Overview
Lead Program Instructors will be team leaders and facilitate overnight outdoor education field trips during the school year.
During the school year the Lead Program Instructor is responsible for teaching the wide variety of curricula options offered by KSS. Program Instructors will lead groups of up to 13 students in outdoor education programs including environmental science and team building curriculum. Program Instructors are responsible for lesson planning and organizing curriculum for each program. They are also responsible for the facilitation of meals, evening programs, possible off site/camping based programs, and the completion of manual labor tasks on a rotating basis. Lead Program Instructors will be the liaison between instructors and schools during their trip, mentoring program instructors, and other leadership duties. Schedule is typically 5 days per week and includes some nights and weekends.
Main areas of focus:
50% Teaching
20% Lesson planning and curriculum organization
25% Support staff duties (e.g. facilitation of meals, evening programs, and completion of manual labor tasks)
5% Mentor and train instructors
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead Instructor duties include, but are not limited to:
Give feedback to and mentor seasonal instructors
Lead programs and be the liaison between instructors and lead teacher
Develop curriculum in collaboration with program manager, coordinator, and instructors
Plan and implement logistics of programming
Manage and teach a group of up to 13 K-12 students on their own
Plan, prepare, and teach appropriate environmental education curricula
Facilitate team building, leadership, and social emotional learning activities
Program facilitation includes ‘support staff’ duties such as teaching evening programs, campus cleaning, meal set-up and clean-up and on-call responsibilities
Attend and help facilitate all staff meetings and trainings as assigned
Prepare and lead trainings for all instructors
Possibly stay in dorms with students for one or two specific weekend programs (ex. Girls in STEM, H2O outdoors)
Possibly lead camping or cabin based programs during “off site” programs at various locations around Colorado.
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Experience in a professional leadership role
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends
Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with students with diverse backgrounds
Ability to create an inclusive learning environment for students with a wide range of learning abilities
Proven ability to creatively develop science and education curricula and lesson plans
Required Skills:
Bachelor's or Associate's degree or 2 years of college training + 6 months of teaching experience
Minimum of 1 year of experience teaching students in an outdoor or classroom setting
Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) with CPR certifications minimum
Age 20+ with a minimum of 4 years driving experience, excellent driving record, and a valid driver's license
Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check
Preferred Skills:
Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish
Wilderness First Responder Certification
Experience in overnight backcountry trips
Bachelor’s or higher degree in a related field such recreation, education, or a subject in the human services field
Proficiency with Google Drive, Slack, and ability to learn new software systems quickly
Previous employment experience at Keystone Science School
About Keystone Science School
At Keystone Science School, we believe that the power of inspiring curiosity and critical thinking, through the lens of science, changes lives and strengthens communities. We create future leaders who can problem solve and work together in an ever-evolving world and workplace environment.
Located on Ute land in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Keystone Science School is a historic campus that serves as base camp for our diverse suite of inquiry-based learning programs. We combine hands-on science education with outdoor adventure to create engaging experiences for our students. At KSS, we change lives, we bring fun and laughter to everything we do, we care about each other and those we serve, we strive for excellence, we offer competitive compensation and generous benefits, and we are committed to serving students from diverse backgrounds. Check out KeystoneScienceSchool.org to learn more!
