Overview
The Experiential Education Department at Albuquerque Academy seeks a passionate and energetic experiential education faculty and wilderness trip leader for middle and high school students. We are looking for someone who is patient, engaging, and inspires a love of the outdoors and the natural world in all students, works well with colleagues, and enjoys thinking about the art of teaching outdoor and leadership education. In addition to co-teaching a class, candidates will also work as part of a team to prepare for and lead the department’s array of experiential education trips. Diversity is a core value at Albuquerque Academy, and we seek candidates who demonstrate an abiding commitment to equity and belonging.
Faculty positions in the Experiential Education Department require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and multi-day wilderness trip-leading experience. A deep knowledge of outdoor living skills, outdoor travel and navigation, and judgment and decision-making is required. Teaching-level competence with one or more technical skills, such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and whitewater kayaking is mandatory. The experiential education curriculum progression includes two day hikes and an overnight for 6th graders, a three-day backpacking trip for 7th graders, technical day trips for 8th graders, and a four to five-day backpacking trip for 9th graders. Faculty also support experiential co-curricular trips for other academic departments, design and lead three-week field-based senior seminars, and teach and support field components for high school elective classes. Time off for the 3/4 faculty in November, and January into early February reflects the 3/4 time commitment of this position during the school year as a whole. Programs are offered throughout New Mexico and the Four Corners region. Detailed information can be found on the school website, see below.
Albuquerque Academy seeks to maintain a diverse and energetic faculty to work with 1182 highly capable students, including 56% students of color. We encourage applications from groups traditionally underrepresented in independent school communities.
The position is open until filled, and applicants are asked to submit a letter of interest and resume along with their online application. Experiential education candidates are also requested to submit a personal and professional trip-leading resume with a sample of personal and professional trips to exemplify their experience: include the length of trip, type of travel/ skill taught, dates, locations, participant age, on/off trail specifics, your role in leadership, planning, logistics, etc., as well as any mountain biking, rock climbing, and kayaking experiences.
There is a potential for this to become full-time with involvement in the summer school program.
Qualifications:
Deep knowledge of outdoor living skills and the ability to convey that knowledge to students clearly and coherently; Experience and confidence with navigation, map and compass use, and route finding; experience with off-trail travel is preferred; Competence at the teaching level in one or more technical skills, including rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and mountain biking; Judgment and decision-making; familiar with field-based risk management and student management in technical settings.
Required Skills:
Create, develop, and implement relevant classroom and field-based curricula, teaching and learning objectives, and varied assessments that support the needs of students; Lead non-technical wilderness backpacking trips and lead or support technical single and multi-day trips; Co-teach a section of an experiential education elective 10-12 class; Co-lead and design a field-based three-week senior seminar; Manage trip logistics such as equipment packing and repair, food planning and packing, trip admin
Preferred Skills:
see full job listing on Albuquerque Academy Human Resources webpage- this website is evolving at the time of this post- email Albuquerque Academy Human Resources to find the post.
About Albuquerque Academy Experiential Education Dept
Long known as “Ex Ed,” outdoor education at Albuquerque Academy includes programming in adventure, environmental, and wilderness education, as well as leadership development. “Ex Ed” is mandatory for students in grades six through nine, and takes place on Academy lands and wilderness areas throughout New Mexico and the Four Corners region. Classroom-based courses with field components are optional for students in grades 10-12.
