Position 

Description

Let the Journey Begin

The goals of our Apprenticeship Program are to bolster our pipeline of new instructors with a key focus on recruiting people of color and members of communities not historically represented in the outdoor education field. Through the Challenge Course Apprenticeship Program, Apprentices gain a comprehensive entry-level understanding of outdoor education instruction and how to teach utilizing our Challenge Course.

For 12 weeks, they will have hands-on training working directly with students in a supervised capacity on our Challenge Course. Upon completion of the Apprenticeship Program, they will be prepared to promote to an Instructor level position (upon mastery of required skills). And will receive $350 to put toward a Wilderness First Aid course. 

Insight Programs are full-day leadership experiences designed for students aged 12+ including adults, educators and veterans. The Insight Programs at Outward Bound California include ropes course, ground games, and initiatives to groups of participants (i.e., schools, community organizations, companies, etc.)

Who We Are

Outward Bound California (OBCA) is part of a national network of experiential and outdoor education programs, with a 50 year history in the US, serving over 40,000 students annually. OBCA uses unique experiences in natural settings to create social-emotional learning opportunities for our students to tap into their inherent potential as compassionate leaders and active participants in their communities. 

We work with students on a range of programs, from 1-day experiences on our San Francisco Challenge Course to multi-day rock climbing, backpacking and mountaineering courses ranging from 7 to 65 days long. OBCA is deeply committed to opening up access for students and schools that have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces and programs and we do this through over 40 effective community partnerships.  As a non-profit, more than 2/3 of our students receive partial or full scholarships to go on a course with us in the High Sierra, Southern California and in the Bay Area.

Equity and Inclusion Statement:

We believe that all people should have safe access to the outdoors and culturally relevant and responsive educational programming. OBCA is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and honored for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture where we are always learning and improving toward a vision for equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are also committed to reflecting the diverse communities with whom we work and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

Who You Are

• Passionate about working with youth, especially teens and middle schoolers

• 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
• Committed to creating inclusive spaces in the outdoors for communities diverse in age, racial, ethnic, physical ability, socioeconomic class and sexual orientation
• Able to commit to 20 hours/week over 12 weeks
• Interest in continuing to work the Challenge Course as an Instructor through the end of the season (Nov 5, 2022)

Additional Qualifications

• At least 21 years old by April 12, 2022
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather or season
• Able to work weekends and nontraditional hours (earlier than 9am and later than 5pm)
• Able to pass a federal background check, Live Scan background check, and provide current negative TB test results upon hire (cost of all screening paid for or reimbursed by OBCA)
• Hold current Standard First Aid (8-hour training) & CPR
• OBCA requires all field and program staff who have direct contact with our students to be fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC.

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Sufficiently fit to participate in all course activities while maintaining ample energy, strength, and focus to aid students and instructors
• Able to lift and transport 20-50 pounds of gear several times a day
• Able to work outdoors, regardless of weather or season

• Have prior experience with in experiential, outdoor, environmental education or youth development

• Speak Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese
• Hold a current Driver’s License

• Collaborate with Site Manager and Instructors to plan 1-Day challenge course program activities
• Assist in instructing 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 intern’s professional goals

Benefits, Compensation and Location

• Starting hourly wage is $16.57/hr
• This is a 12-week part-time program with opportunities to move up to Instructor and Lead Instructor directly after completion (dependent on mastering required skills).
• This position works 2.5 days a week (20 hours/week)
• Program operates Tuesday-Saturday, January 20, 2021 through November 5, 2021 
• Paid training week begins January 20 - 29, 2021 (8hrs/day)

Benefits

• $350 to put toward Wilderness First Aid certification course
• Highly energetic and supportive work environment in a mission-driven organization
• Opportunity to enroll in supplemental, subsidized accident and injury insurance
• Access to EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Access to borrow OBCA school gear for field work
• Access to free youth development training 

Location

Most program days take place at the McLaren Park Ropes Course in southeast San Francisco. This position also operates out of our Bay Area program base in the Presidio, a national park in San Francisco. The basecamp consists of two buildings with offices, warehouse and kitchen

Outward Bound California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Outward Bound California also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.