Youth LEAD Program Summer Intern

Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) is a volunteer-based nonprofit providing the joy and challenge of outdoor adventures to people with all abilities and from all backgrounds since 1972. We inspire self-confidence, connection to nature, and community-based environmental stewardship through accessible sea kayaking, rafting, and multi-week expeditions for youth from historically marginalized backgrounds. The Youth LEAD (Leadership, Environment, Adventure, and Diversity) Program (YLP) is one of ETC’s three main programs. We provide life-changing outdoor experiences for youth from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, focusing on technical outdoor skills, environmental education, socio-emotional growth, and leadership development. Our 14-to-21-day courses incorporate sea kayaking, rafting, and backpacking. Students learn about themselves, their community of peers, natural history, and environmental science through lessons, storytelling, community-building, and adventure in the wilderness.

Job Overview

Job Responsibilities:

During the 2023 summer season, the Youth LEAD Program Summer Intern will work closely and collaboratively with the Youth LEAD Program Manager and Youth LEAD Program Associate by providing administrative and field support for five YLP Courses. The job responsibilities include:

• Gain familiarity with ETC, the Youth LEAD Program, and the populations & organizations that ETC works closely with
• Provide Youth LEAD field instructors and staff with essential logistical support. Tasks include thorough cleaning and organizing of gear; finalizing menu preparation; executing food buys with Program Associate; packing and unloading vans with Instructor team; helping to prepare for graduations and course start days, etc.
• Keep the YLP gear attic organized through the summer and help orient instructors when packing gear
• Assist in participant registration process, including making rosters for each course and tracking student paperwork
• Assist and observe facilitation of post-course feedback, course evaluations and student assessments with field instructor teams
• Responsibly handle and care for all ETC gear and equipment
• In the beginning of the summer season, the Summer Intern and YLP Program Manager will discuss personal goals for the internship, with the intention of incorporating a focus and/or leadership project for the duration of the experience
• Option to learn ETC environmental/leadership curriculum and deliver focused activities with students and instructors•Option to support instructors and students in the field for 1-2 days at a time
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Age: 18+
• Interest and enthusiasm for sharing youth outdoor adventure programs with people of all abilities and backgrounds
• Passion for environmental education and natural history (specifically in the Bay Area, i.e., Tomales Bay/San Francisco Bay) and interest in developing outdoor science materials for educational lessons
• Ability to communicate positively, value feedback, and excel in a strong team-oriented environment
• Interest leading diversity and inclusion activities and/or facilitating programs with racially and socioeconomically diverse groups of youth (14-18)

• Interest in streamlining logistical program systems for summer outdoor courses – gear, food, student journals, food buys, etc.
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently with organizational skills and attention to detail

• Open to learning about oneself and celebrating different leadership styles; celebrates individual uniqueness with goal of creating inclusive, safe spaces
• If identified with a socially dominant group (white, wealthy, heterosexual, cis gender, etc): is committed to examining personal power and privilege and self-education about power dynamics

• Flexibility with work schedule (workdays may include weekends and evenings/early mornings)
• Hiring is dependent on a criminal background check

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to speak Spanish
• Experience sea kayaking, backpacking, and/or whitewater rafting
• Current first aid/CPR certifications (WFA/WAFA/WFR preferred)
• A current driver’s license with two years driving experience and clean driving record; for program assistance with transporting course materials

Transportation: The YLP Summer Intern must be able to provide their own transportation to and from the ETC office in San Francisco, and potentially other locations in the Bay Area. 

 Dates of Employment:

• Start date: May 2023 (flexible)
• End date: Mid-September 2023 (flexible)
• Schedule, Part-time (12-15 days/month):
  • May – mid-June:
    • Weekdays, 9am-5pm
  • Mid-June – August:
    • Some weekends, evenings, and early mornings; work schedule dependent on YLP Course dates. The summer work schedule will be established by the YLP Program Manager, in collaboration with the Summer Intern, before the YLP Courses begin.
  • Potential to lead a multi-week YLP Summer Course, depending on experience. Please click HERE to view our YLP Field Instructor Job Description and summer course dates.

Compensation and Benefits:

$1,000 – $1,300/month stipend (part time); optional participation in ETC Inclusion Training; access to ETC pro-deals; use of YLP gear & equipment; progression of leadership skills and knowledge of hands-on managing, facilitating, and guiding of outdoor programs; access to future ETC opportunities

We strongly encourage people of color and individuals identifying as LGBTQI to apply for this position.

How to Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and related experience to Isabela Celedón at [email protected]. If you have any questions about the position, please email [email protected] or call 415-474-7662 x16.