CITY KIDS WILDERNESS PROJECT POSITION: City Kids Outdoor Adventure Program Staff, Jackson, WY Supervisor: Camp Director Position: Full Time Summer; Residential Date of Employment: June 8 – August 20, 2016 (10 weeks) June 8- July 26, 2016 (7 weeks), some positions available
Position Description: The Outdoor Adventure Program Staff works with a small team of co-workers to provide a summer adventure-based program for underserved youth. Our mission is to inspire confidence and leadership in children and teens from inner city Washington, D.C. We provide a multi-year experiential curriculum focusing on outdoor adventure, backcountry trips and personal growth during three 16-19 day summer sessions. Base camp is our beautiful property, Broken Arrow Ranch, in Hoback Junction just south of Jackson Hole.
The responsibilities of Program Staff are multi-faceted and include all of the following;
Mentoring- Develop a positive, proactive relationship with participants, be a role model, facilitate team and personal growth. Encourage positive behavior, set goals, and create a safe environment for participants.
Activity and Trip Leader- Responsible for planning and leading activities, journaling, camp lessons, sports, day trips, and multi-day backcountry trips with a team of co-leaders. Daily activities include team-building games, skills-building lessons, team sports, debriefs and group facilitation. Day trips include off-site day adventures, education and service trips. Multi-day backcountry trips range from 3-10 days including backpacking, canoeing, and kayaking.
Cabin counselor- Responsible for the daily care, health and safety of a cabin of 4-6 campers and JET. Prepare campers for activities and trips, lead daily journaling, and night cabin activities.
JET supervisor- Primary supervisor for 1-2 counselors-in-training throughout the course of the session. Provide daily feedback, correction, encouragement, support, and formal evaluations during job training program.
Staff work as a team directly with the Director and Program Directors to implement the program. This is a residential position and thereby is not limited to these stated responsibilities. Everyone at camp shares responsibility for day-to- day tasks, which are an integral part of living in a small close-knit community. Counselors have partial days and a full day off during and between sessions. Contract includes a paid 10-day staff training. Please refer to http://citykidsdc.org/ for an understanding of our program and the children we serve.
Position Qualifications: – Experience working with children in outdoor, camp or other residential settings, trip leading preferred. – Competence in teaching, counseling, and guiding youth, experience with at-risk youth preferred. – Patience, initiative, enthusiasm, proactive communication style, flexibility and energy are a must. – The ability to relate well to others and to work effectively with a variety of people. – General to advanced knowledge and ability in several or all of the following activities: canoeing, horseback riding, swimming, backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, outdoor education, group dynamics, experiential education, games & initiatives, orienteering, and outdoor living. – The ability to anticipate and manage potential hazards, both physical and emotional. – Possession of sound judgment and the ability to manage a group effectively under stressful conditions. – An understanding and commitment to the goals and philosophy of City Kids and experiential education. – Knowledge of environmentally acceptable practices for backcountry living. – Ability to provide appropriate structure, perspective and guidance in the process of program delivery. – Be sufficiently fit to lead all activities and trips and to maintain ample energy, strength, and focus to assist students with physical and emotional obstacles. – First aid certification appropriate to adventure and wilderness activities, to include as a minimum CPR (ARC Professional Rescuer or AHA Health Care Provider) and Wilderness First Aid (or ARC Advanced First Aid), LGT and WFR or EMT desirable. – Valid/clean driver’s license; must be over 21 years old.
Compensation: $350/week; Paid training; Outside training stipends; Workers compensation insurance; Room & Board.
To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to: hiring@citykidsdc.org. Emails should be titled with the name of the position and can be addressed to Colleen McHugh.