Residential/Outdoor Education Apprentice - Outdoor Academy 2026-2027

Eagle's Nest Foundation•Pisgah Forest, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outdoor Academy is an accredited, residential, semester school for high achieving tenth-grade and eleventh-grade students. Rising from a long tradition of experiential education at Eagle's Nest Foundation, The Outdoor Academy incorporates a college preparatory curriculum with environmental education, wilderness leadership, unique arts offerings, and regional studies in a small community setting. Established in 1995, The Outdoor Academy enrolls up to 24 students from across the United States each semester to attend our school located in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. The mission of the school is “Experiential education for young people, promoting the natural world and the betterment of human character.” The school is built around its four cornerstones of Intellect, Environment, Craft, and Community, and ENF and OA are focused on pursuing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. The Residential/Outdoor Education Apprentice ("Resident") team fosters a safe, healthy, and productive living environment in the dorms, around campus, and on trips. They oversee dorm life and work closely with the Dean of Students to design and implement residential life curriculum, including workshops on communication, feedback, identity, healthy relationships, leadership, etc. Their role in OA’s outdoor programming is extensive, as the team supports the planning, preparation, and instruction of hiking, climbing, and paddling trips. Residents will also have the opportunity to receive professional development and coaching in order to hone skills that will support their career goals in academic, experiential, or outdoor residential settings. Residential/Outdoor Education Apprentices are immersed in the life of the school, and play a crucial role in students’ experience at OA.

Requirements

A commitment to transformative educational and community experiences
A college degree
A willingness to be immersed in the life of the school and to work closely with teenagers
Significant background/skills in climbing, white-water canoeing, and/or backpacking; experience leading/co-leading groups of teenagers in at least one of these areas preferred
Experience living and working in a community or congregate living setting (e.g. a summer camp, as a dorm RA, etc.) may be useful but is not essential
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or Wilderness EMT (WEMT) certification required by the contract dates above, or willingness to attain.
An ability to work collaboratively with a closely-knit team.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading/co-leading groups of teenagers in at least one of these areas preferred
Experience living and working in a community or congregate living setting (e.g. a summer camp, as a dorm RA, etc.) may be useful but is not essential

Responsibilities

Live with students in a dorm or cabin five nights a week (Residents have a private bedroom and bathroom adjacent to the student dorm spaces).
Observe and enforce all policies of The Outdoor Academy and Eagle’s Nest Foundation.
Monitor student safety in outdoor and residential settings.
Co-lead wilderness trips, including rock climbing, white-water canoeing, and backpacking.
Plan weekend activities with students.
Facilitate morning and weekend meal preparation.
Facilitate morning, evening, and bedtime routines.
Hold dorm meetings, monitor student issues, and coordinate with Dean of Students to address concerns.
Work with the Dean of Students to lead classes in residential life topics as part of the CIRCLE (Community, Identity, Relationships, Communication, Leadership, Ethics) curriculum.
Proctor evening study hall hours during the week.
Support Outdoor Programming through trip planning and preparation, cleaning and maintaining gear, and organizing pack-out and de-issue for outdoor trips.
Distribute daily medications and support other faculty in monitoring student health and wellness.
Accomplish other duties as assigned by the Dean of Students and Director.