Wrangler

Girl Scouts of Colorado • Woodland Park, CO

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. Working with a team of 2–4 ranch staff, the Wrangler helps care for a herd of 15–20 horses and other farm animals, maintains barn and program areas and equipment, and supports camp operations and programming as needed. The role reports to the Lead Wrangler and/or hiring manager and has no supervisory responsibility.

The Wrangler instructs and supervises western riding activities for groups of 12–15 riders, prioritizing safety and adapting activities to riders’ needs. During camp sessions and assigned activities, the Wrangler guides and supports campers, including on overnight horse trails. The position also contributes to staff training, schedules, feedback, meetings, program observations, and administrative work. Staff are expected to support the camp’s health, safety, inclusion, and service commitments and follow applicable organizational 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 valued at $200. The job requires living onsite in shared housing, working outdoors at elevations of 8,000–9,500 feet, and being available for nontraditional and extended hours, including evenings, weekends, overnight periods, and on-call duties.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and at least one year of college or equivalent work experience.
• At least two years of horse care experience 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 hold or be willing to obtain First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Mandated Reporter, Universal Standard Precautions, Medication Administration, and WFA/WFR certifications.
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to develop and facilitate innovative, engaging programming in an informal outdoor setting.
• Ability to work nontraditional hours, including evenings, weekends, extended overnight periods, and extended workdays of up to 22 hours.
• Willingness to be on call at all times for health, emergencies, camper supervision, and program implementation.
• Ability to live onsite in shared housing, which may be shared with staff and/or campers.
• Ability to walk or hike more than two miles per day 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, handle or feel with hands and fingers, reach with hands and arms, and balance.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather and in highly stimulating, loud environments.
• Interpersonal skills to work tactfully and congenially with people displaying 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.

Responsibilities

• Work with 2–4 ranch staff to feed, groom, tack, and provide general first aid to horses and other farm animals, and muck stalls/areas.
• Assist the Barn Specialist with daily care of barn animals as needed.
• Maintain clean and organized farm, barn, arena, and pasture areas.
• Help manage, store, maintain, clean, and use program, horse, and barn equipment.
• Provide or support emergency procedures during onsite and offsite trip incidents, as well as 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; ensure safety and adapt activities to riders’ needs.
• Guide and supervise campers during horse trails and other assigned activities, including overnight camp sessions; support campers’ daily living, camp participation, and peer relationships.
• Train and orient staff in proper use of specialized areas and materials and in program delivery.
• Verify staff competence before assigning them to horse riding, monitor performance during the season, and communicate progress to the Lead Wrangler for verification.
• Manage administrative responsibilities accurately, independently, and on time.
• Help develop, review, and create daily, weekly, and activity schedules with other staff in line with camp programming, camper planning, and camp goals.
• Provide and participate in camper and staff feedback forms as needed for camp planning.
• Attend staff meetings and training and coordinate and communicate schedules to campers and staff as needed.
• Observe program delivery to help ensure leadership goals and expectations are met appropriately.
• Use digital systems including WorkBright, Slack, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Protect confidential information about staff, volunteers, and campers.
• Follow policies and standards of the American Camping Association, Girl Scouts Safety Activity Checkpoints, Colorado Department of Health and Human Services, and other certifying organizations.
• Support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s commitments to pluralism, diversity, and inclusion and contribute to positive relationships across diverse communities.
• Assist with other camp tasks as needed.

Benefits

• Food and lodging, valued at $200.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED