeks; from late March through November 2021. The assistant will be required to work some weekends (on a rotating schedule with interns). Due to the nature of agricultural work, typical holidays (such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day) will be regularly scheduled workdays. Expect a heavy workload (40+ hours/week) most weeks.

Stipend: $275/week paid every two weeks

Housing: You will live in a yurt on campus with a composting toilet, a water tank, and a full kitchen. This housing is somewhat primitive.  The yurt, while it does have propane heat, can be on the cool to cold side during spring and fall and during the summer months, certain times of day in the yurt can be very hot. The assistant has access to shower facilities in campus facilities, which are a short walk from the yurt. 

Meals: Three meals daily provided when the school kitchen is open.  The kitchen will be open for most of the term of the assistantship with the exception of a few intermittent days/ weeks when the kitchen is closed. The assistant will also have access to produce from the school garden and to a small plot to plant his/her own garden if desired.

Qualifications:  

• The Garden Assistant should have practical and relevant work experience and basic knowledge of organic production and gardening and a genuine curiosity about learning more, an interest in the educational side of agriculture
•  the ability to thrive under challenging conditions
•  the ability to work alone and take on a leadership role with gusto 
• an ability to be flexible and respond to changes and challenges that arise because of the school calendar and the weather
• Must be 21 years of age
• Experience working with teenagers is a plus
• A strong interest in organic agriculture and our food system
• Strong organization skills and tidiness
• A well-developed and energetic work ethic
• Due to the presence of students on campus, all employees are required to pass a background check. This requirement poses a barrier for international applicants.
• Must provide own transportation to CRMS
• Ability to work in an efficient and thorough manner
• Due to the housing available to interns/assistant, no pets are allowed.

To apply: contact hmcdermott@crms.org

Application deadline:  February 22, 2021 

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountain School, an independent day and boarding high school, has an organic garden program with vegetable gardens, a young orchard, a small nursery, a large scale composting system, and a water-efficient public demonstration garden. CRMS is located on a 350-acre ranch in Carbondale in western Colorado between Glenwood Springs and Aspen at an elevation of 6200 feet.

Job Responsibilities: The Garden Interns participate in all activities of the garden as needed. This includes soil preparation, planting, watering, weeding fertilizing, planning, harvesting, cleaning produce, preparing produce for storage, maintaining tools, minor repairs on buildings and equipment, and cleaning of the buildings and work areas. There also exist opportunities to operate a skid steer, participate in construction projects, and dabble in flower arranging. At times, the Intern may be called upon to work in/on the campus landscape. In addition, interns may be given responsibility for a specific project or ongoing task.

Housing: On-campus (most likely a dorm room).

Stipend: $125/week paid every two weeks

Meals: Three meals daily provided when the school kitchen is open.  The kitchen will be open for most of the term of the internship with the exception of a few intermittent weeks usually no more than 2.5 weeks total. The interns will also have access to produce from the school garden and dry goods from the kitchen.

Time commitment:  Duration and dates are flexible. 10-20 weeks at 40+ hours a week from May until September depending on the CRMS school calendar and the Intern’s availability. The interns will be required to work some weekends (on a rotating schedule with other interns and the assistant - expect 1-2 weekends per month - mostly watering and light work). Due to the nature of agricultural work, typical holidays (such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day) will be regularly scheduled workdays. Expect a heavy workload (40+ hours/week) most weeks.                                                                              

 Qualifications:

• The Garden Interns should have the ability to thrive under challenging conditions
• An ability to be flexible and respond to changes that arise because of the school calendar and the weather
• A strong interest in organic agriculture and a strong work ethic are required
• An ability to work and live together cooperatively is essential.
• The internship is experiential learning while doing opportunity and applicants must express a desire to engage in the work at hand every day.
• A well-developed, efficient, and energetic work ethic
• The ability to use observance to initiate tasks
• At least 18 years of age
• Due to the presence of students on campus, all employees are required to pass a background check. This requirement poses a barrier for international
• Must provide own transportation to CRMS
• Ability to work in an efficient and thorough manner
• Due to the housing available to interns/assistant, no pets are allowed.

To apply, contact hmcdermott@crms.org

Application deadline March 1, 2021