Overview
Academy at SOAR is an accredited adventure-based private boarding school located in the mountains of Western North Carolina. We serve youth with ADHD and other learning differences in grades 7-12. We operate on a 4-week cycle where two weeks are spent on campus and two weeks are spent traveling. Academy at SOAR offers an alternative learning environment that combines academics, adventure, and life skill development to help prepare our students academically, socially, and emotionally for life beyond high school.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
– Ensure the physical and emotional safety of our participants through direct supervision (24/7) throughout a shift. Shifts generally for field staff are 5 days on with 2 days off, followed by 15 days on and 6 days off after the expedition.
– Support students in developing personal goals, utilize creative thinking and problem solving to assist them in implementing effective strategies and document their progress throughout the year.
– Instruct and empower students in independent living skills such as cooking, organization, money management, health and nutrition, time management, and personal hygiene.
– Implement field academic lessons in a creative and organized manner with guidance from teachers.
– Facilitate meaningful outdoor experiences and teach adventure skills throughout the expeditions. As well as facilitate service learning opportunities throughout the academic year.
– Practice sound risk management principles in the field and facilitate expeditions with a high level of autonomy and decision-making.
– Manage caregiver communications, receipts, student debit cards, and other shift paperwork as assigned.
– Administer First Aid when needed and administer daily medications to students in your direct care.
– Comply with all policies and procedures of the Academy and SOAR.
– Sleep in dorms and hotel rooms with, or in tents next t,o participants to ensure supervision.
– Utilize behavior management techniques consistent with the program philosophy at SOAR.
– Commit to our students and program for the entirety of the school year. Note: The school year begins in August and ends in May.
Qualifications:
Minimum of 21 years of age.
Current First Aid, CPR/AED certification or higher; Wilderness First Aid preferred.
2 years of college or professional experience is preferred.
Dedication and a strong desire to work with LD and ADHD youth.
Experience working in a residential program or academic environment is preferred.
Excellent communication, leadership, and decision-making skills.
About SOAR, Inc.
For over 45 years, SOAR outdoor adventure summer camps have helped neurodivergent youth and young adults ages 8-25 with learning differences develop self-confidence, social skills, and life skills. SOAR staff and instructors provide a community where campers are celebrated for their gifts, where they come to make friends, and where they have the freedom to be themselves. Campers get the opportunity to live in tents during the majority of their course and participate in exciting outdoor adventure activities such as rock climbing, horseback riding, SCUBA diving, llama treks, whitewater rafting, surfing, and much more! We are proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association.
Our camps offer outdoor adventure activities, for beginners and beyond, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the sunny Florida Keys, and wild and wonderful Wyoming. We also offer international camp courses in tropical Belize and Costa Rica (offered in alternate years).
