Overview
Ever dreamed of a career in the outdoors? Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young people? Break away from the conventional workday and kickstart your career in experiential education with our 12-week Challenge Course Apprenticeship. The hope of this program is to reduce barriers to work in outdoor education for those not historically represented in this industry (including but not limited to: Black, Indigenous, and People of the Global Majority).
We will teach you everything you need to know to become an experiential educator and ropes course facilitator at our Challenge Course in McLaren Park, San Francisco. Under the mentorship of our staff, you’ll learn how to tie knots, belay students, facilitate teamwork-building games, and safely run high and low ropes elements, all while making a positive impact on Bay Area youth. After successfully completing the Apprenticeship, you’ll have all the skills and experience you’ll need to be promoted to an Instructor. As a bonus, you’ll receive $80 to put toward a First Aid course.
Compensation & Schedule: Starting hourly wage is $23/hr. This is a 12-week, part-time, non-exempt, hourly position, typically 2.5-3 days a week (~20 hrs/week). There are opportunities to promote to Instructor directly after completion of the apprenticeship (dependent on developing required skills) and continue work throughout the season.
Paid Training: 8 hrs/day Mon-Fri, Jan 26 – Feb 5, 2026
Program Season: Tues-Sat, Feb 9 – Nov 18 2026
Staff meet for a half day on Monday. Student programs run Tuesday-Friday (with occasional Saturdays). Staff shifts vary depending on the group’s timing, but are most often 8am-4pm.
** If promoted to Instructor: There is an unpaid summer break of programs from June 8-12 & July 27-31, 2026.
Availability of work is dependent on the number of booked programs.
Benefits: $80 reimbursement for First Aid certification, Paid Time Off , Unpaid Time Off, San Francisco’s City Option Medical Reimbursement, 401K after 1-year of employment, Pro Deals, Free youth development training, professional development funds, and recertification reimbursements, Employee Assistance Program, All required training is paid.
Location: Most program days take place at the McLaren Park Challenge Course in southeast San Francisco
Qualifications:
19 years old or older
Able to work Monday (half day) and nontraditional hours (most programs run from 8am-4pm)
About Outward Bound California
At Outward Bound California (OBCA), we use challenging outdoor experiences to teach social-emotional skills like teamwork, leadership, and compassion. We offer a wide range of programs, including high/low ropes activities at our San Francisco Challenge Course and multi-day rock climbing/backpacking trips in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree. Our programs encourage our participants (ages 12+, including adults and veterans) to embrace challenges and reflect on how they want to contribute to their communities and the world.
We are a part of the Outward Bound USA network with a 60-year history in the US as a leading provider of outdoor education. OBCA is a non-profit and is committed to increasing access for those who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We work towards this goal with our 40 community partners and by offering scholarships to more than half of our students.
