Overview
Do you enjoy working with kids and spending time outdoors? Are you passionate about hands-on learning?
Discovery Southeast is looking for enthusiastic individuals to co-lead our 2026 Outdoor Explorers summer camps in Juneau, Alaska. Join us for a meaningful experience connecting with nature and helping kids explore the world around them!
Full-Time: 35-40 hours per week
Seasonal: May 26 – August 7, 2026
Must be able to attend training May 26 – 29, 2026.
Part-time work supporting our school-based programs is available in April and May, if desired.
Pay Range: We offer a competitive pay range of $18-$28 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
*Part-time naturalist work is available in April and May, if desired.
As a Summer Camp Leader, you will spend your days outside with children, supporting them as they explore, learn, and play. You and a co-leader will be responsible for a group of up to 12 kids in one of five age groups: Dragonflies (ages 4-6), Flying Squirrels (ages 6-8), Porcupines (ages 7-9), Marmots (ages 8-11), and Mountain Goats (ages 11-14). You’ll explore many of Juneau’s beautiful natural spaces while facilitating fun and educational experiences.
Each week of camp will focus on a different nature theme. Some weeks will be more active, including hiking, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Other weeks will focus more on science and art, such as botany, flower pressing, the salmon life cycle, and outdoor skills like fire-building. In addition to your co-leader, you’ll work alongside other Discovery Southeast staff and community partners in the field for specific activities. Your main responsibility will be to ensure the safety and well-being of your group, while developing your knowledge of child development and practicing inclusivity and cultural responsiveness.
Camps run Monday to Friday every week. Staff will work from 8:00AM to 3:30PM each day and participate in a weekly hour-long staff meeting. Before and throughout the summer, leaders will receive training and experience in inquiry-based, hands-on field leadership and Southeast Alaska natural and cultural history.
Summer Camp Leaders will work 8 weeks of day camps, plus 1 week of training before camp and 1-2 days of midsummer training. A week-long break for July 4th is included for all staff. Additional days or weeks off may be negotiated.
RESPONSIBILITIES
● Provide support for and ensure the physical and emotional safety and well-being of a group of up to 12 children
● Promote good decision-making skills, leadership, and a curiosity for the outdoors
● Plan, prepare, and facilitate fun, engaging games and activities with a focus on outdoor skills, natural history, and curiosity
● Perform weekly duties including: restocking supplies, cleaning the vans, and other tasks as necessary
● Participate in weekly staff meetings, mandatory training, and regular, open communication with co-workers
Qualifications:
● Experience and interest in working with children (preschool, elementary, or middle school age), especially in group or outdoor education settings.
● Experience managing groups of 6-12 children, in settings such as at sleepaway camp, day camp, schools, or extracurricular activities.
● Experience planning and facilitating engaging outdoor activities and games.
● Comfort and experience in outdoor environments, such as guiding, backcountry travel, or natural history interpretation.
Required Skills:
● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work on a team
and create a welcoming environment for all participants
● First Aid and Child/Infant CPR certification (or higher) by the start of
employment, Wilderness First Aid or Responder is great but not required
● Ability to maintain energy throughout an 8-hour day which could include: hiking up to 6 miles per day, carrying extra gear in a daypack, , often in wet weather.
● Must be able to attend training May 26-29, 2026
Preferred Skills:
● Familiarity with Lingít Aaní (Southeast Alaska) is preferred.
● Traditional Ecological Knowledge is highly desired.
About Discovery Southeast
For over 35 years, Discovery Southeast has facilitated education and exploration programs in Juneau, AK, the traditional lands of the Áakʼw and Tʼaakʼú Ḵwáan. Founded by outdoor leaders, we are a regional nonprofit dedicated to ensuring local residents—especially children—have the opportunity to experience the remarkable natural areas that attract visitors from around the world. Our field-based, hands-on programs teach kids how to experience, explore, and feel comfortable in the natural world. We focus on reaching all youth in Juneau, particularly those who might not otherwise be introduced to the outdoors at a young age. Ultimately, we hope to promote a better understanding of ourselves, the natural world, and our place in it.
We aim to recruit, retain, and develop staff who bring Traditional Ecological Knowledge, diverse backgrounds, and a mindset of curiosity about the complete history of Southeast Alaska.
