Summer Camp Instructor/ Nature Mentor

Get back to your roots and enhance your connection to the earth! This is not your ordinary camp experience. Each team member is trained in how to be an effective nature mentor and gets coaching as they practice survival and natural living skills. We explore the surrounding forests and streams as we build natural shelters, make fires without matches, and prepare wild plants for food. Our aim is to see the light in each person, camper or staff, and help inspire their passions and gifts. We mentor by asking questions, not giving answers, and facilitate the interconnectedness of everyone on our team from office staff to youngest camper. 

Our weekly schedule includes Mud Day and barefoot exercises, 20 min sit spots alone in the forest every day, check ins with Apprentices, Staff, Parents and CITs and swim time!  

Most important for the staff is the community cohesion we foster at Staff Camp. Here there are individual tent spaces, shared outdoor covered kitchen, shower, internet and toilet amenities as well as the comradery of living besides your coworkers  and diving deeper into natural living skills.  

Many Instructors return year after year to Living Earth School, but we always need a few more. Are you one of them? The Instructors are the heart of camp.  Not only are they responsible for providing instruction, supervision and team support during program days, they bring the spirit of Living Earth School to the campers through their own curiosity, creativity and community amongst each other. Instructors design lessons and take the lead on activities throughout the day, sometimes managing groups on their own, and sometimes with team members. Instructors report any problems or injuries to their Coordinator, participate in daily meetings and help out with a positive attitude.

The summer camp season runs June 5 through August 12, with a week of training and a break week July 3-7. If you need housing, you are invited to stay at our Staff Camp. Here there are individual tent spaces, shared outdoor covered kitchen, shower, internet and toilet amenities as well as the comradery of living beside your coworkers and diving deeper into natural living skills. 

Special Benefits

• swim in a river every day!
• individual training in survival and mentoring skills!
• work with a variety of passionate folks!
• opportunity to go on a canoe or backpacking expedition!

After interviewing, we may offer you an Assistant or Lead-Instructor position.

For full job descriptions and application, please visit our Jobs page. Email workwithus@livingearthva.org with any questions.