Overview
Positive Adventures hires Outdoor Education Field Staff, Chefs, and Course Directors to support our Fall and Spring Outdoor Education Seasons. Our staff uses experiential teaching methods and oversees the safety, quality, and educational standards of each course. Each program is generally 3-5 days in length and take place in a variety of settings including residential camps, desert camping, coastal base camp programs, and backcountry excursions. Students range in age from 5th to 12th grade and come from varying and diverse backgrounds.
Popular Locations for Programs
- Residential or Basecamp in Big Bear
- Residential or Basecamp in Idyllwild
- Residential on Catalina Island
- Residential in Santa Barbara
- Basecamp in Yosemite
- Basecamp in Joshua Tree
- Residential Surf Camp San Diego
- Backcountry High Sierra (WFR Req.)
- Backcountry Glen Canyon (WFR Req.)
- Backcountry Havasupai (WFR Req.)
Positive Adventures hosts two mass hirings each year: one prior to the start of the Spring programming season, and another before the start of Fall programming. We accept applications on a rolling basis via the application link under the position requirements below. **Our next round of hiring will be for the Spring 2020 season.**
Staff Training (Idyllwild or Big Bear)
- Staff Training: Spring dates TBD
You must attend staff training prior to working with the Positive Adventures Outdoor Education Team.
Open Positions:
Outdoor Education Field Staff
Position Responsibilities
- Facilitate groups of 13-15 students through multi-activity OE curriculum in the residential camp and basecamp settings.
- Ability to facilitate team-building initiatives, group games, ice breakers, and warm-up activities. Training provided. Prior experience is a plus.
- Manage the risk involved with OE programs including group management, activity-specific risks, and emotional and social boundaries.
- Manage belay stations effectively in both the ropes course and top-rope rock climbing site environments. Training provided. Prior experience is a plus.
- Lead groups through activity rotations such as: high ropes course, scrambling and hiking, environmental education hikes and lessons, low ropes team building. Night adaptation and astronomy. Training provided. Prior experience is a plus.
Position Qualifications
- Current First Aid/CPR
- WFR or WEMT preferred
- 2 years of experience working in the outdoor education field with youth.
- Proficient skills in the following: group facilitation, team-building initiatives and games, belaying, ropes courses, risk management, environmental education and interpretation, ecology and natural history.
- Excellent communication, leadership and teamwork skills.
- Proven ability to manage youth groups.
- Reliable mode of transportation (carpool options avail) and cell phone.
- Availability to attend one of our paid trainings.
- Ability to pass a background check/live scan.
Course Director: This position is only offered to existing Positive Adventures Field Facilitators.
Overview
Based on your instructing experience, positive performance evaluations, and familiarity with our programs, curricula, course areas, policies and procedures you are being entrusted with the judicious design and safe management of PA courses. We value your personality, creativity, judgment, and organizational skills and expect you to do your best in all phases of your involvement with Directing PA Courses. The PA Administrative Team provides pre-course support in planning and organizing the course, but the tone of the course, risk management awareness, and overall energy level are set by you. Your enthusiasm and a high awareness of risk management are contagious and likely to be imitated by employees and clients! You are expected to lead by example.
As the Course Director, you are the primary field representative of PA and have the final word concerning the delivery and risk management of the courses you direct. This means you should be familiar with all standard Positive Adventures policies, procedures, and practices to be able to answer (or obtain answers to) questions put to you by facilitators, chaperones, and students at the course site. Make a point of getting your work-related questions answered by the Administrative Team before the start of the course.
Course Director Responsibilities
At PA it is the Course Director’s primary responsibility to plan and conduct courses that are adventurous, educational, and growth-oriented while maintaining a high degree of risk management and fun. This involves creativity as well as compliance with all PA policies, procedures, and practices. Documents about PA policy and procedures that are required reading for Course Directors include the Field Manual, the Course Director Manual, and the Risk Management Plan.
You will be expected to prepare and ask questions about your responsibility before the course starts to allow ample time to prepare administratively and logistically for your course. You may also be required to have a phone call check-in with the Admin Team before your arrival on course.
Position Qualifications
- Current First Aid/CPR
- WFR or WEMT
- 2 years of experience working in the outdoor education field with youth.
- Proficient skills in the following: group facilitation, team-building initiatives and games, belaying, ropes courses, risk management, environmental education and interpretation, ecology and natural history.
- Excellent communication, leadership and teamwork skills.
- Proven ability to manage youth groups.
- Reliable mode of transportation (carpool options avail) and cell phone.
- Availability to attend one of our paid trainings.
- Ability to pass a background check/live scan.
Camp Chef
Overview
The role of the camp chef is to prepare all meals served during a program, along with monitoring safety and sanitation. Chefs must be able to facilitate a number of meal plans, including alterations for food allergies.
Camp Chef Responsibilities
- Conduct a bulk food buy
- Organize coolers and non-perishables
- Set up, maintain, and tear down the camp kitchen
- Load and unload truck or van
- Provide meals, snacks, and beverages to participants and chaperones
- Refill water bins monitor inventory
- Facilitate meal cleaning stations & meal helpers
Position Qualifications
- Current First Aid/CPR
- WFR or WEMT preferred
- Excellent communication
- Reliable mode of transportation (carpool options avail) and cell phone.
- Availability to attend one of our paid trainings.
- Ability to pass a background check/live scan.
- Food Handler Certificate required (reimbursable).
Experience is preferred but not required.
Compensation
Positive Adventures is proud to compensate our staff at a highly competitive rate. We value your expertise, hard work, and dedication to our field. When working as a Field Facilitator on programs, compensation is arranged as follows:
Prep-Day(s) defined as the day(s) before the client arrives.
Field Day(s) defined as full days of facilitation.
Debrief Day: Typically a partial day client-facing, plus cleanup/debrief hours.
Example: A three-day youth program from Wednesday-Friday, will include one additional prep-day, would be paid as follows:
Camp Chef Pay: Prep: $115; Program Days: $165; Debrief Day: $100 (3 day program $545)
Facilitator Pay: Prep: $115; Program Days: $200; Debrief Day: $100 (3 day program: $615)
Course Director Pay: Prep: $250; Program Days: $275; Debrief Day: $200 (3 day program $1,000)
Ropes Course Directors: Full day (6 hours) pay: $200; 1/2 day (3 hours) pay: $100 (must drive yourself to program)
Climb Guide SPI Directors: Full day (8 hours) pay: $250; 1/2 day (4 hours) pay: $175 (must drive yourself to program)
Annual bonuses are the only variation of pay based on seniority
WFR reimbursement and bonuses start at the beginning of a facilitator’s second year
In addition to the daily rate, staff accommodations and meals are provided. All Positive Adventures Field Staff will be enrolled to receive pro-deals. Staff returning for the following year are eligible for the Returning Staff Bonus and WFR Reimbursement Program.
Application Procedure
Step 1: If you have an interest in a position at Positive Adventures, we would love to hear from you! Please fill out the following application. This will serve as an informal 1st interview.
Step 2: Once you have submitted the application, please send your cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to amy@positiveadventures.com.
Thank you for your interest in Positive Adventures!
Success is a choice, choose Positive.
