Wilderness Instructor

With over 50 years of innovation in experiential and outdoor education in the Pacific Northwest, Northwest Outward Bound School (NWOBS) continues to change lives through challenge and discovery. Our transformative and educational wilderness courses are set in some of the most dramatic and stunning parts of the United States. NWOBS was founded in 1965 and facilitates wilderness-based programs in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and also serves urban youth and schools in the Portland metropolitan area. As an Outward Bound School, we are committed to the core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, equity, inclusion and diversity, and strive to achieve the following outcomes: building character, developing leadership skills, and creating an ethic of social and environmental responsibility. We are hiring at both our basecamps in Redmond, OR and Mazama, WA.

Job Overview

Training: Attend, fully participate in, and complete training in May that includes 15+ days of tuition-free educational, interpersonal, student management, and technical outdoor skills.

Outdoor Knowledge and Skill: Ability to skillfully manage students and risk in two or more course activities including: backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, white water rafting, sea kayaking, and canoeing. Please view the Minimum Skill Standards for this position and download our Outdoor Skills Log template.

Safety: Ability to appropriately manage physical and emotional safety on course, able to manage student groups in hazardous environments (i.e. rough water or steep, uneven terrain), and manage emergencies. Able to model and promote a culture of safety in the wilderness and in basecamp.

Course Delivery: Participate in course planning, including development of educational and outdoor skill curricula, route planning, food and equipment organization and packing. Ability to effectively assess student needs and facilitate lessons, activities and discussions to meet student needs and course outcomes.

Educational Knowledge and Skill: Able to proficiently plan and deliver engaging experiential based lessons to achieve desired outcomes. Assist with delivery of NWOBS mission and facilitation of character development, leadership, and an ethic of service to others and the environment.

Interpersonal Knowledge and Skill: Able to work effectively with students 12 – 18+ years in age, students who have never camped before, and students from marginalized communities. Able to work with staff that have different styles and experiences. Able to take initiative and carry out tasks individually and work cooperatively as a team. Provide clear, effective, and timely communication to Students, Instructors, Course Directors, Logistics Coordinators, and Administration.

Special Benefits

• Starting daily rate $90 with the ability to advance once the requirements for the next level have been met.
• Staff development through training (in-house and external), staff expeditions, access to gear, and mentorship.
• Professional equipment (Pro deal) discounts.
• Room & board: housing, food, laundry, showers and internet are available for your use on base. Staff receive field food while on course, and are fed out of the common kitchen while on base. These benefits are provided to improve staff well-being and are not considered compensation or factored into the pay scale.

Minimum Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must be available from the beginning of May until the end of August 2022. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Proficient in at least two of the following outdoor skills: backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, canoeing.
• Possess a current Wilderness First Responder Certification or willing to obtain one before the start of training.
• Demonstrated commitment to engaging in equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts (in a professional or personal setting).
• One or more years of comparable experience in risk management, experiential education, and/or outdoor skills.
• Experience working with students from a broad range of identities and facilitating positive group environments.
• Awareness of personal biases and the impact that your behavior may have on those around you, or the willingness to uncover and grapple with personal biases.
• Experience working in a team setting with one or more colleagues.
• Ability to have open, honest, and difficult conversations, including the ability to give and receive feedback.
• Ability to facilitate activities, lessons, and discussions, including presenting engaging lessons that meet learners' needs and allows for transference.
• Must be sufficiently fit to participate in all duties as assigned and maintain ample energy and focus to aid students and staff.
• Strong personal motivation, initiative, commitment, and passion for NWOBS’ mission.