Outdoor School Program Educator

JOB TITLE: Program Instructor, Outdoor School, Multnomah Education Service District (Seasonal)

REPORTS TO: Site Supervisor

SUPERVISED BY: Site Supervisor and Program Supervisor

COMPENSATION: $953.00 per Sun-Fri week/contracted 

Overnight Stipend $50/per night spent on site

Hiring timeline:  

Deadline for Applications: JULY 5th

Inital Phone/Online Interviews: July 9th and 10th 

Candidates who are selected for an initial interview will be contacted by July 8th 2024

Interviews are planned for July 23rd and 24th ongoing if necessary

Job location: Locations vary depending on the program. Job sites include the MESD office in Portland, various sites in Multnomah County and one coastal site. 

This is a seasonal exempt position.

Send questions to: ahussey@mesd.k12.or.us 

Session Dates

In-Town Training Week: Sept. 9th, 10th, and 11th

Prep Week:: Sept 16th-27th (Onsite and Portland Office, non work days Sept 12th-15th, 24th, 26th) 

Week 1 Sept. 29th-Oct. 4th

Week 2:: Oct. 6th-11th

Week 3:: Oct. 13th-18th

Week 4:: Oct. 20th-25th

Week 5:: Oct. 27th- Nov. 1st

Job location: Locations vary depending on the program. Job sites include the MESD office in Portland and various sites in Multnomah County. This is a seasonal exempt position.

Send questions to: ahussey@mesd.k12.or.us 

Benefits:

• Overnight Stipend
• Sick Pay
• Employee Assistance Program-free mental health counseling and supports
• Professional development training, professional coaching, and mentoring
• Access to EDI and environmental education library
• Regular social gatherings

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Outdoor School staff members will be a part of a collaborative educational team implementing an immersive overnight learning experience for 6th-grade students. High school students provide mentorship and community development and are empowered to become teachers themselves, teaching hands-on immersive science in the field. Outdoor School employees will work collaboratively and responsibly with their team and the Outdoor School leadership staff. Staff should be receptive to different outcomes, accept and incorporate feedback, and be positive team players through honest communication, altruism, and respectful actions. As an Outdoor School employee, you are expected to work the hours assigned, communicate and engage with your supervisor, and uphold the mission and values of the Outdoor School program.

At Outdoor School we believe that every individual is equal, valuable, and welcome. We work to acknowledge and celebrate our differences, whatever they may be. Inclusion means everyone and together we will strengthen our skills to work and live with others that are alike and different from ourselves. At Outdoor School we are building a community where everyone is honored for exactly who they are.  

We work to uphold these values by:

• Prioritizing racial equity in all aspects of the program
• Normalizing the use and sharing of pronouns
• Providing relevant and consistent equity trainings
• Commitment to a growth mindset, open to feedback, reflection, and active engagement using trauma-informed, culturally responsive student support strategies

How you will make an impact:

• You will support and lead teams of students and high school volunteers in activities and science field studies encouraging science inquiry and positive social-emotional experiences
• You will serve as a role model, mentor, and coach for high school and sixth-grade students
• You will work hard, teach, laugh, play, and live on-site with 6th graders and a staff of like individuals working toward the same goal and make amazing memories
• You will be working in a creative and inspiring environment where you will be valued and respected for who you are
• You will support and join the continued work at MESD Outdoor School as an actively Anti-Racist organization.
• You will respond to the needs of students to set them up for success.
• You will work outside every day with students in the beautiful Oregon landscape, engaging with natural phenomena and nature
• You will gain skills in teaching, leadership, and mentoring youth
• You will work collaboratively with students to ensure the emotional and physical safety of all students.
• You will live and work on-site, in an immersive “camp” environment, supporting all aspects of programming and teaching
• You will gain job knowledge and social skills like conflict resolution, and communication skills and work with people who are different from you
• You will honor and respect the Indigenous traditional lands of the Chinook and Kalapuya nations that we are located on.
• You are a positive team player through honest communication, altruism, and respectful actions.

