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Summer Instructor – Adventure Risk Challenge
Yosemite National Park or Lake Tahoe, California
Position Description:
Bring your full self and be a part of an intentional, experienced, and passionate team! This is a full-time seasonal outdoor Instructor position based in either Yosemite National Park or Lake Tahoe. Instructors will work in teams to deliver 33-day or 11-day wilderness experiences (4-8 day backpacking trips, rock climbing, &/or whitewater rafting) interwoven with intensive literacy & leadership components at an outdoor basecamp (English & science classes, writing workshops, & facilitated community conversations). Instructors will attend our 10-day paid All Staff Training but should have the skills & experience to contribute to a well rounded team. This is an ideal position for candidates who love working with high school students and who share our commitment to diversifying the outdoors.
Instructor Responsibilities:
- Create a safe, open, and inclusive culture for students & staff and work in a highly collaborative environment
- Lead backpacking expeditions & basecamps following rigorous daily schedules
- Teach backcountry outdoor living skills
- Manage student safety in front & backcountry course environments and follow all risk management protocols
- Drive students in SUVs between course areas
- Teach a pre-planned component of ARC’s curriculum with your own unique style
English: guide students through the writing process & prepare students for our public speaking event
Environmental Science: teach observation-based lessons & prepare students for final science video project
Community Conversations: facilitate our identity and leadership development progression
Our Ideal Candidate:
- Has strong interpersonal skills & can connect effectively with high school aged youth & community members
- Has self-awareness to responsibly facilitate conversations about identity, including race & gender, in demographically mixed groups
- Has experience backpacking, leading wilderness expeditions, &/or teaching in any setting
- Has experience managing risks outdoors
- Has a commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Has strong organizational skills & attention to detail
- Is flexible & adaptable under changing circumstances
- Is able to work well in a team & independently
- Has bilingual proficiency in Spanish & English (preferred but not required)
- Has Wilderness First Responder & CPR certifications (required; can be obtained after hiring before work begins)
