Lakeside Classroom Field Teacher

Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center is seeking qualified, high-energy individuals to work in our Lakeside Classroom.  The mission of the University of Maine 4-H Center in Bryant Pond is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to lead sustainable lives through affordable, experiential learning. Our campus is nestled on the shores of Lake Christopher in Bryant Pond, Maine with 160 acres of forest and mountain trails leading to remote campsites, streams, ponds, wetlands, and a mountain summit.

Candidates will be considered for any combination of the three seasons; spring, summer, or fall.  In the spring and fall, a seven-month Field Teacher would support the Lakeside Classroom residential school program.  This program focuses on teaching environmental education and teambuilding to students, kindergarten through college. In the summer, a seven-month Field Teacher would work as a counselor in the summer camp program leading ecology, survival, arts, hunter safety, or adventure programming. We work with over 1,000 youth in our open enrollment summer camp. The seven-month positions run late April-mid November, with the opportunity for winter extensions in afterschool and expeditionary roles. 

The primary responsibility of Field Teachers is to provide students with high-quality programming in ecology, teambuilding, challenge course/climbing wall, and outdoor skills.  Group management and team building skills are an important part of this position, and make up to 70% of what we do.

Position Description:

The Field Teacher position at Bryant Pond 4-H Center’s Lakeside Classroom is roughly based on a five-day work week starting Monday morning and ending before 6:00 pm on Friday. Field Teachers may be asked to work occasional weekends on a rotating basis for specialty programs and will be compensated for extra days. Most weeks will consist of two or three overnight or day programs.  The Director on Duty and Medic are on-call after evening meds each night. This job demands a great deal of energy, flexibility, and commitment; field teachers often plan and prepare lessons outside of the regular workday.

Program staff at Bryant Pond 4-H Center work and live in a very close community and are expected to contribute to the community through sharing in chores and maintaining a commitment to a positive and collegial work environment.  Those living on campus are expected to keep up with the chores associated with shared living spaces including the bathrooms and kitchen.  While programs are in session, all food will be prepared and provided by our kitchen staff (please inquire about food needs).  While off duty, staff members are welcome to use the kitchen facilities to prepare personal food or eat leftovers out of the staff refrigerator.  

Although the main responsibility of a Field Teacher is to work directly with participants teaching lessons, work in other areas may be required.  Staff may be asked to help with facility upkeep and maintenance, office work, building projects, gardening, outreach, and lesson planning.  Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center is dedicated to providing support and high-quality training to its Field Teachers.  Staff training happens three times within a seven-month season. Training consists of in-depth teambuilding, low/high challenge course, and climbing wall facilitation skills, concepts of ecology, engineering lessons, outdoor skills such as canoeing, hiking, shooting sports, and survival. We also cover Bryant Pond’s policies, procedures, mission, and vision.  Lifeguard, Maine State Trip Leader, 4-H Shooting Sports, and Wilderness First Aid Training are available for staff in some seasons at free or discounted rates. 

Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center is located in Bryant Pond, Maine, and is a short drive to the beautiful White Mountain National Forest and the Rangeley Lakes area. The local area provides many opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts including rock climbing, backpacking, hunting and fishing, canoeing, and a large winter ski and sport industry. Portland, Maine’s largest city is only an hour’s drive with live music, great food, and shopping.

Responsibilities:

• Care for the health, safety, and well being of all campers/students/chaperones 
• Manage risk associated with experiential learning opportunities
• Teach and lead groups of 8-15 students independently once comfortable with lessons and schedule for the day and overnight groups
• Contribute ideas for the continual development of programs and to strengthen our teaching team
• Help in all aspects of the program including; teaching, program design/scheduling, general camp chores, cleaning, and kitchen duties to support the campus community
• Foster and role model interpersonal relationships that reflect courtesy, civility, and mutual respect
• Full-time work with rotating night time and weekend responsibilities

Preferred qualifications include:

• Degree in environmental science, education, adventure education, childcare, or a willingness to learn and self-teach new skills
• First Aid and CPR training, WFA/WFR is preferred. 
• Commitment to working long days with participants in a hands-on and high energy setting
• Experience educating and managing children, kindergarten-12th grade in an outdoor setting as well as the confidence to lead adult groups
• Experience facilitating teambuilding initiatives, as well as low and high challenge course activities
• Understanding of basic ecological concepts and a general love of the outdoors
• A commitment to sustainability
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions while managing the needs of all participants 
• Willingness to be flexible and adapt your energy to the needs of the program and participants 
• Ability to hike 5-8 miles with a 40lb pack, teach canoeing skills, and comfortably lift 50+ lbs
• Commitment to working collectively as a part of a hard-working, supportive, and positive team
• Demonstrates a professional appearance and attitude
• Interest that includes: Initiative Games/Challenges, High Ropes Courses, Archery, Wilderness Survival 

Skills, Fishing, Hiking, Canoeing, Hunting, Backpack/Canoe Expeditions, Indoor Rock Climbing, Forest Ecology, Geology, Gardening and Farm Animals, Engineering, and Science in general.