Summer Camp Guide

Rippleffect is seeking individuals who have experience working with youth in varied outdoor education settings for our Summer Camp Guide position. Rippleffect is excited to expand our guide team to support our growing seasonal program offerings. These include:

• Sea Kayaking
• Environmental Education
• Leadership Development
• Challenge Course Elements
• Outdoor Skills
• Growth of Mind, Body & Spirit

About Us: 

Rippleffect is a non-profit youth and community development organization, serving over 4,000 youth annually. We own Cow Island, a beautiful 26-acre eco-campus in Casco Bay, Maine, where we run many of our youth and adult programs. Our mission is to promote youth development and leadership through adventure, healthy communities and living sustainably. Check out our website to read more: https://www.rippleffectmaine.org 

Rippleffect offers day and overnight camp programs, wilderness treks, and youth leadership programs. Additionally, we offer spring and fall orientation programs for school and community groups as well as adult programs and events. Applicants’ schedules will primarily be made up of our Aucocisco Day Camp programs, though they may include our Classic Cow Overnight Camps based on performance in Rippleffect training. Applicants should expect a schedule of work that will include full weekdays, and may include some overnights and the occasional weekend work.  

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage and mentor groups of 7-14 youth (ages 8-15) while facilitating a diverse curriculum, including leadership development, ropes course facilitation, sea kayak & outdoor skills training, environmental education, and more.
• Work with a co-guide and program leadership team to facilitate quality outdoor programming in compliance with Rippleffect policies.
• Manage the inherent risk of the job and maintain industry safety standards for participants in the field as outlined in Rippleffect policies.
• Complete all necessary paperwork.
• Attend and complete all required staff training. 
• Work a minimum of 8 out of 9 weeks of our summer programming (from 6/24-8/23).

Minimum Qualifications:

• We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are committed to and have a passion for working with youth. These individuals must also have a passion for living and working in the outdoors. 
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR are required upon start date.
• All applicants must be at least 17 years of age.
• Ability to constantly work in an outdoor setting, including but not limited to: rain, winds, heat, humidity, and cold temperatures. 
• Ability to carry weights up to 60 pounds and participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity, including but not limited to: camping, sea kayaking, island hikes, ropes course.
• Ability to move across varied terrain for the full duration of the work period.
• Comfort in and around a marine environment.
• Experience leading youth in a group setting. 
• Strong preference given to those with experience leading youth in an outdoor setting.
• Experience or ability to learn and lead Rippleffect specific programs and offerings.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of participants while managing group conflict resolution and behavioral management.
• Applicants must be open minded, flexible, and possess a growth-mindset. Understand that this job is as demanding as it is gratifying and may require personal lifestyle adjustments. Overnight and weekend availability may be required.
• Preference will be given to applicants who are:
• Registered Maine Sea Kayak & Recreation Guides
• ACA coastal kayak instructors or equivalent BCU

*Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions about your qualifications for this position!*

Compensation — Guide pay range is $130 to $150 per day. We also provide workers’ compensation insurance, equipment discounts and high quality staff training.

Training — Rippleffect provides a $40/day training stipend. Guides are conditionally hired until they have satisfactorily demonstrated all necessary skills during training.

Duration —Per Diem work mid-June through late August. Our 2024 summer program season will run from 6/24-8/23. Scheduled hours are directly correlated to our enrollment and community contracts.

Contact — The Rippleffect Team email:  [email protected]; phone: (207) 791-7870