You are someone who:

• works well with teams with diverse perspectives, values, and identities
• values diversity, equity, and inclusion and shares core values of the program–Equity, Inclusion, Authentic Outdoor experiences for youth, caregiving, education, and teaching, and work towards active and constructive change
• is creative, dedicated, and responsible
• is dedicated to learning about our curriculum, learning objectives, and student outcomes
• works to understand the myriad of relationships youth may have with the outdoors and outdoor programs based on class, race, and gender
• takes initiative to ask for help, get tasks done, and support students and the program
• understand the value of feedback and possess the ability to accept feedback and integrate it
• is dedicated to communicating inclusively and collaboratively.
• can work independently with minimal supervision in a dynamic outdoor environment
• has experience working with children, high school students, and/or adolescents
• has a High School Diploma or General Education Diploma
• is flexible and solution-oriented
• can prioritize tasks with competing timelines.

Additional Skills that are Valued*

• Bilingual- pay differential for full fluency (read, write, translate, communicate for agency as needed) Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Somali, Korean
• Experience in outdoor recreation or working with children/adolescents or experience in a related education/caregiving role.
• Science degree
• Experience with diverse communities
• Experience with students with special needs
• Diverse life experiences and knowledge
• Experience implementing trauma-informed care and/or supporting youth with mental health needs.
• Experience implementing restorative justice models in an educational setting or similar setting working with youth.

MESD and Outdoor School are committed to a policy of equality in our employment practices. All employees will be treated fairly at all times and without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran or marital status, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, or the presence of any sensory, physical, psychological or learning disability, and all other bases prohibited by local, state, or federal law. MESD and Outdoor School welcomes applications from candidates that expand the agency’s diversity. If you are unsure of how your experience correlates with our qualifications, please reach out to our HR department as we want to ensure that we are reaching as diverse an applicant pool as possible. MESD and Outdoor School programs recognize that diverse workplaces offer the richest learning opportunities, and the diversity of races, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences of the communities we serve must be represented in our leadership to welcome and represent all participants. We strongly encourage people of color as well as folks who are LGBTQA+, multilingual, first-generation, or from other traditionally marginalized communities to join us in our efforts to reclaim, build connections, and create authentic relationships with nature and science

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Implements the overnight Outdoor School schedule and program. Lives on site during the Outdoor School program season. (Sun-Fri) Participates fully in all dates and facets of the Outdoor School on-site program, including meals, meetings, and events. Typical days are 16 hours in length. Typical weeks run from Sunday to Friday. At times, Senior Staff may be asked to sleep in cabins to support the supervision of 6th-grade students. Staff can expect one night off a week, as well as additional scheduled time off during the week. 

• Fulfills job expectations safely, thoroughly, and in compliance with MESD and program policies and procedures.
• Provides back-up support to other Outdoor School staff as needed.
• Assist in site set-up, weekly cleaning, and closing each session.
• Assist in the inventory, care, and maintenance of program supplies and equipment.
• Valid First Aid/CPR* (AED) Card, Bloodborne Pathogens*, Food Handler’s Card, and MESD SafeSchools* Training by the first day of employment.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Ability to secure transportation to and from the Outdoor School site and equip self with appropriate personal gear to stay warm, safe, and prepared to work in the Outdoor School environment. Raincoats and some gear are available to borrow.

*training provided by MESD during training week upon acceptance of the position

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Employment is temporary and subject to a school participation schedule. This position works in an overnight, Outdoor School setting. This position includes being available 24 hours to the attendees and staff members. Employees will work a six-day week and are typically on duty from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. The environment is rustic with potentially uneven hilly terrain, wooded trails, variable ambient light, and weather conditions. At times, Senior Staff may be asked to sleep in cabins to support the supervision of 6th-grade students.  The employee must carry out duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include heat, rain, snow, cold, and windy conditions. 

This employee supervises groups of children in this environment, often kneeling and sitting on the ground to obtain a child-level view. This employee can be expected to carry odd objects, such as buckets of water, science equipment, saws, and teaching materials. Employees must be able to respond quickly to emergency events at any place in the Outdoor School setting and be able to maneuver outdoors, common areas, rustic buildings, and sites. 

This position is a first responder in a medical emergency. The employee must be able to administer 1st Aid/CPR, requiring the ability to get to ground level or in awkward positions to administer assistance. Outdoor School sites may have crowded walkways or common spaces. Stairs and walkways are exposed to weather and may be slippery. 

Housing and meals are provided Sunday through Friday. Housing may be shared with other employees in assigned rustic cabins or bunk rooms, all sites include showers, electricity, running water, and heat. Meals include a vegetarian option that may include eggs and/or dairy. Employees with special dietary needs should plan to bring food to supplement or replace provided meals.