Parks in Focus: California (Yosemite) Summer Trip Leader

The Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus® Program (Parks in Focus®) is a program of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Udall Foundation) that provides opportunities for middle school youth to explore nature and our Nation’s public lands through photography and outdoor learning.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Udall Foundation is seeking an enthusiastic, organized, and highly motivated individual to lead Parks in Focus® activities with groups of youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula (East Palo Alto & Menlo Park), the Sequoia YMCA (Redwood City), and Real Options for City Kids (San Francisco). The trip leader will spend the summer organizing and leading local field trips in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as three 5-day camping trips to Yosemite National Park.

The selected trip leader will receive training; be provided with program curriculum and resources; and work closely with staff from the Udall Foundation, our partner youth organizations, and volunteers.

Total hours per week will vary from 15 during preparatory weeks to 70 during trip weeks; the position is expected to consist of approximately 400 hours*. The position will begin May 22 (tentative) and will continue through August 25. There may be an opportunity to resume the position in summer 2024 if performance is satisfactory and other considerations, such as funding, are obtained.
 

PARKS IN FOCUS® DUTIES

Onboarding, Training & Program Preparation

• Attend a multiday training program (dates TBD).
• Become familiar with the Parks in Focus® mission, goals, curriculum, and resources.
• Visit Yosemite and other activity sites for scouting and risk management planning.

Program Implementation

• Host informational meetings for participants, parents, and partners.
• Finalize activity itineraries and handle all necessary logistics.
• Lead assigned Parks in Focus® activities and field trips.
• Ensure activities run smoothly and safely.
• Teach photography curricula and meet educational goals for each activity.
• Work with participants to develop their photography skills.
• Lead games, team building exercises, journaling, art, environmental science, and other relevant educational activities with participants.
• Help engage and motivate participants, partner staff, and volunteers.
• Ensure activities are well-documented through photos and videos.
• Ensure all participant forms and evaluation data are gathered and complete.

Program Reporting & Other Tasks

• Provide scheduled updates and reports to supervisor.
• Organize all photographs, video footage, and evaluation data.
• Prepare photo highlights for all participants, staff, and partners.
• Perform other administrative tasks as assigned.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Appreciation of the outdoors and ability to spark that enthusiasm in others.
• Experience working with K-12 youth, preferably in an outdoor or camp setting.
• Comfort with camping, hiking, and being outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Interest in photography and willingness to learn and teach basic curriculum.
• Familiarity with local parks and/or the communities served by this position.
• Ability to assess and manage risks associated with outdoor activities.
• Positive, upbeat attitude, and ability to adapt to changing demands.
• Strong writing, communication, teaching, leadership, and teamwork skills.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and access to reliable transportation.
• Must have current First Aid and CPR certifications prior to start date.
• Wilderness First Aid certification highly desired.
• Spanish fluency highly desired.
• Summer home base in/near Bay Area (housing is not provided).
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be willing to provide fingerprints for a criminal background check.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit the Udall Foundation’s website at udall.gov. 

* Estimate of total work hours for the trip leader in summer 2023. Actual total may be less if weather, natural disasters, or other unexpected events necessitate trip cancellations.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter describing your interest in the position and relevant qualifications, a current resume, and contact information for three professional references via email to:

Ernesto Somoza
Parks in Focus® Program Manager
Udall Foundation
434 E. University Blvd., Suite 300
Tucson, AZ 85705
somoza@udall.gov
 
PLEASE NOTE
The successful applicant will be required to provide fingerprints that will be used to conduct a criminal history background check. Employment for this position will be subject to the Udall Foundation’s review and evaluation of the results of the background check.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
11:59 p.m. (MST) on Wednesday, March 8, 2023