Summary

Teen Wilderness Adventures are 5-20 day backcountry trips for teenagers age 12-18 as well as 3-5 day college wilderness orientation programs. All trips are over-night, multi-day expeditions and take place either in the backcountry or base camping out of forest service or national park campgrounds.

Instructors work with a co-leader to facilitate educational experiences that are safety-focused, positive, and meaningful. Instructors are responsible for leading teambuilding and other developmentally constructive activities and for teaching backpacking and canoeing skills in northern New Hampshire, Maine, and New York.  Field Instructors need to work effectively with contracted guides from partner organizations that assist in the delivery of whitewater kayaking and rock climbing. Instructors are supported by Logistics staff, a Field supervisor and a Program Manager. There are regular opportunities to give and receive feedback throughout the season.

Teen Wilderness Adventures values diversity, equity and inclusion. We are working to create a team that is representative of the populations that we serve and thus welcome hardworking individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities.

See our website for more details about the program: www.outdoors.org/teenwilderness

RESPONSIBILITIES

Outdoor Skills

• Teach backcountry ethics, outdoor skills, backpacking, and canoeing, all with safety as a priority.
• Work with professional guides to facilitate rock climbing kayaking, and rafting programming.

Leadership

• Lead groups of 8-10 teens and college age participants on overnight wilderness trips with a co-instructor.
• Maintain a comfortable, fun, and educational experience for trip participants. 
• Help teens develop a positive and meaningful connection to the outdoors.
• Maintain regular communication with co-instructor and supervisors with a focus on giving and receiving feedback.

Risk Management 

• Provide supervision for groups around-the-clock.
• Effectively recognize and mitigate risks associated with group wilderness travel with a focus on both physical and emotional safety. 
• Manage incidents in the field using field communication technology to communicate with the on-call team and effectively facilitate evacuations if necessary.

Logistics

• Clean and maintain trip equipment, including tents, stoves, sleeping bags, etc.
• Be fully prepared with any teaching supplies relevant to a trip’s agenda and basic program standards.
• Plan menus and handle all food requisitions

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated experience teaching youth in an overnight, outdoor program.
• Demonstrated risk management and judgment as it pertains to leading wilderness trips with groups of teens
• Knowledge of outdoor skills, backpacking, canoeing, wilderness camping, Leave No Trace, and basic natural history.
• Logistical skills for outdoor program planning, including meal planning, equipment management, and route selection. 
• Able to work with youth across a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.
• Able to effectively collaborate and communicate with co-leaders that may have different leadership and communication styles than yours.
• Able to create an emotionally safe and inclusive learning environment, create a positive group culture, and build healthy rapport with youth.
• Able to maintain effective self-care during extended trips so as not to compromise the student experience.
• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA), WFR or WEMT and CPR, or the ability to obtain these certifications prior to beginning employment. 
• Work requires frequent backcountry travel.  Requires ability to hike 6 – 8 miles per day on uneven terrain, carrying a backpack and other equipment up to 40 pounds, in all weather conditions.  
• Satisfactory background check as verified by a state record check.
• 21+ Years of age. 

BENEFITS: 

• Be part of a talented and energetic team of outdoor leaders.
• Professional development through participation high quality staff trainings.
• Spend your summer outdoors in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire.
• 30% discount on all merchandise sold at AMC facilities.
• AMC membership.
• 4-complimentary bed nights at AMC facilities.
• Employee pro-deals with outdoor gear companies.

Starting Pay: $102.50/day (based on $10.25/hour for a 10-hour day). Schedule is varied and includes overnights and some planning days. Optional room and board available for $45/week.

Start: June 12th 

End: September 1st.