Wrangler

Girl Scouts of Colorado•Bailey, TX

3d•$480 - $530•Onsite

About The Position

The Wrangler is a seasonal, full-time, onsite member of the horse and barn staff at a Girl Scouts of Colorado camp in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Wranglers implement the onsite horse program in line with camp goals, policies, and procedures and work with a team to care for 15–20 horses. They also support camp property, hospitality, operations, programming, health, and cabin leadership teams as needed. The role emphasizes providing high-quality service to members, guests, and visitors. Wranglers care for horses and other farm animals, maintain barn and riding areas and equipment, and provide western riding instruction and supervision. They help ensure rider safety and adapt activities to participants’ needs. The role also includes camper guidance and support, staff training and performance monitoring, program scheduling and administration, participation in meetings and training, and compliance with relevant camp and industry standards. The position runs from May through August, with exact dates to be determined. Compensation is $510 per week plus food and lodging, stated as valued at $200. The role requires living onsite in shared housing, working nontraditional and extended hours, being on call, and working outdoors at high altitude in varied weather. Staff may work up to 22 hours per day and ride 6–8 hours daily, 6–7 days per week.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and at least one year of college or equivalent work experience.
At least two years of experience in horse care and safe practices around equine and farm animals.
Proven western riding skills.
Ability to ride 6–8 hours daily, 6–7 days per week.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must pass a criminal background check acceptable to Girl Scouts of Colorado standards.
Must have or be willing to obtain First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Mandated Reporter, Universal Standard Precautions, Medication Administration, and WFA/WFR certifications.
Ability to work nontraditional hours, including evenings, weekends, extended overnight periods, and extended work hours up to 22 hours per day.
Willingness to be on call at all times for health, emergencies, camper supervision, and program implementation.
Willingness to live onsite in shared housing with other staff and/or campers.
Ability to walk or hike more than two miles daily over uneven, unpaved terrain.
Ability to carry, lift, and/or transfer at least 75 pounds.
Ability to hear, listen, see, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, use hands and fingers to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, and balance.
Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather at camp altitudes of 8,000–9,500 feet and in frequently loud, highly stimulating environments.
Interpersonal skills to work tactfully and congenially with people who have a range of moods and behaviors.

Nice To Haves

Experience or interest in working with children.
Experience in horse and rider classification.
Previous experience providing riding instruction.
Experience working in an outdoor program and/or camp setting.
Experience leading children, peers, or staff.
Willingness to develop and facilitate innovative, engaging programs in an informal outdoor setting.
Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

Work on a team of 2–4 ranch staff to feed, groom, tack, provide general first aid to, and muck horses and other farm animals.
Assist the Barn Specialist with daily care of barn animals as needed.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of farm, barn, arena, and pasture areas.
Help care for, manage, store, maintain, and use program, horse, and barn equipment.
Provide or support emergency procedures during onsite and offsite trip incidents and support health and wellness practices.
Provide assistance or coverage to other operational and program staff as needed, including cabin, health, site, kitchen, and housekeeping staff.
Instruct and supervise western riding for groups of 12–15 riders, including property trail rides, arena maneuvers, and activities, ensuring safety and adapting activities to riders’ needs.
Guide camper groups during overnight camp sessions when on horse trails or assigned, acting in loco parentis.
Support and counsel campers in daily living, camp activities, and peer relationships.
Train and orient staff in the proper use of specialized areas and materials and in program delivery.
Verify staff competence before assigning them to horse-riding activities, monitor their performance, and communicate progress to the Lead Wrangler for verification.
Manage administrative responsibilities independently, promptly, and with attention to detail.
Help develop and review daily, weekly, and activity schedules with other staff, aligned with camp programming, camper planning, and camp goals.
Provide and participate in camper and staff feedback forms as needed for camp strategic planning.
Participate in staff meetings and training for planning, communication, resolution of issues, and assigned work.
Coordinate and communicate schedules to campers and staff as needed.
Conduct ongoing observations to ensure leadership goals and program delivery are positive and appropriate.
Use digital systems including WorkBright, Slack, Instagram, and Facebook.
Maintain confidentiality of information about staff, volunteers, and campers.
Follow standards and policies set by the American Camping Association, Girl Scouts Safety Activity Checkpoints, Colorado Department of Health and Human Services, and other relevant certifying organizations.
Support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s commitments to pluralism, diversity, and inclusion, and contribute to positive relationships among diverse communities, employees, and volunteers.
Assist with other tasks in keeping with Girl Scouts of Colorado’s philosophy as needed.