The LEAF mentor position is a GREAT residential paid summer job opportunity for a teacher or youth development professional with a passion for the outdoors and positive youth development. The position runs for 5 weeks in the summer and consists of living, working, and recreating on one or more nature preserves located in 30 states across the country. The mentor oversees a three or four person team of high school youth (or six as a co-mentor) - chaperoning and guiding the team during the whole month. While the primary duty is mentoring the students and ensuring they are getting the most out of the experience, mentors are also expected join the students in every aspect of their stewardship work, which is outdoor physical labor such as clearing trails, removing non-native species, and planting seedlings. On the weekend the team engages in outdoor adventures such as kayaking or horseback riding. The mentor will also take the students on three college visits during the month, and assist the interns in budgeting, life skills and keeping journals.  Mentors can be sent to any of over 30 partner states, from Maine to Florida to Idaho. Successful applicants will have  Associate's/Technical or vocational degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience), a required work experience of either 2 years of cumulative experience working with high school students (preferably in an urban or outdoor setting) OR 9 months of cumulative experience leading residential wilderness trips for high school students, OR equivalent combination of the two, experience with basic principles of positive youth development, experience supervising staff, students, or volunteers (i.e., leadership role and not simply peer group membership), experience performing physical outdoor work, will be at least 20 years of age by first day of work, is a good team player with flexibility, strong communication and organizational skills, and a sense of humor, and has a valid driver's license as well as the ability and willingness to drive long distances.

Please contact dherrera@tnc.org if you have any questions about the position, though please note we do not accept resumes via email. .