Outdoor Instructor

Do you love working with kids? Are you excited about the outdoors, teaching kindness, cooking, arts and crafts, rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, sports, telling stories, and being creative? Do you dream of spending the summer in the mountains, star gazing, laughing with true friends and having the best summer of your life? If so, you might be a wonderful Eagle’s Nest Camp Counselor!

Job Overview

Are you looking for a fun and rewarding summer job? Do you love working with kids? Are you excited about the outdoors, rock climbing, canoeing, backpacking and more? Do you dream of spending the summer in the mountains, star gazing, laughing with true friends and having the best summer of your life?! If so, we hope you’ll apply to join our team at Eagle’s Nest Camp and Hante Adventures for the summer of 2024! 

Who We Are: Eagle’s Nest Camp is located on 200 acres of wooded land in the lush mountains of Western North Carolina just southwest of Asheville and down the road from Pisgah National Forest. Eagle’s Nest provides a joyful, inclusive community where campers finishing kindergarten – 11th grade are treated with respect and compassion. Campers have the opportunity to participate in 1-3 week long sessions that emphasize nature, arts, and community living while taking visual and performing arts, athletic, and outdoor classes. Eagle’s Nest is an independent non-profit organization. We also host an outdoor adventure program for teens, giving them the opportunity to spend two – three weeks backpacking, rock climbing, and white water canoeing in North Carolina, across the country, and internationally.  

Responsibilities: Outdoor Instructors will be responsible for working with the Outdoor Program Manager to plan and lead outdoor trips and Hante Adventure treks (See our website for trip details: www.enf.org). We offer adventures for children of all ages, grouped according to maturity and skill level. Participants learn a variety of camping and backpacking skills, including food preparation, fire building, and Leave No Trace ethics. Instructors are responsible for the details of their trips, live with the participants during their time in camp and out in the field, and teach outdoor skills. We seek Outdoor Instructors who have a joy for living and working in the outdoors and have a passion for inspiring and mentoring children. Outdoor staff and Hante Adventures Instructors attend training clinics and all-staff orientation.

Dates: Position is from May 25th  to August 12th, 2024

How to Apply: Please complete this short application. Once we receive it you’ll be invited to schedule a Zoom interview and informational chat with Paige Lester-Niles, the Camp Director, and with other members of the camp leadership staff. The interviews are fun opportunities for us to get to know each other.

You can visit our staff webpage to learn more about Eagle’s Nest Camp!

Special Benefits

Benefits: Competitive salary and one full day off each week. On-campus housing, delicious and healthy meals (including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options), extensive professional discounts, a staff lounge with wifi, and access to laundry facilities provided.

Minimum Requirements

Required Qualifications: Minimum age of 18 years with one full year out of high school. CPR and Wilderness First Aid certification or higher. Hante Adventure Instructors must have their Wilderness First Responder Certification. Training and experience with camping and backpacking skills. Those interested in extended expeditions (Hante Adventures) must have previous experience leading overnight outdoor trips.

Preferred Qualifications: We also value certifications and training in areas including Leave No Trace, lifeguarding, natural and environmental science, paddling, and climbing.