California

Position Title: Summer Instructor

Organization: Adventure Risk Challenge

Location: California

Organization Overview: Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC) has been facilitating leadership, literacy, and wilderness experiences since 2004. The organization hosts Immersive & Foundational Summer Courses that integrate rigorous academic instruction & outdoor education. Their programming engages high school youth in the Tahoe-Truckee & Central Valley regions of California whose identities are typically underrepresented in the outdoors & higher education.

Position Overview: This is a full-time seasonal outdoor Instructor position based in either Yosemite National Park or Lake Tahoe. Instructors will work in teams to deliver 33-day or 11-day wilderness experiences (4-8 day backpacking trips, rock climbing, &/or whitewater rafting) interwoven with intensive literacy & leadership components at an outdoor basecamp (English & science classes, writing workshops, & facilitated community conversations). Instructors will attend our 10-day paid All Staff Training but should have the skills & experience to contribute to a well rounded team. This is an ideal position for candidates who love working with high school students and who share our commitment to diversifying the outdoors.

Duties:

• Create a safe, open, and inclusive culture for students & staff and work in a highly collaborative environment
• Lead backpacking expeditions & basecamps following rigorous daily schedules
• Teach backcountry outdoor living skills
• Manage student safety in front & backcountry course environments and follow all risk management protocols
• Drive students in SUVs between course areas
• Teach a pre-planned component of ARC’s curriculum with your own unique style
  • English: guide students through the writing process & prepare students for our public speaking event
  • Environmental Science: teach observation-based lessons & prepare students for final science video project
  • Community Conversations: facilitate our identity and leadership development progression

Qualifications: 

• Has strong interpersonal skills & can connect effectively with high school aged youth & community members
• Has self-awareness to responsibly facilitate conversations about identity, including race & gender, in demographically mixed groups
• Has experience backpacking, leading wilderness expeditions, &/or teaching in any setting
• Has experience managing risks outdoors
• Has a commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Has strong organizational skills & attention to detail
• Is flexible & adaptable under changing circumstances
• Is able to work well in a team & independently
• Has bilingual proficiency in Spanish & English (preferred but not required)
• Has Wilderness First Responder & CPR certifications (required; can be obtained after hiring before work begins)

Start/End Dates:

• Required & Paid All Staff Training in Yosemite National Park: June 6-15
• Yosemite Immersive Course (33 days with students): Prep: June 18-20 & 23, Course: June 24-July 27, Post: July 28-29
• Tahoe Immersive Course (33 days with students): Prep: June 25-27 & 30, Course: July 1-Aug 3, Post: Aug 4-5
• Yosemite Foundational Course(s) (11 days with students; can work one or both):
  • A) Prep: June 18-19 & 21, Course: June 22-July 2, Post: July 3-4
  • B) Prep: July 7-8 & 10, Course: July 11-21, Post: July 22-23

Pay: $150 per day

Application Deadline: December 4

How to Apply: Please use the online application to view the full job description as well as how to apply.