The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Youth Opportunities program is seeking a part-time, seasonal Program Assistant to support the operations of our Boston (Charlestown) Program and Equipment Center and our outdoor programs. This position is offered at 15-25 hours/week, available from January-April, with the possibility of extension. Projects can vary from week to week.

Each year, the Appalachian Mountain Club's (AMC) Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) makes the outdoors accessible to over 35,000 youth throughout the Northeast. We do this through collaborative partnerships with organizations and schools in urban and under-resourced communities that historically have faced barriers to outdoor recreation. Through providing outdoor leadership training, trip planning and access to gear lending libraries, YOP supports youth professionals so they may foster impactful and relevant outdoor experiences for their youth.

Inspired by the principles of the Civil Rights movement, YOP was founded in 1968 to offer outdoor experiences to youth-serving organizations in the City of Boston. Now in our 50th year, our model to train and support youth workers and teachers to lead these trips has grown throughout New England and the Greater New York City area. As we look to the next 50 years, we envision a future where more youth enjoy the outdoors and where outdoor participation is reflective of every community, with equitable access for all. More information is available at www.outdoors.org/yop. 

The YOP Outdoor Program offers great opportunities to participate in our efforts to get youth outside, through the support of hundreds of area teachers and youth development professionals that lead young people on outdoor adventures.

General Responsibilities: The Program Assistant is responsible for supporting YOP's many trainings and outdoor adventures for youth and assisting YOP staff with various logistical and administrative needs, both at our Boston office and in the field. The Program Assistant will oversee the preparation of paperwork, gear and food before the start of a training or workshop. This means the schedule can vary, working some extended days in the office packing food and gear, working weekend days at course starts and occasionally participating on overnight programs in the field. A key part of a dynamic team, the Program Assistant will work both independently on projects and collaboratively with staff to support the following areas:

• Assisting with organizing, packing and cleaning/maintaining gear: sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, pots and pans, stoves, boots, socks, etc.
• Issuing and de-issuing outdoor equipment from our “Gear Library” to our members, and tracking usage
• Helping with inventory of gear, repairs and overall maintenance, at our Boston-based office and at our remote sites 
• Assisting with preparation and logistics for Outdoor Leadership Trainings, workshops, and youth programs
• Supporting YOP staff with outreach and retention efforts: emailing and calling YOP members and prospects to help them access the appropriate resources
• Updating YOP member information on the YOP database
• Driving a support vehicle as needed

Qualifications & Experience:
• Dedication to YOP’s mission to support equitable access to outdoor trips
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and a willingness to learn and utilize Social Solution’s ETO database system and other programs
• Professional or personal experience in outdoor education and leadership, and managing outdoor equipment and logistics for trips
• Personal commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Ability to work a varied schedule. Some weekends and evenings will be required
• Success in performing a variety of duties with careful attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and systems for assisting with gear and food for up to 50 people
• Effective communication skills and ability to work in a team environment
• Self-directed with demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects at once
• Must be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid driver’s license and a clear driving record (driving record check will be performed)
• Physical abilities needed: Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds

Employee Benefits: Benefits include a 30% discount on all merchandise sold at AMC facilities and in AMC catalogs, access to various pro deals that help you purchase gear at deeply reduced rates, a one-year AMC membership and 4 free nights for you and your immediate family members at AMC facilities.