Outdoor Education Instructor

Position Overview:

Camp Sealth is seeking individuals to be a part of our spring outdoor education team. Ideal candidates have a passion for the outdoors/nature and sharing it with others as well as living and working together on-site with a close-knit team. While this position is primarily responsible for leading outdoor education programming, instructors also assist with operational tasks on a rotating basis and/or when there are no programming needs. These tasks primarily include pre-meal preparation (excluding food preparation), cleaning dishes/kitchen facilities after meal service, preparing spaces for guests, responding to guest needs, and cleaning cabins and bathrooms after guests depart. This position also involves working a Wednesday through Sunday schedule including evenings, living on-site in communal housing with other Outdoor Education instructors in a rustic heated building with shared bathroom, kitchen, and nearby laundry facilities. Candidates should also be prepared to live on a rural island where traveling without a car can be challenging.

Site/Organization Overview:

Camp Sealth is located on the south end of Vashon Island, a rural community close to Tacoma, and is accessible only by ferry. It is easiest to travel by car as there is limited public transit service around the island. We are happy to pick you up at any nearby airport, bus, train, or ferry terminals at the beginning and end of your employment. Camp Sealth is sometimes able to provide transportation around or off Vashon Island, but is dependent on staff availability. Transportation to the main town area of Vashon with grocery stores and restaurants is provided on a weekly basis.

Camp Sealth encompasses 400 wooded acres, including a mile and a half of saltwater beach on Puget Sound. It has been owned and operated by Camp Fire Central Puget Sound since 1920 and serves public and private schools in the Puget Sound area through the Outdoor Education program as well as private rentals. Camp Fire Central Puget Sound offers a variety of enrichment opportunities that empower youth, staff, and volunteers to discover their sparks, gain confidence, build essential life skills, value the natural world, and be active contributors in their communities. Camp Fire Central Puget Sound is an organization that supports diversity and inclusion. We expect our staff and volunteers to demonstrate respectful interactions with all guests and other staff in all communications and functions as representatives of the organization. We strive to create an environment where each youth and staff member has a sense of belonging, opportunities to share their passions, and a place to thrive.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

Camp Fire stands on the lands of the Coast Salish People who came before us and, despite systemic efforts to silence their voices and erase history, are still here today. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Coast Salish peoples.

Camp Sealth is on the unceded ancestral land of the first people of Vashon Island: the Duwamish, the Suquamish, and the Puyallup tribes. Sealth is a namesake from a Duwamish and Suquamish chief, Chief Si’ahl and the Camp Fire Seattle offices are on the land of the Duwamish Tribe. We honor the legacy and the history of these tribes – past, present, and future – and invite you to learn more.

Camp Fire strives to provide diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments throughout our organizations and programs. We recognize that both access to and success in our programs requires intentional work, to cultivate respect, eliminate systemic barriers, and address injustice head-on. We affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We recognize that our efforts will be ongoing and evolving as we continue to grow, learn, collaborate, and press for an equitable future.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Camp Fire is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sec (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Camp Fire is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Lead engaging environmental education lessons for groups of up to 15 students using provided curricula.
• Facilitate student orientations, transitional times, and evening activities.
• Facilitate programming for weekend rental groups.
• Help maintain Outdoor Education program equipment, supplies, and program areas.
• Assist with preparing for meal service (excluding food preparation) and cleaning dishes/kitchen facilities after meal service on a rotating basis.
• Clean Camp Sealth facilities (moving tables/chairs, sweeping, mopping, disinfection) after guests depart.
• Assist with additional Camp Sealth operational tasks as needed such as preparing spaces for guests, responding to guest needs, basic maintenance, deep cleaning, facilities organization, etc.).

Essential Experience and Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or equivalency.
• Experience with outdoor education, environmental science, recreation, education, or related fields in a personal or professional capacity.
• Experience working with youth.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification (provided during staff training if not already certified)
• Current Washington Food Handler’s Permit (provided during staff training if not already certified).

Essential Skills:

• Proficiency in English.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Enthusiasm and cultural responsiveness in working with people of all backgrounds and abilities.
• Working independently as well as collaboratively with a team on a set of tasks to completion.
• Flexibility to changes in schedule and program plans (sometimes with limited notice).
• Ability to take accountability for one’s actions and their impact on others.
• Ability to accept/provide honest and constructive feedback.
• Ability to live and work with others in a small community.
• Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to stand and move on feet for up to 8 hours at a time with regular breaks.
  • Ability to hike over uneven/steep terrain for up to 30 minutes at a time.
  • Ability to lift and carry items weighing at least 20 pounds.
  • Visual/auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental hazards.

Desired Experience & Qualifications:

• Degree or some college education in environmental science, biology, recreation, education, or a related field.
• Experience with any of the Outdoor Education program areas (https://campfireseattle.org/outdoor-education/curricula-and-activities)
• Lifeguard certification and/or experience working as a lifeguard.
• Wilderness First Aid/Wilderness First Responder certification.

Compensation/Benefits:  

• $510.00 per week
• On-site communal housing with other Outdoor Education staff in a rustic heated building with shared bathroom, kitchen, and nearby laundry facilities.
• Staff are welcome any time meals are being served at Camp Sealth. When meals are not being served for guests, staff meals and other ready-to-eat food will be provided.
• Paid training and certifications in the facilitation of all programming areas and professional development opportunities.
• Free Tele-Health service.
• Hike, enjoy wildlife sightings, and relax on 400 acres of forested property with 1.5 miles of waterfront on Puget Sound.
• Potential for college credit toward recreation, outdoor leadership, and education internships.