High Sierra Alpine Backpacking Instructor

Position Description 

Bring your love for community building and adventure to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As an Alpine Backpacking Instructor, you will facilitate transformative backpacking and/or rock climbing courses with students (ages 12+) both on and off trail. Instructors work on a seasonal basis under the mentorship of Lead Instructors or Course Directors. Instructors in this program deliver a variety of courses, ranging from 5-30 days. Our programs take students into new and challenging outdoor environments while focusing on leadership, community, and personal growth. 

Compensation & Schedule 

• This is a seasonal, exempt position with a starting per diem wage of $142/day. All required training is paid at our training rate ($136/day).
• Required training begins May 5th. New staff are expected to work until mid September. Most new staff can expect to work 60-80 days per season (including training).
• Interested staff may also opt into work at our Joshua Tree location (late Oct – early April).
• Our pay scale is based on skills and experience. Consideration for a higher position or attending an alternative training can be taken into account on a case by case basis depending on the criteria that you meet. We can discuss this more during the interview and hiring process.

Benefits

• Food and housing provided while on contract
• Pro deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates)
• Professional development funds
• Eligible to enroll in 401k after 1 year from your start date
• Access to our free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family/household
• 56 hours (7 days) of paid sick time upon hire or at the beginning of each calendar year

Location

This position is located at our High Sierra program base in Midpines, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills 30 miles east of Yosemite National Park. High summer temperatures are frequently 100+ degrees Fahrenheit. The basecamp has a main building with an office, program gear storage sheds, a commercial kitchen, and weatherport living quarters (durable fabric structures). Trips generally take place in off-the-beaten-path locations within Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Sierra National Forest, and Yosemite National Park.

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. Check out what our staff and students have to say about our High Sierra programs in this video.

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 exclusion and oppression 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.

An Educator 

• 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 our target audience of learners, including individuals from diverse backgrounds, including variety of ages, racial groups, ethnic groups, socioeconomic classes, and include members of the LGBTQ+ community, to name a few

A Backpacker

• Experience on extended backcountry trips, for a total of at least 50-100 nights, which can be a combination of personal and professional
• Comfortable navigating with map and compass on- and off-trail, while leading a group through a variety of alpine terrain and environmental conditions
• Familiar with basic campcraft, including tarp set-up, environmental stewardship, and backcountry cooking

A Rock Climber

• Experience with rock climbing and belaying, including instructing harness, helmets, and knot safety checks

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Able to participate in all course activities while maintaining energy, strength, and focus to aid students and co-instructors
• Able to carry pack weights of up to 60-70 pounds
• In the case of an emergency, able to move over varied terrain at a speed of 3+ miles an hour
• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress

Required Current Licenses & Certifications 

• Wilderness First Responder & CPR/AED
• CA Epinephrine Auto-Injector

Additional Requirements (by Start Date)

• 21 years of age or older
• Because we work with youth, 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 have…

• AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) and/or other single-pitch guiding experience
• Familiarity with building anchors, placing gear, and lead climbing
• Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor certification

Responsibilities

Educator Responsibilities

• Assist in course planning, including development of educational curricula, route planning, food and equipment organization and packing
• Teach and coach students with outdoors skills and social-emotional learning skills
• Participate in all required trainings

Interpersonal Responsibilities

• Role model inclusive behavior and build a positive group culture with an equity lens
• Give and receive quality feedback with co-workers and supervisor

Risk Management

• Maintain self-awareness with regards to their ability to keep themselves and students safe in technical terrain and in a variety of environmental hazards
• Manage student group in emergencies and adhere to all local operating procedures, safety policies, and emergency procedures outlined in the staff manual
• 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.