Programs Assistant Director

All candidates MUST complete our application: https://forms.gle/Co2jhVZgDhy2EWMH8 to be considered for this position. Applications submitted through Indeed will not be considered.

Whole Earth Nature School is looking for a Programs Assistant Director who thrives in a dynamic, collaborative work environment to support our mission of youth development through mentored outdoor experiences. All staff work as valued members of our Whole Earth community in service of local youth and their families.

ABOUT WHOLE EARTH NATURE SCHOOL

We provide experiential and play-based nature summer camps, including day and overnight camps, after school programs and 9-month immersive skill building courses. Our unique nature connection programs go beyond outdoor play, transforming the way students perceive the world by offering the perfect blend of adventure play, fantasy, and outdoor skills. We hold our student programs at local natural areas and collaborate with parks to engage students inservice projects that restore, conserve, and educate about local ecosystems, climate, and conservation. At all Whole Earth programs we strive for every student to develop curiosity; inquiry and observation skills; ecological understanding; gratitude; and an enhanced connection to self, community, and nature. 

Whole Earth is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome the unique contributions that you bring to Whole Earth including your culture, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages, veteran status, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. We value diversity and are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all students, volunteers, and employees. Our commitments include:

• normalizing pronoun use during meetings and programs
• providing needs-based scholarships to students
• offering affinity camps for girls, boys, and gender-diverse campers
• providing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion training to all staff
• paying staff to participate in a monthly justice-focused community
• decolonizing curriculum and incorporating land acknowledgments in programs
• amplifying Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices and perspectives
• using trauma-informed, culturally responsive student support strategies
• providing accommodations for students to participate in our programs and for staff to lead programs

COYOTE OUTDOOR SCHOOL (February-June)

Coyote Outdoor School (COS) is a Whole Earth program that provides state-funded, outdoor experiences to 5th and 6th graders during the school week. Outdoor School is for everyone. We create an environment where each person can be themselves and belong. Our curriculum uses land-based education, BEETLES, Coyote Mentoring, and wildcrafting skills. We run overnight and day programs. Learn more at coyoteoutdoorschool.org.

WHOLE EARTH NATURE SCHOOL CAMPS (June – August)

Camps is a program of Whole Earth that provides day and overnight camps to students ages 5 through 17 during school breaks.  We currently run 10-11 weeks of day camps and 3 weeks of overnight camps during the months of June through August.  In 2025, we will be looking to expand our camps program to include winter/spring break camps and other auxiliary no-school day camps.  

COYOTE KIDS (September – January)

Coyote Kids is our school-year nature program for elementary aged students. The program runs a fall and spring term with daytime and after-school offerings.  

POSITION SUMMARY

The Programs Assistant Director works in collaboration with the Program Directors to support active season programs– Outdoor School (ODS) from January to early June, Summer Camps from June to early September, and Coyote Kids (CK) from September through January. The Programs Assistant Director will be responsible for: assisting with administrative functions in preparation for the active ODS season; managing ODS programs on-site from March – early June, including many overnight programs; managing Summer Camp day programs on-site from June – August; managing supplies and logistics; and assisting as needed with various program needs throughout the winter months including: curriculum development, program policies, partner communications, and hiring and training staff.

Contact the Operations Director with questions about this position at operations@wholeearth.org

PROGRAMS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage Coyote Outdoor School programs on-site at locations up to 1.5 hours from Eugene, including overnight programs of 1-4 nights, for the duration of the 2 month active season, apx. April-early June
• Manage Summer Day Camp programs on-site for the 3 month active season, apx June through the beginning of September
• Assist in hiring and onboarding staff, following equitable hiring practices
• Maintain collaborative relationships on-site between all staff, site representatives, teachers, chaperones and parents; Facilitate conflict resolution as needed
• Accommodate the needs of all youth, staff, and volunteers, especially those who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, English language learners, and who have disabilities and/or chronic illnesses
• Lead staff, teacher and chaperone meetings
• Oversee on-site program logistics, including: participant arrival, meals, campfire, activities, and departure
• Manage administrative tasks on-site as requested by supervisor, including: Create and print rosters and other program materials; Support communications with families, schools, and site partners; Assist in maintaining project management systems
• Support staff and students on-site as needed with first-aid, conflict resolution, homesickness, instructional methods, curriculum, and group management
• Purchase supplies and transport materials to site as needed
• Work collaboratively to create and lead staff & volunteer training; Coach staff & volunteers to engage students in activities using trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches
• Work collaboratively with other leaders to make preparations for successful program implementation, including creating program resources for staff, students, and volunteers
• Support student-centered curriculum and programming, including land-based field studies, student electives, social emotional learning activities, community building and summer camp themes
• Fill in as an instructor, leading groups of students, if scheduled staff and subs are unavailable to work
• Fill in as Site Coordinator, as needed, including working with site staff throughout the program duration
• Monitor incident reports and respond to incidents as needed
• Implement all regulatory requirements, including: site contracts, Oregon Office of Childcare regulations, Oregon Outdoor School requirements in Senate Bill 439, and science and equity standards
• Ensure program adherence to all Whole Earth Nature School policies & procedures
• Participate in regular meetings with direct supervisor
• Assist ODS Director with administrative functions and program preparations throughout winter months, including attending teacher meetings and school visits to establish relationships ahead of active season
• Assist with administrative functions and preparations throughout winter months for Coyote Kids
• Take home laundry and dishes to wash, as needed

