Overview
Wilderness Program Specialist – Upper School
Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School is seeking an experienced and inspiring educator to lead, plan, create, and implement outdoor programming in the Upper School, especially around our annual Sophomore Wilderness Expedition, in its 54th year. The Wilderness Expedition is an annual 10-day Outward Bound-type backpacking, hiking, and camping experience for 60-70 sophomores in groups of ten, accompanied by student and adult leaders. The program inspires collaborative leadership, personal reflection, and resilience in challenging environments. The students are empowered to make many of their own decisions while navigating the smoky mountains and nearby regions. Approximately 16-18 Juniors and Seniors participate as student leaders, training for up to 4 months prior to the trip.
The Wilderness Programs Specialist (WPS) takes responsibility for all programming, leadership, curriculum, communication, fiscal management and budgeting, insurance, permitting, hiring, supervision, training, logistics, equipment, food, and coordination necessary to implement the 10th grade Wilderness Expedition. The WPS develops and maintains programs in alignment with objectives for student learning and growth and manages any faculty and staff within their Wilderness Program roles. After the first year, the WPS will develop new programming for the early fall and late spring that helps extend place-based learning opportunities to more students. The WPS also teaches two courses in their area of specialty and serves as a full-time member of the Upper School faculty.
Collaboration, creation of powerful learning experiences for a globally diverse student body, commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of adolescents through personal relationships, setting a positive tone, and treating students as individuals within the context of a broader community, are critical components of all positions at Cranbrook.
Cranbrook is a PK-12 school with a vibrant boarding component in grades 9-12, allowing the school to provide teachers with the opportunity to live and work on our architecturally famous 319-acre campus. Often living and working in our residence halls, faculty engage students and support their development as members of a shared community. Eagerness to live among students, and to engage them in the evenings and on the weekends as a part of an exciting residential program, is considered significantly beneficial.
The campus also hosts a Graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens and Institute of Science which together comprise the Cranbrook Educational Community. The art and architecture that shape the campus are designed to complement the surrounding natural environment, making for a truly stunning campus. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu.
Qualifications:
This position requires a Bachelor’s degree, with a Master’s degree preferred. Enthusiasm for teaching and working with adolescents and excellent communication skills are expected for all teachers.
About Cranbrook Educational Community
Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors and students to its campus each year. Critics have called Cranbrook “the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America” and in 1989 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu.
