Thompson Island employs compassionate and engaging field staff to work directly with youth in the outdoors. As an organization running a wide range of programs, staff will often fill a combination of roles depending on the season and position. In this position, instructors will fill both roles described below. Successful candidates for both positions are passionate about experiential education, have experience mentoring youth (experience working with urban and/or at-risk youth a plus), and are comfortable delivering character-building, hands-on learning experiences along side field science lessons:

Connections Program Facilitator:

Connections programs serve middle school students in the Boston Public School (BPS) district. Lasting in length from one to three days with overnights, the Connections program strives to increase interest in science learning and the development of social emotional skills.  The majority of these programs will use established curriculum, based on the Massachusetts State Science Standards to foster hands on learning experience in the natural environment. 

Connections Program Facilitators are responsible for overseeing the safety and course outcomes for a group of 8-10 Boston Public School students on a Connections expedition. Facilitators promote teamwork, problem solving, character development, and effective communication through thorough group processing and reflection. Connections Facilitators are responsible for delivering field science lessons to students, in addition to facilitating low and high challenge course elements to accomplish the school-specific goals in a safe, positive, and fun learning environment.

Discovery Program Facilitator:

Discovery Programs serve a diverse range of ages and populations in custom-designed, teambuilding and leadership development courses. Working with pre-established groups (Schools, Universities and community youth groups), Discovery Programs generally last in length from 1-3 days and take place on Thompson Island.

Discovery Program Facilitators are responsible for the delivery and overall safety of Discovery Program Courses. Facilitators use adventure and challenge to help participants of all ages gain a better understanding of self and community. With the use of games, initiatives and high and low challenge course elements, facilitators promote teamwork, problem solving, character building, and effective communication through group processing and reflection. The majority of these programs utilize the low and high challenge course elements to accomplish client-specific goals in a safe, positive, and fun learning environment.