Summary

The Arete Project is an educational nonprofit committed to preparing a diverse generation of students for lives of citizenship, stewardship, and leadership. We seek an energetic couple (or two-person team) with a time-tested relationship to serve a two-year residency as caretakers and educational staff at our new campus in the remote town of Gustavus, Alaska. We will also consider applications from individuals who possess the maturity and flexibility to share a living space (separate bedrooms) with a colleague. The start date is September 1st, or earlier, if possible.

The caretaker-educators will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop their skills both in Alaska lifeways and as outdoor educators. Living on-site, they will help to build and maintain campus infrastructure, support and direct educational courses, and pass on their knowledge to students from around the country. We seek candidates who come with substantial experience in these areas but also desire to learn and grow. Successful applicants will also have the chance to work with local experts in a wide variety of skill sets through either formal or informal mentorship.

The Place

The Arete Project’s new campus is an 18-acre former bed-and-breakfast at the western outskirts of Gustavus, Alaska. The campus itself is a patchwork of forest and meadow with a few buildings and a large new garden, two miles from the town center. In the coming years, we hope to initiate two major building projects necessary to our planned courses. Depending on skill level, the caretaker-educators may play a role in these projects. The town of Gustavus (pop. 450) is located 50 miles northwest of Juneau. There are no roads into town: access is provided by boat, ferry, and plane. Amenities are modest, but the town has a vibrant social and cultural scene and is served by several small local businesses. The real draw is the place itself: situated at the nexus of Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, Gustavus provides exceptional access to some of the wildest, richest protected land on earth. Educators-in-residence will have an unparalleled opportunity to help students cultivate a relationship with the natural world through study, work, and play in this pristine spot.

Responsibilities

The work of the caretaker-educators will follow the rhythm of seasonal change. In the quiet winter months, they will help develop our new campus, supervising interns, volunteers, and potentially a small number of students on a variety of construction and maintenance projects. Summers will be far busier, with student groups cycling in and out. The caretaker-educators will be involved in all aspects of program coordination and delivery: teaching practical skills first and foremost, but also logistics, transportation, meal prep, orientation & cleanup, and general student support.

Covid-19 Considerations

Amid the continuing pandemic, the future of Arete Project courses remains uncertain. Summer 2020 programming has been canceled, but we hope to host a couple of interns or students for longer-term stints this fall and winter. Currently we are planning for a normal, busy summer season in 2021, though this may change. Successful applicants are subject to all local and state mandates, which may impact travel schedules and/or require a 2-week quarantine upon arrival.

Qualifications

• Alaska lifeway skills (any combination of the following): gardening & farming, construction & carpentry, motor mechanics, cooking & food preservation, outdoor leadership, boating, wilderness medicine, and wild food harvesting.
• Teaching experience in outdoor, experiential, field-based, and/or farm & wilderness education, working with diverse student groups, supporting students in living/learning experiences
• Personal characteristics: flexible, good problem-solver, self-directed, positive & has a good sense of humor, levelheaded, hard worker, empathetic & understanding with young people

Compensation

• $35,000 per year for the couple
• Three weeks paid vacation, plus one winter month (Nov-Feb, TBD), unpaid
• Free housing & utilities, generous food stipend