BOLD & GOLD Summer Wilderness Instructor

YMCA of Greater Seattle•Seattle, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

BOLD & GOLD, a program of the Camping & Outdoor Leadership branch of the YMCA of Greater Seattle, prepares young people to become leaders through multicultural experiential education in the natural world. The summer expedition program offers single-gender and all-gender experiences for youth, with frontcountry and backcountry trips lasting 5–15 days. Courses take place in wilderness areas and local green spaces across Washington State and may include backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, mountaineering, snowshoeing, fishing, art, and teambuilding. Wilderness Instructors work with a co-lead and are responsible for the physical and emotional safety of up to 10 participants. They follow a set itinerary, manage backcountry risks, and lead workshops and activities that help participants develop their own leadership styles. This is a seasonal, exempt position paid at a daily rate. Instructors can expect three to five field-weeks of work, usually about 35–55 working days, from late June through late August. There is optional Backcountry Skills Training in early June for new staff, and all-staff training takes place in mid-June. The position is based at the Cascade People’s Center in Seattle, where courses begin and end, and programming takes place in remote wilderness locations across Washington. Employees must be able to commute to the center. Work travel is conducted in YMCA vehicles, and driving participants in 14-passenger minibuses is a required, safety-sensitive duty. The role requires comfort spending multiple days or weeks in wilderness settings and traveling over varied terrain, potentially up to 15 miles per day while carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds. Hiring range: $135–$165 per day.

Requirements

Two or more years of experience working with teens in an organized setting, including facilitating activities addressing issues facing adolescents.
Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
Strong group facilitation, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
Knowledge of adolescent developmental needs and ability to evaluate teens’ individual needs.
Experience connecting wilderness experiences to the everyday lives of underserved youth.
Personal or professional experience in backpacking, rock climbing, paddling, and/or mountaineering.
Ability to hike and/or backpack over varied terrain and teach techniques for approaching that terrain.
Experience and knowledge of basic backcountry equipment or techniques, such as stove use, bear hangs, water purification, and/or shelter craft.
Experience and knowledge of reading maps and using them for navigation.
Ability to manage physical risks for oneself and participants, including terrain, weather, and wildlife interactions.
Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications.
Current Washington State Food Handlers Permit.
Leave No Trace 101 Certification.
Ability to meet YMCA of Greater Seattle authorized-driver requirements: be at least 21, have held a driver’s license for at least three years, pass a drug screen, and meet the organization’s driving-record standards.
Ability to commute to the Cascade People’s Center in Seattle.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, travel over varied terrain up to 15 miles per day, spend multiple days or weeks in a wilderness setting, and communicate verbally and non-verbally with staff, volunteers, and participants.
Other applicable education, training, and experience providing the necessary knowledge, abilities, and skills will be considered.

Nice To Haves

Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or W-EMT certification.
Knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations, including differences in language, culture, race, physical ability, and sexual orientation.
Ability to speak a language in addition to English.
Experience with anti-racism practices.

Responsibilities

Lead 5–15 day wilderness-based backpacking, paddling, rock climbing, or mountaineering courses emphasizing multicultural leadership.
Build rapport with participants and staff, foster positive group development, create structure, and draw learning from experiential activities.
Model cultural humility and celebrate diversity while working effectively with people of different identities, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
Ensure a physically and emotionally safe, inclusive environment for youth and staff.
Transport participants in 14-passenger minibuses to and from program areas.
Manage risks associated with outdoor climbing and mountaineering programs.
Adhere to abuse-prevention policies, maintain appropriate boundaries, complete required training, report suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and comply with mandated-reporting requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.