Challenge Course Apprenticeship

Outward Bound California • San Francisco, CA

2d • $24 • Onsite

About The Position

This is a 12-week Challenge Course Apprenticeship designed to reduce barriers to work in outdoor education for individuals not historically represented in the field. The program aims to teach participants everything needed to become an experiential educator and ropes course facilitator. Apprentices will learn essential skills such as tying knots, belaying students, facilitating teamwork-building games, and safely operating high and low ropes elements, all while positively impacting Bay Area youth. Upon successful completion, apprentices will be eligible for promotion to an Instructor role.

Requirements

• Passionate about working with youth, especially teens and middle schoolers
• Have a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors
• Lived experience or experience working with communities often underrepresented in the outdoors
• Interested in learning how to facilitate social-emotional learning
• An effective communicator; willing to give and receive feedback
• Able to commit to 20 hours/week over 12 weeks
• Able to participate in all course activities while maintaining ample energy, strength, and focus to aid students and instructors
• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment and decision-making, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress
• Able to lift and transport 20-50 pounds of gear several times a day
• Can be on feet most days - sometimes for up to 8 hours a day
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather or season
• Comfortable climbing to height
• 19 years old or older
• Able to work Monday (half day) and nontraditional hours (most programs run from 8am-4pm)
• Willing to authorize a federal & Live Scan background check and provide current TB screen/test results (cost paid or reimbursed by OBCA)

Nice To Haves

• Interested in continuing to work the Challenge Course as an Instructor through the end of the season
• Prior experience with experiential, outdoor, environmental education or youth development
• Speak Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese
• Held a valid US or Canadian driver’s license for at least 3 years

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Site Manager and Instructors to plan 1-Day challenge course program activities
• Assist in facilitating program activities
• Learn basics of ropes course operation: personal safety equipment, belaying participants, spotting low elements
• Create a safe and fun experience for all students
• Role model inclusive behavior and build rapport with students and colleagues
• Gain knowledge around program safety and Outward Bound policies and procedures
• Other duties and responsibilities may be added to meet Apprentice’s professional goals
• Uphold Outward Bound’s zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect as protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority

Benefits

• $80 reimbursement for First Aid certification
• Paid Time Off - Accrue 1 hour for every 13 hrs worked
• Unpaid Time Off - Employees can accrue up to 80 hours of unpaid time off each year
• 401K after 1-year of employment
• Pro Deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates)
• Free youth development training, professional development funds, and recertification reimbursements
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP), free of charge for staff and family members
• All required training is paid

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed