Field Instructor – Bilingual

Cal-Wood Mission & Philosophy:
Cal-Wood Education Center is on a mission to facilitate positive nature experiences for all – especially those who haven’t yet spent time in the mountains. Cal-Wood has provided residential environmental and outdoor education programs to hundreds of thousands of Coloradans since 1982 at our 1,200-acre classroom located west of Boulder, Colorado. Through these school programs, summer camps, and family camps, we provide access for kids and adults from underrepresented communities to have life-changing experiences outdoors. We believe that no matter where you live or what language you speak, you deserve to feel safe and welcome outside. We strive to grow our programs so that we can enable more and more people from all walks of life to find a connection with nature.

Cal-Wood has received several national and local awards because of our quality programs and our service to linguistically diverse audiences. Our field instructors receive training in sheltered instruction and other skills to help them effectively teach and connect with all students who visit Cal-Wood, from Commerce City to Aurora to Boulder and beyond. Instructors provide dynamic, hands-on science education in the field so that all students can explore, learn, and see themselves as scientists.   

Position Overview: Cal-Wood is seeking cheerful and adaptable applicants for an exciting and rewarding field instructor position. Our field instructors enjoy working in our beautiful 1,200-acre outdoor classroom with a team of other motivated individuals passionate about the outdoors, natural science, and education. Instructors are responsible for providing a fun and educational experience for a learning group made up of 10-15 students, leading outdoor recreation and teaching environmental science lessons. We offer programs ranging from one day to 4-day, overnight trips for local students of all ages, most often 4th-6th graders. Position starts August 4, 2025 and goes through May 22, 2026, with the possibility to extend employment for additional seasons. Summer and winter responsibilities may include serving as an instructor for summer camps or family camps, facilitating outdoor recreation such as fishing, archery, snowshoeing, and hiking with diverse groups, and helping to maintain trails, facilities, educational materials and gear room. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead a learning group made up of 10-15 students during each school’s visit. Typical programs run 2-4 days with 4th – 6th graders.
• Spend 4-8 hours/day, 3-5 days/week, leading programs outside in all seasons in the mountains of Colorado. (Average 40-hr work week, may include office time.)
• Design, teach, and evaluate environmental education programs in accordance with local curriculum standards.
• Incorporate science, math, history, creative writing, art, and team building into programs as requested by school.
• Lead large group games, songs, skits, storytelling, and campfires to ensure a positive, fun atmosphere for kids.
• Facilitate 1-2 meals (breakfasts and/or dinners) and 1-2 night programs (typically a night hike or campfire) each week.
• Assist with cleaning and maintenance of program staff commons area, educational materials, gear room, and staff office/lounge.
• Help the team keep Cal-Wood safe, comfortable, and welcoming by delivering water to groups in the field, building fires in the lodge and warming huts, shoveling snow, etc.
• Occasional projects in the field to help with forest fire mitigation, forest restoration, and trails/facilities maintenance.
• Note: Instructors do not sleep in cabins with students during school programs.

Qualities and Qualifications:

• Bilingual (Spanish-English) strongly preferred.
• Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply!
• High level of personal motivation for continued learning, personal responsibility for positive attitude, and flexibility are necessary to meet the demands of a dynamic residential work schedule.
• Bachelor’s Degree in science, natural resources management, education, environmental education, or other related field.
• One or more years of teaching experience.
• Work and live with a small team of other motivated and passionate staff to support operations of a small non-profit organization. Instructional staff is about 10-15 people.
• Happy to live in a small mountain town, 20 minutes from Boulder, CO. You will thrive here if you have independent hobbies and love the outdoors. *It is not required to live on site if you already have housing.
• Ability to pass background checks.
• Ability to hike 3-6 miles daily, lift heavy objects (up to 50 lbs for short periods of time, sometimes multiples times per day), and maintain a positive attitude outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification or willingness to get certified required. Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications a plus.

Compensation: 

• $2802/monthly (paid once a month)
• $2000 hiring bonus for functional Spanish proficiency (able to speak with and write to students if necessary)
• We provide shared housing with a private room onsite or nearby in Jamestown, CO (no pets allowed). *It is not required to live on site if you already have housing.

Benefits:

• Paid federal holidays
• Paid vacation (starts accruing one month after hire and can be used after 3 months)
• Paid sick time (starts accruing immediately after hire)
• Retirement savings plan with a 3% employer match contribution

Insurance benefits (coverage begins September 1)

• 75% of employee’s health insurance premium paid by Cal-Wood (choice of 3 plans)
• 100% of dental insurance paid by Cal-Wood
• 100% of vision insurance paid by Cal-Wood
• 100% of life insurance with accidental death and dismemberment paid by Cal-Wood