Coyote Outdoor School: Lead Instructor

Job Overview

Whole Earth Nature School is seeking applicants who want to make a positive impact on youth in our area while gaining experience mentoring students outdoors. In accordance with Oregon Department of Education policy, Whole Earth requires staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to work with students, unless they have a valid medical or religious exception. 

Whole Earth is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome the unique contributions that you bring to Whole Earth including your culture, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages, veteran status, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. We value diversity and are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all students, volunteers, and employees. Our commitments include:

• using equitable hiring practices like anonymizing identifying applicant information, using rubrics to rate applicants, providing interview questions and formats in advance, and more
• normalizing pronoun use during meetings and programs
• providing needs-based scholarships to students
• offering affinity camps for girls, boys, and gender-diverse campers
• providing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion training to all staff
• decolonizing curriculum and incorporating land acknowledgments in programs 
• amplifying Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices and perspectives
• using trauma-informed, culturally responsive student support strategies
• providing accommodations for students to participate in our programs and for staff to lead programs

ABOUT COYOTE OUTDOOR SCHOOL

Coyote Outdoor School (COS) is a Whole Earth program that provides state-funded, outdoor experiences to 5th and 6th graders during a school week. Outdoor School is for everyone. We create an environment where each person can be themselves and belong. We strive for every student to develop: curiosity; inquiry and observation skills; ecological understanding; gratitude; and an enhanced connection to self, community, and nature. Learn more at coyoteoutdoorschool.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are hiring 11-13 lead instructors ranging to work Outdoor School programs March-June 2023 between 36-40 hours per week. Lead instructors will have priority consideration for continued employment during Whole Earth Summer Camps based on availability and performance. Instructors will lead groups of students during in-person day programs with the opportunity to stay overnight throughout the week (Monday-Friday). Lead instructors will receive training and support to fulfill all of their job responsibilities.

LEAD INSTRUCTOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead activities and manage groups of students with support from volunteers and program leaders. 
• Facilitate culturally-responsive lessons that encourage student voice and choice, curiosity, observation, cooperation, and nature connection.
• Use equitable approaches to engage all students in land-based learning, including youth who are: BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergent or English Language Learners; and/or who have exceptional needs.
• Encourage and support students to participate in discussions, activities, stories, games and/or songs.
• Treat participants with kindness and respect while consistently maintaining group agreements.
• Clean the site weekly, organize materials, and assist set up and break down of the dining hall. 
• Use trauma-informed group management strategies to support student needs.
• Ensure safety of all participants at all times and maintain participant confidentiality. 
• Provide support and mentorship to volunteers or assistant instructors to ensure all group needs are met.
• Communicate with program leaders about challenges during programs such as hazards or conflicts.
• Respect and preserve land and facilities for current and future users.

Note to potential applicants: Research shows that BIPOC folx, trans and non-binary folx, and women are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe that they meet every qualification listed in a job description. Your skills, experience, and education can come from personal interests, self-directed learning, community roles, and life experiences. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested in the position, even if you do not believe that you meet all of the qualifications.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Interest in youth development and outdoor programming
• Ability to work with a partner instructor to deliver outdoor education lessons, games and activities, using resources and training
• Ability and/or experience managing small and large groups, facilitating songs, activities, games, storytelling, wilderness skills, and more
• Ability to compassionately lead diverse groups of fifth- and sixth-grade students outdoors, meeting students where they are at with sensitivity to students’ life experiences and needs
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students, especially students who have been excluded in outdoor education like students with disabilities, BIPOC students, and LGBTQ+ youth
• Commitment to creating a clean and safe learning environment including site cleaning duties and assessing risks

OTHER DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS (NOT REQUIRED)

• Prior experience working with youth, particularly outdoors
• Skills or knowledge in ecology, culture, conservation, wilderness skills (fire, journaling, navigation, shelter, archery), music, crafting, teambuilding, or storytelling
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish, ASL, Braille, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Japanese, French and/or Arabic
• Experience or education in childhood development, particularly equity-centered and trauma-informed

POSITION DETAILS

Job Title: Lead Instructor, Outdoor School

To apply: Complete this online form https://bit.ly/3Jd5Tr0 by February 13 for our priority deadline. Applications are accepted after this date on a rolling basis. 

Hiring timeline & process: Whole Earth follows equitable hiring practices. We anonymize all materials to reduce bias. Most or all instructor applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and schedule requirements will be interviewed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of February 13th. Remote and outdoor/in-person group interviews are anticipated February 14-16 for our priority deadline. 

Reports to: Outdoor School Director

Pay: Training (80 hours) is paid at $15/hour. Programs are paid at $16-17/hour, depending on experience. 

Work Schedule: Instructors will begin work as early as March 20th, participating in approximately 80 hours of training and orientation March 27th to April 7th. Outdoor School programs are estimated to run April 10-May 31 (Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm) with season wrap up ending by June 2nd. You may opt-in to be considered for continued work through Whole Earth Summer Camps through August. Program schedules are subject to change.

Benefits

• Paid leave: Instructors receive paid sick leave, hazardous weather leave, and few paid holidays occurring during outdoor school season 
• Required First Aid/CPR course covered with professional development funds 
• Stipends and discounts: $150 annual continuing education stipend. Discounts for dependents on Whole Earth programs. Discounts on outdoor gear through “pro-deal” programs.
• Meal service at Camp Lutherwood Monday-Friday during training and the outdoor school season
• Ability to stay overnight at Camp Lutherwood in furnished dormitory cabins, personal tent/hammock, camper van, Monday-Thursday during Outdoor School Season (optional) 
• Other: Access to environmental education library and Whole Earth workshops 

Type of work required: Work will consist of: moving around the program site outdoors leading activities and supporting students; cleaning and maintaining the site (70%), participating in meetings, events, and trainings indoors, outdoors, or remotely (20%), communicating and collaborating with other staff in person or via electronic devices (7%), reviewing information and resources on printed materials or electronic device (3%). We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants to perform job functions. 

Job location: From approximately late-March to mid-June, work is performed primarily at our Outdoor School site: Camp Lutherwood. All in-person work gatherings will meet or exceed all public health recommendations.

Other Details: Finalists must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit an approved religious or medical exception. Finalists will complete a criminal history background check. Candidates with disqualifying criminal history set by ODE will not be eligible for this position. Employees must obtain or provide proof of First Aid+CPR certification for adults and children, which can be reimbursed using the continuing education stipend.

Contact us with questions about this position at [email protected].

Minimum Requirements

To apply: Complete this online form https://bit.ly/3Jd5Tr0 by February 13 for our priority deadline. Applications are accepted after this date on a rolling basis.