BOLD & GOLD Course Director

YMCA of Greater Seattle•Seattle, WA

64d•$185

About The Position

As a Course Director, you will be responsible for supervising one- and two-week wilderness-based expeditions. This includes managing logistics, mentoring staff, and ensuring the safe and successful delivery of these programs. Course Directors work with instructors to plan curriculum for expeditions, provide on-call support to groups in the field, support evacuations, communicate with families, and ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the BOLD & GOLD summer program. BOLD & GOLD is dedicated to inspiring courage and confidence in diverse groups of youth through outdoor adventures. As a program of the Camping & Outdoor Leadership branch of the YMCA of Greater Seattle, BOLD & GOLD offers year-round partnership programs and summer expedition experiences. Partnership programs engage with schools, non-profits, and community-based organizations to design and implement transformative outdoor experiences. The summer expedition program runs single-gender and all-gender expeditions that engage youth through frontcountry and backcountry trips ranging in length from 5 to 15 days. BOLD & GOLD experiences take place in Mt Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, National Forests, Washington State Parks, and local green spaces. Activities include backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, snowshoeing, fishing, art, and team building. The goal of BOLD & GOLD is to increase confidence, courage, emotional intelligence, wonder, and community awareness in our participants. BOLD & GOLD believes these traits are the foundations of leadership and works to inspire participants to develop their own leadership style. BOLD & GOLD prepares young people to be the next generation of leaders through multicultural experiential education in the natural world.

Requirements

Experience making the transference of a wilderness experience relevant to the everyday lives of youth.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with youth and adults from a variety of backgrounds.
Ability to role model compassionate and confident leadership.
High level of self-awareness and can work in a collaborative setting.
Commitment to working with diverse groups of youth and staff.
Possesses strong organizational skills, flexibility, and a problem-solving mentality.
Ability to mentor staff in technical backcountry skills, including backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, and mountaineering.
Ability to mentor staff in interpersonal skills, including clear consistent communication, building positive group culture, and supporting participants through challenges such as homesickness, conflict, etc.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience with Microsoft Office suit (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
Currentâ¯WFR or W-EMT, and CPR Certification
Current Washington State Food Handlers Permit
Leave No Trace 101 Certification

Nice To Haves

Prefer knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
Experience with anti-racism practices.

Responsibilities

Direct all aspects of wilderness courses including logistics, staff supervision, participants, risk management situations, and a positive group culture.
Oversee the safe delivery of wilderness courses- with an emphasis on multicultural leadership, ranging in length from 5 to 15 days.
Work within a leadership team to ensure all staff and participants have the equipment, tools and knowledge needed to be successful.
Build strong rapport with participants, staff, and families, foster positive group development, create structure, and draw learning from experiential activities.
Train and mentor staff in how to:
Build emotionally and physically safe environments with groups of middle and high school participants.
Help participants build emotional intelligence and multicultural leadership skills through wilderness experience.
Model cultural humility and celebrate diversity, effectively working with people of different identities, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
Ensure both a physically and an emotionally safe and inclusive environment for youth and staff.
Other duties as assigned.