Summer Staff Kidder Creek Adventure Guide/Wilderness

MOUNT HERMON ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED•Etna, PA

1d•$340 - $345•Onsite

About The Position

The Kidder Creek Adventure Guide/Wilderness assists and leads campers and staff on river trips and facilitates ropes courses, rock climbing, backpacking, biking, and other adventure and recreation activities. The role helps ensure campers have an adventurous experience consistent with Mount Hermon Association, Inc.’s mission, vision, and values. This is a ministerial position: staff are expected to reflect a Christian faith in their work, stewardship, relationships, and conduct, and to affirm MHA’s Christian mission, beliefs, culture code, and standards of conduct. Staff participate in gatherings that include prayer, worship, and Bible-centered teaching. Adventure Guides lead assigned activities at camp, on rivers, and in nearby national forest and wilderness areas, including one or two wilderness trips during the summer. They ensure camper safety, maintain and inspect equipment, transport campers, help prepare food during trips, host adventure groups, and assist with other camp programs when adventure activities are not operating. They also lead camper debriefs that connect activities with applicable Biblical truth. Guides may rotate into guide or counselor roles for camp programs. Staff share in keeping camp spaces clean and orderly, contribute enthusiastically to the broader program and summer staff community, and help programs run smoothly by arriving prepared and responding to immediate or unforeseen needs. During rotation weeks, duties include housekeeping and kitchen work. The role also includes chaperoning a transportation-bus trip one weekend and other duties assigned by supervisors. There are no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

At least 18 years of age because the role requires onsite community living.
Current valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
CPR and Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification before summer.
Successful completion of Kidder Creek’s River Guide School and Swift Water Rescue, or an equivalent course from another provider, before summer.
Complete rock training during Kidder Creek staff training.
Complete ropes lead training and pass ropes guide/lead during Kidder Creek staff training.
Food Handler’s Card.
Prior experience working with elementary, junior high, and high school students.
Ability to articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ as communicated in Scripture.
Ability to demonstrate a personal, committed, and thoughtful faith in Christ.
Positive role model, listener, enthusiastic leader, and friend.
Ability to follow through, be creative, and adapt to program challenges.
Ability to participate in varied outdoor activities and exercise sound judgment.
Ability to adapt flexibly to changing assignments and schedules, including on short notice.
Willingness to drive campers in camp vehicles and comply with MHA driving guidelines for MHA-owned vehicles and personal vehicles used for business.
Adherence to MHA’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Commitment statements, as well as its dress code and professional grooming standards.
Satisfactory completion of a background investigation and ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in heat, cold, wet, humid, dry, and arid conditions.
Ability to sit, stand, squat, stoop, twist, hike long distances over varied terrain, swim, climb, and shout.
Ability to ascend and descend ladders, stairs, cables, and trees using hands and feet.
Ability to lift and transport 15–60 pounds of gear and equipment up and down stairs and over uneven terrain.
Ability to talk and hear at close and long distances in adverse conditions.
Close and distance vision, use of both eyes, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades, depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of college experience.
Experience with ropes courses, rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, and/or river guiding.
Prior camp counseling experience.

Responsibilities

Guide assigned adventure trips on the river, at camp on ropes courses, and in nearby national forest and wilderness areas.
Oversee and implement assigned adventure, recreation, and guiding activities, including one or two wilderness trips during the summer.
Ensure camper safety during adventure and river activities.
Care for, maintain, and regularly inspect river, adventure, and recreation equipment; report damaged or broken equipment promptly.
Transport campers to and from wilderness, adventure, river, and camp activities.
Assist with food preparation at the river, in the wilderness, and at The Outback.
Host Outback adventure, wilderness backpacking, and river groups; assist with Kidder Creek programs when adventure activities are not operating.
Lead camper debriefs and relate activities and experiences to applicable Biblical truth.
Rotate into guide or counselor positions for camp programs when asked.
Help keep camp areas, cabins, living areas, workspaces, and supplies clean and orderly.
Actively participate in and contribute to the broader program and summer staff community.
Be punctual and prepared, and assist with immediate or unforeseen program needs.
Perform housekeeping and kitchen duties during rotation weeks, including dishes, bathrooms, and trash.
Chaperone a transportation-bus trip one weekend.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.