Vida Verde: 2023-2024 School Year Instructor: Educational Equity in the Outdoors!

With equity as a cornerstone of Vida Verde’s mission, we intentionally and actively engage in Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) work with an understanding and agreement that this work is critical in helping young people access high-quality, culturally relevant and inclusive nature education experiences that translate to positive outcomes in their traditional classrooms. (See our full JEDI statement below.)

Vida Verde has a strong culture and values around supporting staff and providing fair pay, quality housing, and generous benefits. The well-being of our staff members is paramount. We encourage and provide funding for professional development opportunities, and help individuals to grow in their roles over time according to their interests and talents. See the next page for compensation and benefits details.

The instructor position is well suited for folks with experience in outdoor education, classroom teaching and/or engaging and supporting low-income and students of color.

We are looking for someone who wants to be challenged and work hard towards educational equity and who can handle a lot of responsibility and details. The position is best suited for a driven, positive and independent worker.

Overnight Program Work

All of the below is describing our in-person, 3-day and 2-night camp program

Program Work is three consecutive & long days per week (Tues-Thurs)

• Instruction includes leading six core programs: (1) Goat Milking & Cheese Making (2) Redwood Hike (3) Tidepool, Marsh & Beach Exploration (4) Organic Farm Activities (5) Campfire (6) Night Hike

• Cook & facilitate meal prep/cooking with students (instruction provided)

• Perform first aid for students in the case of injury or illness

• Lead games, songs & stories intermittently throughout week

• Facilitate two camper’s choice activities per week (1 hour and 2 hours)

• Set up, tidily maintain, cleanup & takedown camp each week

• Work outside in varying weather conditions

• 90%+ work time on feet. Hike/walk up to 4 to 6 miles in a day.

• Lift heavy objects up to 50 lbs

• Long work days during program days (~10-12hr workdays)

Outside of Program Work

Typically Mondays and Fridays:

• Participate in weekly, half-day student management/professional development workshops

• Participate in and prepare for fundraisers, donor events, and site work days

• Teambuilding and communication: attend staff meetings, professional development, and proactively keep up with work communications (email, etc.)

• Support Vida Verde in its ongoing efforts to create and implement the org JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) plan

Camp Caretaker Work*

Instructors will be responsible for a subset of the following Farm and Facilities chores (typically completed Mondays and Fridays).

• Raking pasture for compost and feeding farm animals

• Cleaning chicken coop and maintaining chicken flock

• Hot tub maintenance

• Program and farm shopping in town

• Recycling and trash runs

• Restroom cleaning

• Possible garden/landscaping work

• Vehicle maintenance/cleaning