Backpacking Trip Leader

Keystone Science School’s Adventure Programs are immersive, multi-day experiences designed to build students’ confidence, outdoor skills, and sense of leadership through meaningful time in wild places. These 6–12 day expeditions take students into frontcountry and backcountry environments, where learning happens through challenge, teamwork, and exploration.

In this role, you’ll guide students through outdoor living skills, leadership development, and place-based environmental education while traveling through some of Colorado’s most inspiring landscapes. Adventure Instructors serve as teachers, mentors, and role models. You’ll support students’ personal growth, manage daily logistics, and uphold strong safety and risk management standards throughout each expedition.

This is a physically and mentally demanding role that requires energy, flexibility, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful, fun, and safe experiences for youth in the outdoors. 

Key Responsibilities:
Field Instruction & Student Experience

• Supervise and mentor up to 13 students alongside co-instructors during 6–12 day frontcountry and backcountry programs.
• Teach outdoor living skills including packing, camp setup and breakdown, outdoor cooking, orienteering, and risk management.
• Teach students basic rock climbing skills and safety, including belaying and fundamental movement techniques.
• Facilitate age-appropriate curriculum focused on outdoor skills, leadership development, and environmental learning.
• Guide students in personal growth, group dynamics, and daily living responsibilities in the field.
• Provide an electronics-aware experience that encourages presence, reflection, and connection.
• Document course progression and student concerns, participate in peer feedback, and engage in post-trip debriefs.
• Gather and submit photos and videos that reflect the student experience during Adventure programs.

Logistics & Program Operations

• Implement daily Adventure logistics including schedules, routes, menus, emergency action plans, and transportation.
• Manage program packing, gear organization, and equipment maintenance on a rotating basis.
• Maintain clean, organized storage areas and assist with gear upkeep, repairs, and inventory.
• Drive 15-passenger vans with trailers when needed, following completion of required driver and trailer trainings.
• Assist with setup, management, and breakdown of top-rope climbing sites and rappels as trained.

Safety & Risk Management

• Supervise students with a high standard of care, ensuring physical and emotional safety at all times.
• Follow all KSS Risk Management policies and emergency response procedures.
• Administer medications, conduct student health screenings, and apply first aid skills as needed.
• Participate in incident prevention, documentation, and response when necessary.

Qualifications

Skills 

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children in a backcountry setting
• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, abilities, and experience
• Proven ability to develop and facilitate science, diversity & inclusion, leadership, and risk management lessons
• Ability to adapt instruction and lessons to meet a wide variety of learners utilizing different educational philosophies
• Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations
• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete
• Growth oriented mindset and willingness to give and receive feedback
• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community
• Interpret a variety of instructions provided in written or verbal form
• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Write incident reports and lesson plans with attention to detail.  

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Experience leading/guiding participants in a wilderness/backcountry setting (minimum of 5 overnight trips);
• Prior experience working with school-age children
• Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor education industry
• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment
• Age 21+ with a minimum of 5 years driving experience, excellent driving record, and a valid driver's license
• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check
• Preferred - Lifeguard certification from approved vendor
• Preferred - Paddleboarding certifications from approved vendors
• Preferred - Previous experience driving with a trailer
• Preferred - Extensive outdoor sport climbing experience and an SPI