Overview
Bring your full self & be a part of an intentional, experienced, & passionate team! This seasonal position is based in Yosemite National Park. Instructors work to deliver wilderness experiences interwoven with intensive literacy & leadership components at an outdoor basecamp. The Lead Instructor position is ideal for candidates with professional outdoor education experience & shares our commitment to diversifying the outdoors.
We are hiring Lead Instructors for the following courses & dates:
*There is potential for additional remote &/or in-person work & training for Leads who are new to ARC.*
● Required & Paid All Staff Training: June 9-19
● Immersive Course (34-day course): Prep: June 24-26 & 29, Course: June 30-Aug 2, Post: Aug 3-4
● Stepping Stone Courses (11-day course; preference to staff who can work both):
A) Prep: June 23-24 & 27, Course: June 28-July 8, Post: July 9
B) Prep: July 12, Course: July 13-23, Post: July 24-25
INSTRUCTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
● Creating a safe, open, & inclusive culture for students & staff
● Working collaboratively with 3–4 teammates to lead a cohort of up to 10 high school students
● Following rigorous daily schedules leading backpacking & basecamp programming
● Teaching backcountry skills, including but not limited to Backcountry Living: expedition preparation, navigation, hiking technique, camp setup, & cooking; Wilderness Risk Management: first aid, judgement & decision making, terrain management, & self & group care
● Teaching pre-planned lessons from ARC’s academic curriculum, including but not limited to English: guide students through the writing process & prepare students for our public speaking event; Environmental Science: teach observation-based lessons; Community Conversations: facilitate our identity & leadership development progression
● Consistently role modeling appropriate vulnerability, teamwork, & self-care
● Managing student safety in all course environments & following all risk management protocols
● Driving students in SUVs between course areas
LEADS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
● Establishing & sustaining an emotionally & physically safe atmosphere for staff & students
● Collaboratively leading a staff team of 3-4 instructors with a cohort of up to 10 high school students
● Oversee all aspects of running an ARC summer course, including:
● Team Facilitating: hold vision for course, orchestrate opportunities for feedback & teamwork, curriculum coaching, oversee management of all student issues, maintain consistent communication with supervisor
● Teaching: be prepared to teach any lesson, ensure high-quality curriculum integration & implementation, oversee the progression of academic curricula & make adjustments to meet outcomes
● Logistics: manage preparations & moving parts of backpacking & basecamps, gear management, food organization & meal preparations, rigorous daily schedules, & more
● Risk Management: ensure all risk management protocols & guidelines are followed & manage incidents
Qualifications:
● Experience leading a staff team effectively
● Strong interpersonal skills to connect effectively with high school-aged youth & community members
● Self-awareness to responsibly facilitate conversations about identity in demographically mixed groups
● Proven ability to maintain high energy & a positive mental attitude with little to no time off & limited personal space
● Strong organizational skills & attention to detail
● Experience being flexible & adaptable under changing circumstances
Required Skills:
● Commitment to social justice, equity, diversity, & inclusion
● Professional experience backpacking, leading wilderness programs, & managing outdoor risk
● Professional experience teaching curriculum in any setting
● Experience leading a staff team effectively
Preferred Skills:
● Wilderness First Responder & CPR certifications (required; must be completed by June 2025)
● Bilingual proficiency in Spanish & English (preferred but not required)
● 21 & older (preferred but not required)
● Vehicle recommended for personal use (preferred but not required)
About Adventure Risk Challenge
Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC) has been facilitating leadership, literacy, & wilderness experiences since 2004. Through our Immersive (34-day) & Stepping Stone (11-day) Summer Courses, we integrate rigorous academic instruction & outdoor education. Our programming engages high school youth in the Tahoe-Truckee & Central Valley regions of California whose identities are typically underrepresented in the outdoors & higher education.
ARC recognizes that injustice exists in all aspects of society. Our programs aim to eliminate barriers & create pathways for youth to achieve academic success, access outdoor spaces, & exercise. ARC is dedicated to actively implementing organizational practices that promote equity, diversity, & inclusion. If you are excited about this job description, please apply even if you don't feel you meet every requirement. We’re eager to receive applications from people who will contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all boxes.
