High School Leader Coordinator

High School Leader Coordinator

Position type: Full time, salaried, seasonal

Season: March 1--October 31, 2023

Location: Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity, Oregon (60 miles from Portland, Oregon)

Compensation: $3,700 average monthly salary; 8 days PTO

Perks: Meals provided while working outdoor school/Basic housing on site/Staff housing in greater Portland/Salem area for subsidized rate (optional)

Program: Opal Creek Outdoor School

Work schedule: Mondays-Fridays (no overnight), averaging 8 hrs/day including evenings

In this new role, you’ll develop and run a new high school leader (HSL) program for our 5th/6th grade overnight outdoor school program. Our classroom is Silver Falls State Park, Oregon’s most beloved and largest state park and the ancestral home of the Kalapuya and Molalla Tribes. Over the course of five days and with your support, HSLs will work collaboratively with guides and one another, building strong student relationships. Through co-teaching culturally and social-emotionally aware outdoor environmental curriculum they will gain confidence, grow resilience, and gain tangible experience that could kickstart a career in the environmental field.

Prior to each season, you’ll recruit high school-aged youth, develop curriculum, and create and facilitate in-class training. During outdoor school, you’ll be the primary mentor and support for the volunteer high school leaders. Opal Creek Outdoor School is in a new phase; in launching this program you’ll play a major role in shaping the outdoor school experience for students and staff for years to come!

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

A successful candidate will possess these minimum qualifications. We are less interested in the titles you’ve held and more interested in what you’ve actually done and who you are.

● Previous experience working with high school leaders/counselors in training in an outdoor education setting

● 2+ years teaching experience, formal or informal

● 1+ years working with youth

● Strong group leadership and management skills 

● Strong communication skills, written and verbal 

● Strong organizational skills & attention to detail 

● Previous experience leading trainings

● Previous experience integrating equity, inclusion, and cultural relevance into youth programming

● COVID-19 vaccine (by time of employment) 

● Able to lead groups on hikes up to 3 miles 

● Able to pass a criminal background check

How to Apply & Timeline

Please submit an application by visiting the employment page of our website. The application includes a series of questions and asks you to upload a detailed resume in PDF format. Be sure to include any relevant experience and certifications, both professional and personal experience.

Priority will be given to applications received by February 5, 2023. There is one interview for this position conducted in early February, and the ideal start date is March 1, 2023.

Please contact hiring@opalcreek.org with any questions and to request any accommodations needed during this hiring process. We’ll do our best to respond to all queries and to keep all applicants up to date on how the process unfolds.