Instructor -- Ely Wilderness Basecamp

EOE STATEMENT

Voyageur Outward Bound School is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks staff as diverse as the communities it serves. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

Outward Bound has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect. Protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority.

We know that women and people of color may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We would encourage any interested applicant to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed. 

LOCATION

Ely Base

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

We challenge you to change a life.

We challenge you to change your community.

We challenge you to change the world!

The need for leaders of character and compassion is great.

For over 60 years, Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS) has changed lives through challenge and discovery. We know that personal discovery leads to positive transformation. Our students grow character and compassion through nature-based adventure. Our vision is more resilient and compassionate people for a more resilient and compassionate world.

Voyageur Outward Bound School is a charter of Outward Bound USA, the leading provider of experiential education for youth and adults. We design and deliver intensive single-day and extended wilderness expedition experiences that build and develop character, leadership and service through shared experience.

VOBS delivers high impact programs across two sites: Twin Cities Center in St Paul, MN and our Homeplace Wilderness Basecamp in Ely, MN.

Our values are integrity, excellence, compassion, inclusion and safety. Our instructors are highly trained and experienced. We are proud to be recognized as one of the 100 Best places to work by Outside magazine for consecutive years.

Collaboration with educational and non-profit organizations is critical to our mission. We partner with schools, colleges, non-profit organizations and families to serve their youth and young adults with programs that support specific educational goals.

Why work for the Voyageur Outward Bound School Ely Base?

A summer of adventure, growth, community, and fun awaits you on the edge of the Boundary Waters,  America’s premier canoeing wilderness area and one of few places like it in the world. Our courses provide students opportunities to meet with challenge, have fun, learn to work and communicate effectively with their peers, and make lifelong connections forged through the hardships and successes of an Expedition–a group of people working toward a common goal.

During the summer, housing and food are provided and you will become part of a thriving, vibrant community that practices the same values we teach on our expeditions. In your down time, relax and swim at our dock, take some paddleboards out onto the lake, or grab a whitewater kayak and head out with friends into the rapids that run past our base. This is a place where incredible people come together–many staff develop lifelong friendships during their time here. 

This is more than a job; it’s a transformative experience for you and the students we serve. If you’re passionate about the outdoors, ready to create unforgettable moments, and eager to make a lasting impact, we want you on our team!

CATEGORY

Field Positions

DESCRIPTION

Summary

This is a seasonal position (arriving in May and continuing through August) working primarily in the field. Candidates are required to attend a pre-employment training before the season begins that includes wilderness travel training, technical skills training, OB curriculum and educational philosophy. 

On-the- job training continues when the Instructor (I) begins working in the field under the supervision of a Course Director and Lead Instructor (LI). Working as part of an instructional team, Instructors are expected to observe, learn, and practice the art of facilitating educationally effective programs and teaching students the skills necessary to thrive on a wilderness expedition. They are also expected to learn and follow VOBS safety policies and procedures meant to mitigate the risks inherent to remote travel.   

VOBS serves a wide range of student populations. The majority of our students are youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 25. Some of our programs (Intercept) specifically work with youth and young adults who are struggling to make positive decisions in one or more areas in their lives and whose needs cannot be met through participation in a standard or “Classic” expedition format. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Delivery & Implementation 

• Collaborate with VOBS staff to design and implement a nature based, experiential expedition that serves students and is in line with Outward Bound mission and educational philosophy
• Willingness to role model the values Outward Bound seeks to teach to students, including character, leadership and service
• Participate in course planning and logistics including: development of educational and technical curricula, route planning, and food and equipment planning and pack-out

Community Development 

• Committed to actively participating in building a community where all students and staff feel a sense of belonging
• Provide clear, effective and timely communication with co-instructor, Course Director and other staff
• Able to give and receive timely, effective oral and written feedback
• Assist in managing student behaviors, group dynamics, and facilitating group processes
• Work with VOBS staff to facilitate workshops and restorative conferences with parents of students participating in Intercept courses

Student Supervision & Safety

• Assist in identifying, assessing and managing environmental, physical, social and emotional risk during all course activities
• Adhere to local operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures as outlined in the field staff manual
• Assist in managing student emotional and physical safety in times of duress, such as  field emergencies
• Participate as needed to support the basecamp’s on-call field response system.  This could include paddling or hiking to evacuate an injured student from the wilderness, answering the emergency field line, and preparing food and gear for evacuation teams.

Other Duties as Assigned 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Occasionally must carry equipment weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including but not limited to backpacking, paddling, backpacking, running, carrying canoes overland, swimming, rock climbing and kayaking

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• 21 years of age as of start date of employment
• Valid Driver's License (held for 5 years) that passes Outward Bound USA screening criteria
• The following certifications (or the ability to obtain them after hiring) are required:
• Wilderness First Responder and CPR (available to staff on-site at a reduced price starting in late April)
• Wilderness Water Safety or Active Lifeguard Certification (Water Safety class provided to staff at a reduced cost during staff training cycle)
• Preference for experiential education experience (NOLS, Outward Bound or similar organization)  in a position of leadership ; some of which should be on extended overnight expeditions
• Preference for team building experience and/or top-rope rock climbing, sea kayaking, and high ropes course facilitation experience

PREFERRED QUALITIES:

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated competency in expedition skills including canoeing, portaging, backpacking, campcraft, map and compass navigation, expedition logistics and decision-making
• Demonstrated experience teaching the above skills to students
• Demonstrated experience leading others
• Demonstrated ability to assess students’ ability and backcountry hazards and use that information to mitigate the risk of participating in expedition style travel in a natural environment
• Personal initiative, motivation and resourcefulness; adaptable and positive in a dynamic, team-oriented work environment
• Critical Thinking
• Complex Problem Solving
• Judgement & Decision Making - demonstrate sound judgment in adverse situations 
• Social Perceptiveness
• Active Listening -Ability to listen to what others are saying
• Active Learning - Strong commitment to professional development and personal growth
• Instructing/Teaching -ability to communicate in a way that is easily understood by others with varied learning styles
• Service Ethic
• Time Management and Organization

WORK CONDITIONS 

• Must be able to participate in all site and course activities and maintain ample energy, strength and focus to aid students and instructors, with or without reasonable accommodations. 
• On feet most days – sometimes for up to 16+ hours a day, or possibly more in the case of an emergency 
• Constantly works in outdoor weather conditions, often during poor weather 
• Ability to lift, crawl, bend, carry and pull. Work is sometimes done in confined spaces and at height 
• Ability to work a varied and flexible schedule including weekends

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

• Per Diem pay starting at $100 for Instructing work
• You may also be asked to do Support work for the program while you are not instructing, which starts at $95/day.
• Room and board provided while on contract and/or stipend at our Wilderness Basecamp on the edge of the 1.1-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
• Pro deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates)
• Paid sick time (accrued at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked)
• Eligible for a 403b retirement plan with 2% employer match
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program

DATES AND TIMELINE

• Position start date is May 8
• Applications should be submitted online at Careers | Voyageur Outward Bound School
• Hiring happens on a rolling basis beginning in November and positions will remain open until filled
• All field staff schedules are dependent on student enrollment.  As a result, Instructors will receive their specific work assignments after training. Instructors must maintain flexibility during the peak season (May-August);  some opportunities for year-round work may be available

Contact

For questions please contact

Dan Drehmel

Staffing Director -- Homeplace

Phone | 218-491-6795

Email | dan.drehmel@vobs.org