Overview
Bring your love for community building and adventure to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As an Alpine Backpacking Instructor, you will facilitate transformative backpacking and/or rock climbing courses with students (ages 12+) both on and off trail. Instructors work on a seasonal basis under the mentorship of Lead Instructors or Course Directors. Instructors in this program deliver a variety of courses, ranging from 5-30 days. Our programs take students into new and challenging outdoor environments while focusing on leadership, community, and personal growth.
Compensation & Schedule:
This is a seasonal, exempt position with a starting per diem wage of $142/day. All required training is paid at our training rate ($136/day).
Required training begins May 5th. New staff are expected to work until mid September. Most new staff can expect to work 60-80 days per season (including training). Interested staff may also opt into work at our Joshua Tree location (late Oct – early April). Our pay scale is based on skills and experience. Consideration for a higher position or attending an alternative training can be taken into account on a case by case basis depending on the criteria that you meet. We can discuss this more during the interview and hiring process.
Benefits:
Room and board are provided while on contract. We also offer pro deals, professional development funds, 401k enrollment after 1 year, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 56 hours (7 days) of paid sick time/year
Location:
This position is located at our High Sierra program base in Midpines, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills 30 miles east of Yosemite National Park. High summer temperatures are frequently 100+ degrees Fahrenheit. The basecamp has a main building with an office, program gear storage sheds, a commercial kitchen, and weatherport living quarters (durable fabric structures). Trips generally take place in off-the-beaten-path locations within Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Sierra National Forest, and Yosemite National Park.
Qualifications:
Experience on extended backcountry trips, for a total of at least 50-100 nights, which can be a combination of personal and professional
Comfortable navigating with map and compass on- and off-trail, while leading a group through a variety of alpine terrain and environmental conditions
Experience with rock climbing and belaying, including instructing harness, helmets, and knot safety checks
Required Skills:
Wilderness First Responder & CPR/AED/CA Epi (by start date)
21 years of age or older (by start date)
Preferred Skills:
Familiarity with building anchors, placing gear, and lead climbing; AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) and/or other single-pitch guiding experience
About Outward Bound California
At Outward Bound California (OBCA), we use challenging outdoor experiences to teach social-emotional skills like teamwork, leadership, and compassion. We offer a wide range of programs, including high/low ropes activities at our San Francisco Challenge Course and multi-day rock climbing/backpacking trips in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree. Our programs encourage our participants (ages 12+, including adults and veterans) to embrace challenges and reflect on how they want to contribute to their communities and the world.
We are a part of the Outward Bound USA network with a 60-year history in the US as a leading provider of outdoor education. OBCA is a non-profit and is committed to increasing access for those who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We work towards this goal with our 40 community partners and by offering scholarships to more than half of our students.
