Overview
Essential Functions:
Work with the Director of Classroom of the Earth (COE) outdoor education program to design, plan and lead all COE trips, for pre-kindergarten through 8th grades.
Continue with personal outdoor skill development and education including obtaining/maintaining Wilderness First Responder certification.
Assist with development/training of Middle School COE leaders.
Work with the Director of COE on all trip preparations.
Actively assist the Director of COE/Division Head with parent meeting presentations.
Be responsible for collecting, managing and maintaining student permission/medical forms for excursions.
Be responsible/take ownership for collecting, organizing, managing, and maintaining COE gear:
assure that it is kept clean and in good operational condition; determine if needs to to be repaired/replaced and work with companies in a timely manner if replacement is needed; and maintain gear repair inventory.
Be responsible for/assist with:
menu preparation and shopping of food for each trip; cooking meals on COE trips; and travel for students and faculty to and from destination.
Maintain/resupply first aid kits.
Collaborate with science/classroom teachers for COE curriculum development when needed.
Complete all other duties as assigned by the Director of COE, Division Heads or Head of School.
Have a safety first philosophy.
Be passionate about being on program over 60 days a year.
Able and willing to spend 50 plus nights sleeping on the ground.
Comfortable living in often uncomfortable and occasionally extreme weather conditions – cold and wet to hot and dry.
Maintain a high level of professionalism with students, families, and colleagues.
Comfortable with being in a public facing role.
Comfortable working with adults, parents and faculty, who will primarily not share the same professional or contextual background and need to be educated respectfully about the particular dangers, practices, and realities of outdoor work. For example, be ready to explain the adage “cotton kills” several times a year.
Proactively assess risks in the backcountry and effectively set parameters or adjust plans accordingly
Willingness to have very little/no private or personal time from 6am-10pm on most away trips
Qualifications:
Training through a NOLS or Outward Bound type program
Professional experience with outdoor education programs aimed towards pre-kindergarten through 8th grades
Highly experienced and comfortable in the backcountry, ability to read a map, well spatially oriented, familiar with common topographical patterns and able to confidently trail find in situations with poor or missing signage or in off-trail navigation
Professional experience leading backpacking and/or rock climbing
Knowledge of necessary gear for outdoor excursions
Methodical, strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Able to think through processes and plans in advance, anticipate organizational and safety issues, and work with other
Required Skills:
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
Comfortable in the outdoors for long periods of time
Away from home for extended periods, up to 2.5 weeks
Able to function, make decisions, and perform leadership tasks with small amounts of sleep
Able to comfortably hike up to 10 miles in mountainous terrain daily on backpacking trips
Able to hike up to 16 miles in an emergency situation that requires a walk-out evacuation
Willing to be woken in the middle of the night for both emergencies and non-emergencies
About Good Shepherd Episcopal School Dallas
Good Shepherd Episcopal School is a faith-based, independent, co-educational school, serving prekindergarten-8th grade. Located in Dallas, the school provides an environment where students can realize the best versions of themselves in an inclusive, faith-based community rooted in Episcopal identity. For more information about the school, visit www.gsesdallas.org.
