Outdoor School Educator

Make a positive impact with youth through science inquiry, social-emotional support, and learning and teaching outside!  Outdoor School is a program for 6th graders and high school students in the Portland, OR area.  Looking for creative and dedicated educators to lead our program this Spring. 

COMPENSATION: $664.84 per Sun-Fri week/contracted salary*

INTERVIEWS: Rolling Interview dates through Winter

Positions open until filled. Screening and scheduling will happen as applications are received and applicants will be contacted through phone and email within 5 business days

Job Begins: March 7th-May 27th 
Off-March 19th-26th/Spring Break
Temporary Position

*dependent upon final district school schedules

OUR STATEMENT/OBJECTIVES:    

At Outdoor School we believe that every individual is equal, valuable and welcome. We work to acknowledge and celebrate our differences, whatever they may be. Inclusion means everyone and together we will strengthen our skills to work and live with others that are alike and different from ourselves. At Outdoor School we are building a community where everyone is honored for exactly who they are.  

Outdoor School staff members will be a part of a collaborative educational team implementing an immersive overnight learning to 6th grade students. High school students provide mentorship and community development and are empowered to become teachers themselves, teaching hands-on immersive science in the field. As a team player, Outdoor School employees will work collaboratively and responsibility within their team and the Outdoor School leadership staff.  You are a positive team player through honest communication, altruism and respectful actions.  As an Outdoor School employee you are expected to work the hours assigned, communicate and engage with your supervisor, and uphold the mission and values of the Outdoor School program.

JOB DESCRIPTION:    

Outdoor School staff members implement environmental education programs through mentoring high school student leaders and supervising elementary and middle school students. Outdoor School focuses on sixth grader science standards around inquiry, scientific thinking and engagement with the natural world.  Field Instructors are tasked with broad goals of program-wide community development and implementing curriculum by leading/modeling hands-on immersive field activities to train high school student leaders, who then teach sixth grade students. Program Leaders support the social emotional health and wellbeing of sixth grade students and high school participants in their living community.  During programming weeks Outdoor Instructors are required to live on-site providing supervision and safety for all participants within the community.  Placement of position, Field Instructor or  Program Leader, will be discussed during the interview process

How you will make an impact:

•  You will support and lead teams of students and high school volunteers in activities and science field studies encouraging science inquiry and positive social emotional experiences
•  You will serve as a role model, mentor and coach for high school and sixth grade students 
•  You will work hard, teach, laugh, play, and live on site with 6th graders and a staff of like individuals working toward the same goal and make some amazing memories
•  You will be working in a creative and inspiring environment where you will be valued and respected for who you are
•  You will support and join the continued work at MESD Outdoor School as an actively Anti-Racist organization.
•  You will respond to the needs of students to set them up for success. 
•  You will work outside every day with students in the beautiful Oregon landscape, engaging with natural phenomena and nature
•  You will gain skills in teaching, leadership, and mentoring youth 
•  You will work collaboratively with students to ensure the emotional and physical safety of all students. 
•  You will be an employee of a school district that supports students that often don’t succeed in traditional classrooms, and also have job opportunities outside of the season.
• You will live and work on site, in an immersive “camp” environment, supporting all aspects of programming and teaching
• You will gain jobs knowledge and social skills like conflict resolution, communication skills  and work with people that are different from you
• You will  honor and respect the Native American and Indigenous traditional lands that we are located on.  
• You are a positive team player through honest communication, altruism and respectful actions. 

You are someone who:

• You are someone works well with teams with diverse perspectives, values and identities
• You value diversity, equity and inclusion and share core values of program-Equity, Inclusion, Authentic Outdoor experiences for youth, caregiving, education and teaching and work towards active and constructive change
• You are creative, dedicated and responsible and ready to share your knowledge and experiences
• You are dedicated to learning about our curriculum, learning objectives and student outcomes
• You work to understand of the myriad of relationships youth may have with the outdoors and outdoor program based on class, race and gender
• You take initiative to ask for help, get tasks done, and support students and the program
• You understand the value of feedback and possess the ability to accept feedback and integrate it.
• You are dedicated to communicating in an inclusive and collaborative manner.     
• You are someone that can work independently with minimal supervision in a dynamic outdoor environment.
• You have experience working with children, high school students and/or adolescents.
• You have a High School Diploma or General Education Diploma
• You are flexible and solution oriented 
• You can prioritize tasks with competing timelines.

