Spring Instructor

Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Keystone Science School’s historic campus serves as base camp for our diverse suite of inquiry-based learning programs. We combine hands-on science education with outdoor adventure to create engaging experiences for our students. At KSS, we change lives, we bring fun and laughter to everything we do, we care about each other and those we serve, we strive for excellence, we offer competitive compensation and generous benefits, and we are committed to serving students from diverse backgrounds. We’re proud to be Summit County’s #1 Best Non-Profit and #2 Best Place to Work (2019)! Visit KeystoneScienceSchool.org to learn more! 

Job Summary 

Seasonal Program Instructors will facilitate overnight outdoor education field trips during the school year. 

During the school year the Seasonal Program Instructor is responsible for teaching the wide variety of curricula options offered by KSS. Seasonal Program Instructors will lead groups of students in outdoor education programs including environmental science and community building curriculum. Program Instructors are responsible for lesson planning and organizing curriculum for each program. They are also responsible for the facilitation of meals, evening programs, and the completion of manual labor tasks on a rotating basis.  

During the summer Seasonal Program Instructors may facilitate KSS summer camps including day and overnight programs on the Keystone Science School campus and at satellite locations around Summit County. Seasonal Program Instructors may also lead adventure programming with a focus on backcountry travel and high adventure activities. Programs are age-specific, full-week program sessions offering education, adventure and recreational activities based upon weekly science and adventure themes.  Campers in all programs range from entering Kindergarten through 12th grade.  

Main areas of focus: 

• 60% Teaching 

• 25% Support staff duties (e.g. facilitation of meals, evening programs, and completion of manual labor tasks) 

• 15% Lesson planning and curriculum organization 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Supervise and teach a group of up to 13 K-12 students on their own 

• Plan, prepare, and teach grade appropriate environmental education curricula 

• Facilitate team building, leadership, and social emotional learning activities 

• Program facilitation includes ‘support staff’ duties such as teaching evening programs, campus cleaning, meal set-up and clean-up and on-call responsibilities 

• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies in all activities 

• Attend and help facilitate all staff meetings and trainings as assigned 

• Facilitate and provide support for a wide variety of KSS programs and activities 

• Drive a 15-passenger van and successfully complete Van Driver Training 

• Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS 

• Other duties as assigned 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Minimum Requirements 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends 

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children and people with diverse backgrounds 

• Ability to create an inclusive learning environment for students from a wide range of backgrounds 

• Proven ability to creatively develop science and education curricula and lesson plans 

• Ability to adapt instruction and lessons to meet a wide variety of learners using different educational methods 

• Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor and environmental education industry 

• 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 

• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community 

• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment 

• Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box' 

• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions 

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications 

• Bachelor's or Associate's degree 

• Minimum of 6 months of experience teaching students in an outdoor or classroom setting 

• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications minimum 

• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) required for Summer Adventure programs 

• 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 Skills 

• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish 

• Wilderness First Responder Certification 

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in a related field such recreation, education, or a subject in the human services field 

• Proficiency with Google Drive and CampSite camp management software 

• Previous employment experience at Keystone Science School 

Required COVID 19 Vaccine Policy 

Keystone Science School has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. IIndividuals hired after January 1, 2022 are required to be either fully vaccinated or partially vaccinated before their start dates. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the revocation of the employment offer.  

Employees in need of an exemption from this policy due to a medical reason, or because of a sincerely held religious belief must submit a completed Request for Accommodation form to the Human Resources Department to begin the accommodation process. Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause KSS undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others. 

Compensation: 

Salary base rate is $720/week, $792/week for fluent Spanish speakers plus: 

• Breaks between spring, summer, and fall sessions.  

• Up to 48 paid sick hours accrued; 

• Access to outdoor industry pro deals. 

Accommodations 

Housing is provided at no additional cost. Seasonal Program Instructors are required to live on campus. A housing deposit may be collected and food will be provided.  

Travel Expectations  

In many situations, KSS will provide transportation to satellite programming locations. However, staff may be asked to use personal vehicles to travel within Summit County. Any travel mileage in a personal vehicle outside of Summit County may be reimbursed. 

Physical Demands of this Position  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or hold objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee often stands for up to 16 hours per day, but may be required to stand longer in emergency situations. The employee must be able to lift and carry at least 40 pounds for an extended duration. The employee is frequently required to travel for extended periods over rugged terrain. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.   

Work Environment  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires the employee to work in close contact with their teammates and children. Staff will be expected to adhere to dynamic health guidance and policy set forth by KSS while working with children during a global pandemic. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee often works outside and drives vehicles in various weather conditions.