Overview
SUMMARY OF POSITION
North Cascades Institute seeks a skilled educator, community-builder, and student recruitment specialist to join our Youth Leadership Adventures (YLA) team. YLA provides outdoor experiences for local high school students, including multi-day canoeing and backpacking trips in the summer, and outdoor day programming in the spring and fall. This position is the primary student liaison within the YLA team, providing year round support and information to enrolled students and their families. In the fall, winter, and spring, this position leads our recruitment and enrollment efforts, as well as coordinates and facilitates day programs in local communities. In the summer, this position provides logistical and risk management support for our backcountry trips, and ensures a smooth flow of information between students, staff, and families. It is essential that the Recruitment Coordinator is able to uphold a safe learning environment for all identities and model culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices. This position reports to the Youth Leadership Manager.
JOB LOCATION
The job location for this position is the Sedro-Woolley Administrative Office, and is in-person at least one day per week.
RESPONSIBILITIES
● Recruitment
● Enrollment
● Program Facilitation and Support
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This is a regular, full-time (32-40 hours/week), non-exempt (hourly) position subject to a winter furlough (unpaid) of 4-6 weeks. The pay rate is $24.12 per hour.
Work schedules will vary, and may require working early mornings, late nights, and overnights when programs are occurring. Overtime will likely be required in the summer (1.5x base pay). In 2026, whenever this position is required to work overnight at the Environmental Learning Center, housing will be available at no charge.
We offer a competitive compensation package. Benefits include the following:
● Sick Leave – accrued at the rate of 0.04615 per hour
● Vacation Leave – accrued at the rate of 0.0385 per hour in the first year (about 10 days), with increasing accrual in successive years. Positions with furloughs may accrue less than 10 days.
● Holiday Leave – 12 days maximum per year
● Service Days – 2 days per year
● Other paid time-off such as family leave, pregnancy leave, bereavement leave, etc.
● Medical/dental insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, tax-deferred annuity, and contribution retirement plan
● Ability to participate in Institute pro deals
● Yearly stipend to participate in Institute programs
Benefits are prorated for employees working less than 40 hours per week.
START DATE
Preferred start date is early May 2026
Qualifications:
• Experience living in and working with communities who are historically underrepresented in the outdoors
• Experience participating in backpacking and/or canoe camping trips in a backcountry environment
• Experience teaching or mentoring teens
• Demonstrated commitment to increasing equitable access to outdoor engagement
• Excellent communication, public speaking, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills with strong attention to detail
Required Skills:
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pound pack, perform physically demanding work for multiple days in a row, backpack, and hike over uneven terrain
• Valid driver’s license and driving record check must have no more than one moving violation in the past three years, no DUI, reckless driving or serious moving violations, etc.
• Successful candidates must also be willing and prepared to reside and sleep in a remote area.
• Spanish language proficiency
Preferred Skills:
• Lived experience in Skagit and/or Whatcom counties and school districts
• One or more seasons of experience leading backcountry and/or canoe-based trips
• Familiar with backcountry risk management practices
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification
• Knowledge of the climate crisis and enthusiasm for teaching youth about climate solutions, the natural world, and/or North Cascades natural and cultural history
About North Cascades Institute
North Cascades Institute's mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Since 1986, we have helped connect people, nature and community through science, art, literature and the hands-on study of natural and cultural history. Our goal is to help people of all ages and backgrounds experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest – so all will care for and protect this special place.
North Cascades Institute is a respected leader among U.S. environmental education organizations, and we believe that sustainable communities are built on healthy environments, vibrant economies and social equity. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $4 million budget and strong reserves, and 15 four-star ratings with Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
