Adventure Guide

KVC Health Systems • St. James, MO

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Meramec Adventure Ranch is the therapeutic wilderness and adventure arm of KVC. Using the transformative power of the wilderness and adventure, the Ranch is dedicated to serving individuals and families whom much of the world has given up on, including youth struggling with traumatic pasts, youth in residential treatment, youth on the Autism Spectrum, and Wounded Warriors. Located on 1,200 acres in Steelville, Missouri, the Ranch has grown to be one of the most extensive adventure bases in the Midwest and has served over 120,000 youth and families since its beginning in 2006.

The ranch is a unique program; the only one of its kind in Missouri and one of the few therapeutic adventure programs left in the country that serve court-ordered youth in the state system. The Ranch needs summer staff to run the 10-week therapeutic summer adventure program working with At-Risk Youth, Youth on the Autism spectrum, and Wounded Warriors and their families. Our campers have all experienced histories of severe trauma and abuse and have come to a place in their lives where they feel hopelessly “stuck.” That is precisely why the ranch exists!

Using the transformative power of the wilderness, rope courses, team challenges, climbing, paddling, aquatic adventures, land navigation, mountain biking, archery, primitive skills, and many other adventures, you’ll get to walk alongside your campers as they grow build confidence in their ability to impact any situation, deepen healthy relationships, and find that the stories of their past don’t count them out, but can be used to change their world in powerful ways. You will get to be a part of their stories as they grow, heal, and begin to hope!

Summer Adventure Guides lead small groups of youth in residential treatment, foster care, youth on the Autism Spectrum, and Wounded Warriors and their families through 10 weeks of exhilarating adventure programs. Living in both tents and bunkroom accommodations, cooking over a fire, and facilitating the daily camp routine, you’ll use activities like ropes courses, team challenges, climbing, kayaking, aquatic adventures, land navigation, and many other adventures in intentional ways allow people to grow, hope, and heal!

Once the summer comes to an end, Adventure Guides have the option to transition into a full-time, year-round Therapeutic Adventure Manager (salaried position with benefits).

You can be a part of this critical program and play a vital role in the life stories of the incredible individuals we are honored to stand alongside each day!

Requirements

• A Calling/Passion to be HERE!
• GRIT
• Disciplined Work Ethic
• Honesty
• Willingness to have fun and act silly
• Creativity and Ideas
• Self-Awareness
• Wisdom and Discernment
• Willingness to learn
• Humility
• Unconditional Care, Unwavering Belief, and Consistent Accountability for yourself, the Ranch Family, and those we serve
• Experience in Adventure activities and Residential Care or in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead small groups of youth in residential treatment, foster care, youth on the Autism Spectrum, and Wounded Warriors and their families through 10 weeks of exhilarating adventure programs.
• Living in both tents and bunkroom accommodations, cooking over a fire, and facilitating the daily camp routine
• Use activities like ropes courses, team challenges, climbing, kayaking, aquatic adventures, land navigation, and many other adventures in intentional ways allow people to grow, hope, and heal!

Benefits

• Housing is provided for all staff.
• All food is provided when running programs.
• PRODEALS, PRODEALS, PRODEALS!
• Free stickers for your Nalgene Bottle…Everyone needs a few more!
• You can bring your hammock to work…though we won’t guarantee that you’ll spend much time in it.
• Looking up a night sky from your sleeping bag and saying to yourself, “This is where I belong!”
• Stand beside people who have seen incredible adversity, hurt, and pain, and be a part of their stories as they grow to change the world!

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed