Lead Adventure Instructor

Keystone Science School’s Adventures are designed to build a novice’s skill and excitement to explore the outdoors. Adventures are either 6-day programs designed to expose students to the possibilities of outdoor recreation or 12-day programs designed to build competency in outdoor living and leadership skills. Depending on the Program we do a mix of car camping, backcountry travel, rock climbing, backpacking, stand-up paddle boarding, mountain peak attempts, and paddling programs. The unique locations for our Adventures cater well to place-based environmental education as students explore beautiful landscapes and ecosystems. We believe that students can utilize lessons learned on an Adventure in their future including: relationships with friends, projects at school, and future work opportunities.

During the Summer, Lead Adventure Instructors will be the lead of a field group of students on a 6 to 12 day adventure program with a focus on leadership, teaching lessons, climbing instruction, backcountry and car camping travel and other high adventure activities. Lead Adventure Instructors will help oversee staff which includes: Ability to have open, honest, and difficult conversations, coaching and mentoring staff, giving and receiving quality feedback, will be the final call from a decision making process in the field, will oversee curriculum, and other duties.

All Adventure Instructors are responsible for planning and facilitating curriculum and activities during field-based programs. Adventure Instructors are familiar with the daily schedule, risk management practices, emergency action plans, and the overall energy of Adventure programs. They are responsible for guiding students in their personal growth and daily living skills. Adventure Instructors also help manage logistics and packing for off-site programs on a rotating basis.

Main areas of focus:

• 75% Teaching and facilitating programming

• 15% Lesson planning and curriculum development

• 10% Logistics (e.g. preparing for trip, deissueing gear, food and gear packing)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and teach a group of up to thirteen 6th-12th grade students with at least one or two co-instructors

• Plan, prepare, and teach grade appropriate adventure education curricula and leadership framework

• Teach students outdoor living skills such as packing, camp set-up/take-down, outdoor cooking, orienteering, and risk management

• Teach students interpersonal skills such as, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion lessons, giving and receiving feedback, communication, group decision-making, conflict resolution, etc.

• Plan, prepare, and teach age appropriate curricula

• Clean, repair, and inventory gear after trip completion

• Plan Adventure logistics including schedules, trip routes, emergency action plans, menus, etc.

• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies by engaging with incident prevention and response

• Attend and help facilitate wilderness trainings for Instructors, and attend all staff meetings and trainings as assigned

• Administer client medications, perform student health screens, and utilize first aid skills

• Gather and submit pictures and videos to reflect the experience children have during KSS programs

• Document course progression/student concerns, participate in self and peer feedback system, and engage in a post trip debrief;

• Provide an electronics-aware experience for all children;

• Maintain storage of all KSS equipment and repair outdoor gear as necessary;

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

• Able to carry pack weights of up to 60 pounds

• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress

• Commits to own professional growth as well as improving technical and interpersonal skills

• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Minimum Requirements

• Experience in a professional leadership role

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

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with students/campers with diverse backgrounds

• Ability to create an inclusive learning environment for students/campers with a wide range of learning abilities

• Proven ability to develop and facilitate science, diversity & inclusion, leadership, adventure education, and risk management lessons

• Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations

• Strong work ethic

• Growth oriented mindset and willingness to give and receive feedback

• 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

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

• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow risk management policies in all activities

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

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

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

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications

• Bachelor's or Associate's degree or 2 years of college training + 6 months of teaching/childcare experience

• Minimum of 1 year of experience teaching students in an outdoor or classroom setting

• Experience leading/guiding participants in a wilderness/backcountry setting (minimum of 50-100 field days with students on overnight trips) This includes experience backpacking, rock climbing, and paddling.

• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment

• Prior experience working with school-age children: at least three (3) months (460 hours) of full-time or equivalent part-time satisfactory and verifiable experience with school-age children;

• Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor education industry;

• Rock Climbing:

  • Experience with rock climbing and instructing harness, helmets, and knot safety checks

  • Able to instruct and demonstrate belaying and rappelling techniques

  • Familiarity with building anchors, placing gear, and lead climbing

• 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;

Qualifications

Preferred Skills

• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish

• Experience working in Adventure Education Programming

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

• Experience Instructing rock climbing in an institutional setting and personal experience rock climbing

• Ability to climb, at minimum, 5.6 on lead

• Single Pitch Instructor Certification

• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish;

• Previous experience driving with a trailer;

• Extensive experience on personal backcountry trips

• Proficiency with Google Drive and ability to learn new software systems quickly

• Previous employment experience at Keystone Science School

Compensation:

• $800 per week and $880 per week for Spanish speakers plus:

• Discounts for family members on KSS programs

• Access to outdoor industry pro deals

Accommodations

Housing is provided at no additional cost. A housing deposit may be collected. 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 outside 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.