Barn Intern (Fall 2024)
Internship Type: Part-time/full-time
Direct Report: Barn Director
Compensation: Paid (may also receive academic credit if eligible)
Organization Overview
Victory Junction is a year-round camp facility that provides fully accessible on-site and off-site programming for children with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families. Victory Junction’s adaptive, intentional programming includes summer camp, family weekends, day programs, pediatric patient outreach, and partner programs. By removing all barriers, Victory Junction welcomes children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions to experience camp fun, all in a medically-safe environment. Victory Junction is a member of SeriousFun Children’s Network and is accredited by the American Camp Association.
Internship Description
The Barn Intern assists the barn team with daily animal care, facility care, and seasonal programming.
Opportunities
● Work as part of a collaborative team under the supervision of the Barn Director
● Gain valuable career experience and advice from PATH certified therapeutic riding instructors and camp professionals in the world of nonprofits
● Gain practical large and small animal care experience
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
● Assist full-time barn staff with daily duties including barn cleaning, tacking, grooming, feeding, barn programming (leading horses, side walking, and assisting with the petting zoo), and all other duties deemed necessary by the Barn Director
● Be an active member of creating and sustaining a positive, nurturing, and respectful culture for campers, staff, volunteers, and animals
● Follow multi-step directions independently either written or explained verbally
● Ensure all camp rules and regulations relating to the barn are adhered to
● Ensure care and safety of all campers and/or participants, staff and volunteers in the barn
● Know and adhere to the policies and procedures contained within the barn manual
● Other duties as required
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
● Often lift and/or move over 50 pounds
● Regularly required to use hands, talk, or hear
● Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.
Education and Experience
● Relevant barn work experience
● Experience working with children (preferred)
● Candidate must be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate
● Basic horsemanship skills (i.e. grooming, tacking, and animal handling)
● Willingness to learn
● Ability to multitask with attention to detail
● Ability to work with others in a collaborative team environment
Compensation
This internship is a paid position with possible housing. Students may also receive academic credit from their college for successful completion of the internship.
To apply, send cover letter and resume to Billie Jo Davis, Barn Director, at bjdavis@victoryjunction.org.
Victory Junction is an Equal Opportunity Employer providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to medical condition, physical ability, race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, socioeconomic background or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strive to remove barriers and provide opportunity and access for all people.