Additional Skills that are valued*

• Bilingual
• Experience in outdoor recreation or working with children/adolescents or experience in a related education/caregiving role.
• Science degree 
• Experience with diverse communities
• Experience with students with special needs
• Diverse life experiences and knowledge
• Experience implementing trauma informed care and/or supporting youth with mental health needs.
• Experience implementing restorative justice models in an educational setting or similar setting working with youth.

MESD and Outdoor School are committed to a policy of equality in our employment practices. All employees will be treated fairly at all times and without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran or marital status, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or the presence of any sensory, physical, psychological or learning disability, and all other bases prohibited by local, state, or federal law. MESD and Outdoor School welcomes applications from candidates that expand the agency’s diversity. If you are unsure of how your experience correlates with our qualifications, please reach out to our HR department as we want to ensure that we are reaching as diverse an applicant pool as possible.

MESD and Outdoor School programs recognize that diverse workplaces offer the richest learning opportunities, the diversity of races, cultures, backgrounds and experiences of the communities we serve must be represented in our leadership in order to welcome and represent all participants. We strongly encourage people of color as well as folks who are LGBTQ+, multilingual, first-generation or from other traditionally marginalized communities to join us in our efforts to reclaim, build connections and create authentic relationships with nature and science

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:    

• Implements the overnight Outdoor School schedule and program. Lives on site during the Outdoor School program season.(Sun-Fri)  Participates fully in all aspects of the Outdoor School on-site program, including meals, meetings and events. Typical days are 16 hours in length.  Typical weeks run from Sunday to Friday. Weekend programming in one instance makes for 13-day consecutive days of work without a full day off. Beginning April 4th- staff can expect one night off a week, as well as additional scheduled time off 
• Fulfills job expectations safely, thoroughly, and in compliance with MESD and program policies and procedures.
• Provides back-up support to other Outdoor School staff as needed.
•  Assist in site set-up, weekly cleaning, and closing each session.
• Assist in the inventory, care, and maintenance of program supplies and equipment. 
• Valid First Aid/CPR* (AED) Card, Bloodborne Pathogens*, Food handler’s Card, and MESD SafeSchools* Training by first day of employment. 
• Performs other duties as assigned

Ability to secure transportation to and from the Outdoor School site and equip self with appropriate personal gear to stay warm, safe and prepared to work in the Outdoor School environment. Raincoats and some gear are available to borrow. 

*trainings provided by MESD during training week upon acceptance of position

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Employment is temporary and subject to school participation schedule. This position works in an overnight, Outdoor School setting. This position includes being available 24 hours to the attendees and staff members. Employees will work a six-day week and are typically on duty from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. The environment is rustic with potentially uneven hilly terrain, wooded trails, variable ambient light and weather conditions. The employee must carry out duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include heat, rain, snow, cold, and windy conditions. 

This employee supervises groups of children in this environment, often kneeling and sitting on the ground to obtain a child-level view. This employee can be expected to carry odd objects, such as buckets of water, science equipment, saws, and teaching materials. Employees must be able to respond quickly to emergency events any place in the Outdoor School setting and be able to maneuver in outdoors, common areas, rustic buildings and sites. 

This position is a first responder in a medical emergency. The employee must be able to administer 1st Aid/CPR, requiring the ability to get to ground level or in awkward positions to administer assistance. Outdoor School sites may have crowded walkways or common spaces. Stairs and walkways are exposed to weather and may be slippery. 

Housing and meals are provided Sunday through Friday. In specific circumstances some housing may be weekend available on a limited basis. Housing may be shared with other employees in assigned rustic cabins or bunk rooms, all sites include showers, electricity, running water, heat. Meals include a vegetarian option that may include eggs and/or dairy. Employees with special dietary needs should plan to bring food to supplement or replace provided meals.

How to apply:

Apply through our application portal:

Outdoor School Educator Position

Have questions? Want to talk about the position? We would love to learn more about you and how you fit into the program.  Contact

Andrea Hussey, [email protected] or 503-257-1774