Challenge Course Apprenticeship

Position Description

Ever dreamed of a career in the outdoors? Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young people? Break away from the conventional workday and kickstart your career in experiential education with our 12-week Challenge Course Apprenticeship. The hope of this program is to reduce barriers to work in outdoor education for those not historically represented in this industry (including but not limited to: Black, Indigenous, and People of the Global Majority). 

We will teach you everything you need to know to become an experiential educator and ropes course facilitator at our Challenge Course in McLaren Park, San Francisco. Under the mentorship of our staff, you’ll learn how to tie knots, belay students, facilitate teamwork-building games, and safely run high and low ropes elements, all while making a positive impact on Bay Area youth. After successfully completing the Apprenticeship, you’ll have all the skills and experience you’ll need to be promoted to an Instructor. As a bonus, you’ll receive $80 to put toward a First Aid course.

Compensation & Schedule

• Starting hourly wage is $23/hr
• This is a 12-week, part-time, non-exempt, hourly position, typically 2.5-3 days a week (~20 hrs/week). There are opportunities to promote to Instructor directly after completion of the apprenticeship (dependent on developing required skills) and continue work throughout the season.
• Paid Training: 8 hrs/day Mon-Fri, Jan 26 – Feb 5, 2026
• Program Season: Tues-Sat, Feb 9 – Nov 18 2026
• Staff meet for a half day on Monday. Student programs run Tuesday-Friday (with occasional Saturdays). Staff shifts vary depending on the group’s timing, but are most often 8am-4pm.
• ** If promoted to Instructor: There is an unpaid summer break of programs from June 8-12 & July 27-31, 2026.
• Availability of work is dependent on the number of booked programs.

Benefits

• $80 reimbursement for First Aid certification
• Paid Time Off – Accrue 1 hour for every 13 hrs worked
• Unpaid Time Off – Employees can accrue up to 80 hours of unpaid time off each year
• OBCA contributes to San Francisco’s City Option Medical Reimbursement. This is a benefit within the SF City Option program. Funds in an SF MRA can be used to reimburse you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your dependents for eligible health care expenses.
• 401K after 1-year of employment
• Pro Deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates)
• Free youth development training, professional development funds, and recertification reimbursements
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP), free of charge for staff and family members
• All required training is paid

Location

• Most program days take place at the McLaren Park Challenge Course in southeast San Francisco

Who We Are

At Outward Bound California (OBCA), we use challenging outdoor experiences to teach social-emotional skills like teamwork, leadership, and compassion. We offer a wide range of programs, including high/low ropes activities at our San Francisco Challenge Course and multi-day rock climbing/backpacking trips in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree. Our programs encourage our participants (ages 12+, including adults and veterans) to embrace challenges and reflect on how they want to contribute to their communities and the world. To learn more about our ropes course elements, check out the video tour. 

We are a part of the  Outward Bound USA network with a 60-year history in the US as a leading provider of outdoor education. OBCA is a non-profit and is committed to increasing access for those who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We work towards this goal with our 40 community partners and by offering scholarships to more than half of our students. 

OBCA strives to create an equitable and inclusive culture where our staff feel respected for their identities and lived experiences. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in the process of furthering our vision for equity and belonging. We recognize that the outdoor industry has historically excluded those with non-dominant identities and know that has led to underrepresentation in this line of work. We strongly encourage those who more significantly face the impacts of systemic barriers to apply.

Who You Are

Outward Bound California does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here. If you have 75% of the following qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

• Passionate about working with youth, especially teens and middle schoolers
• Have a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors
• 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
• Able to commit to 20 hours/week over 12 weeks
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather or season

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
• Can be on feet most days – sometimes for up to 8 hours a day
• Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather or season
• Comfortable climbing to height

Other Requirements (by Start Date)

• 19 years old or older
• Able to work Monday (half day) and nontraditional hours (most programs run from 8am-4pm)
• Because we work with you, staff must be willing to authorize a federal & Live Scan background check and provide current TB screen/test results (cost paid or reimbursed by OBCA)

Bonus if you…

• Are interested in continuing to work the Challenge Course as an Instructor through the end of the season
• Have prior experience with experiential, outdoor, environmental education or youth development
• Speak Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese
• Have held a valid US or Canadian driver’s license for at least 3 years

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Site Manager and Instructors to plan 1-Day challenge course program activities
• Assist in facilitating 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 Apprentice’s professional goals
• Uphold Outward Bound’s zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect as protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority

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.

 Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.