Note to potential applicants: Research shows that BIPOC folks, trans and non-binary folks, and women are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe that they meet every qualification listed in a job description. Your skills, experience, and education can come from personal interests, self-directed learning, community roles, and life experiences. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested in the position, even if you do not believe that you meet all of the qualifications.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with youth in formal or informal learning environments
• Experience or transferable skills to lead overnight outdoor youth programs, and deliver engaging curriculum and activities
• Ability to support staff and volunteers to lead outdoor learning and community building experiences, using leadership skills like compassion, trust-building, flexibility, patience, and problem-solving
• Adaptability to meet students, teachers, chaperones, volunteers, and staff where they are at with sensitivity to life experiences and needs; Commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all
• Strong skills in self-awareness and self-motivation to achieve work goals while meeting personal needs; ability to practice active listening and critical self-reflection to make personal and program improvements
• Ability and interest to work on multiple administrative projects simultaneously to meet deadlines, including resource development; materials management; and staff hiring, training, and support
• Ability to work outdoors in all non-hazardous weather conditions
• Must have access to personal vehicle to and from the site that can be used to transport and store program supplies

OTHER DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS (NOT REQUIRED)

• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish
• Education or experience in equity work, outdoor education, human development, or educational theory
• Skills or knowledge in ecology, culture, conservation, wilderness skills (fire, journaling, navigation, shelter, archery), music, crafting, teambuilding, or storytelling
• Experience teaching or coordinating youth programs
• Data management skills using excel, surveys, rosters, etc.

POSITION DETAILS

To apply, complete this online form https://forms.gle/ijB8684fewgYqGN87 by January 5th. We rate candidates based on their resume and application responses. Provide detailed answers to the bio and skills questions.  

Hiring timeline & process: Whole Earth follows equitable hiring practices. We use a standard rubric with categories: Youth Development, Outdoor Programing, Mentorship and Leadership, Project and Administrative Skills, and Equity and Inclusion. The highest-rated candidates will have a phone, video, and/or in-person interview. The anticipated start date is January 27th, 2024.

Reports to: Program Director for active season 

Pay Range: $20/hour

Work schedule: This is a year-round, non-exempt position. The Programs Assistant Director is required to work 20 hours/week in February; 40 hours/week March 7th to September 7th; and an average of 10 hours/week September through January (hours are somewhat flexible during this season). The Programs Assistant Director will be on-site 1-4 nights a week for Outdoor School programs from mid-April through mid-June and may have limited weekend work. 

Benefits

• Paid leave: Sick Leave accrued at .033 hours for every hour worked
• Stipends and discounts: Prorated monthly stipend for mobile phone and home internet use during remote work. Funding for any required training for the season, such as first aid/CPR. Discounts on outdoor gear through “pro-deal” programs.
• Program discounts: Dependents eligible for up to $2,000 in discounted programming each year, as per our Dependents Policy
• Continuing Education: Basic First Aid/CPR/AED, Food Handlers & Wilderness First Aid trainings provided at no cost to employee
• Meals: Meal service at camps while working overnight programs during the outdoor school season
• Overnight Lodging: Ability to stay overnight at camp in furnished dormitory cabins, personal tent/hammock, camper van, 2-3 nights per week (M-F) during Outdoor School Season
• Other: Access to environmental education library and Whole Earth workshops

Job location: The Programs Assistant Director is expected to work at the Whole Earth Nature School office in Eugene, OR and on-site at various program locations up to 1.5 hours from Eugene. This year’s outdoor school site is Camp Baker, a few miles South of Florence, and Mount Pisgah. Whole Earth Nature Camps are held at Mount Pisgah and Hendrick’s Park. 

Type of work required: Work will consist of: Moving around the program site outdoors to support staff and students (35%), sitting or standing indoors at a desk while using a computer or mobile device (50%), gathering indoors, outdoors, or remotely for meetings, events, and trainings (15%). We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants to perform job functions. The Programs Assistant Director will have occasional in-state and local travel.

Other details: Finalists will complete a criminal history background check. Candidates with disqualifying criminal history set by ODE will not be eligible for this position. 

Contact the Operations Director with questions about this position at operations@wholeearth.org