Riekes Lead Nature Instructor  

Riekes Center for Human Enhancement (www.riekes.org)  

Job Description  

The Riekes Center nature department has been bringing youth and adults outside to experience  and learn about natural history, bushcraft and survival skills, wildlife tracking, bird language,  edible and medicinal plants, awareness skills, scout games, community and stewardship,  backpacking, and knowledge of place for over two decades. We are committed to helping  students achieve their goals in nature, and to providing the highest quality of nature instruction.  

We are currently hiring for two full-time Lead Nature Instructor positions for the 2024 summer camp season, followed by the 2024-2025 homeschool and school year. The positions start June 3rd, 2024. There is no end date to the positions. 

As a Riekes Nature instructor you will work with co-instructors to safely lead activities, lessons, skills projects, on and off-trail wanders, immersive experiences (such as getting fully  camouflaged with mud, or dunking in the creek), harvesting of natural materials, the safe use of  knives and other tools, safe fire building, group songs, and group games. You will also help  facilitate two annual camp-outs. Role-modeling passion and excitement about the natural world,  and igniting engagement and curiosity in students is a large part of the job.  

Riekes Nature Instructors are expected to uphold the Riekes Center’s Core Values at all times  when teaching. The core values are Self Supervision, Honest Communication, and Sensitivity  Towards Others. We are committed to creating an atmosphere of inclusion and learning for both  students and staff.  

Additional Expectations of Riekes Nature Instructors

• All full-time instructors are expected to work between 6-7 weeks of summer camp, at least three Riekes Center Special Events per year, and to attend all Monday staff trainings and all in-person curriculum planning sessions.   

Qualifications for a Riekes Nature Instructor  

● Some knowledge of California hazards, mammals, tracking, edible/medicinal plants, navigation  with and without map/compass, natural history, field ecology, trees, bushcraft and  survival skills, birds/birdsong/bird language, backpacking skills, and rural skills.  

● Experience as a naturalist instructor working with youth ages 4-17 in the outdoors  

● Current CPR certification (or able to acquire before working)  

● Able to travel to various program locations using own vehicle  

● Minimum age of 18 

● Able to pass a background check  

● Must demonstrate good judgment and risk assessment  

● Strong ability to work as a lead member of a team  

● Willing to participate in a healthy feedback culture  

● Willing to develop/complete at least two areas of Nature Study expertise from the Riekes  Advanced Nature Study curriculum  

Preference will be given to applicants who have one or more of the following. This list  should not discourage anyone from applying. The most important qualities we are seeking  are passion, responsibility, and an earnest willingness to grow and learn:  

● Has completed a naturalist training program

● Holds a CyberTracker International wildlife tracking certificate  

● Is confident leading off-trail adventures and being hands-on with nature  ● Has experience leading overnight camping or backpacking trips  

● Has pursued developing an area of outdoor expertise or craftsmanship  

● Plays a musical instrument or sings and is confident in and willing to lead youth in song  

● Has a passion for storytelling, engaging youth in improve, and leading large group games  

● Applicants who are Wilderness First Responder certified  

Locations  

● The Riekes Center for Human Enhancement, Menlo Park, CA  

● Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA  

● Stevens Creek County Park, Cupertino, CA  

● Indian Village, Monterey, CA  

● The Nest, Felton, CA  

● Various Locations for Single Day Programs 

Work Hours  

● All program days run from 8:30am-3:30pm or from 9:00am-4:00pm

● Required Staff Training Overnight Trip (Sept. 2nd-5th, 2024)

Compensation and Benefits  

● Starting pay for lead instructors is between $25-$28 per hour, based on experience, qualifications, and commitment to the program.  

● Full benefits for full-time employees (32+ hours per week)  (healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K, PTO, holiday pay)

● Gas mileage compensation provided for full-time employees whose travel distance is  greater than 30 miles (one-way)  

● Paid training and access to many opportunities for additional development within any  Riekes Center department (Riekes Nature, Creative Arts, Athletic Fitness, and  Community Service)  

Staff Training  

As a Riekes instructor you will be immersed in an incredibly rich learning environment. You will  learn from students, fellow staff, field guides, experiences, events, and, of course, nature.  

Each month of the school year, staff are given the opportunity to attend a paid staff training day.  We believe that the quality of our programs is greatly increased when we invest in our staff. The  focus of our training days ranges from skills practice (such as the ins and outs of fire-by-friction  or advanced knife skills), knowledge development (such as learning the fundamentals of wildlife tracking or learning about the edible and medicinal plants of the area), and experiential learning  (such as participating in a blindfolded drum-stalk, or an epic off-trail wander).  

In addition to the monthly training, staff are encouraged to pursue other lines of  self-development. This includes things like attending the Bay Area Tracking Club, reading  certain books that are relevant to our programs, working through the Kamana Naturalist Training  Program, attending a CyberTracker tracker evaluation, completing areas of study from the  Riekes Advanced Nature Study Curriculum, and participating in other Riekes programs. 

About the Riekes Center  

The Riekes Center exists for the enhancement of the individual student. Our mission is to  provide each student with the best possible opportunity to define and accomplish individual  goals, build character and learn transferable life skills through Arts, Fitness and Nature, in an  environment of non judgement and mutual respect. We provide these opportunities regardless of  the student's ability to pay, or to perform. Each person's uniqueness and potential is celebrated.  The Riekes Center thrives on providing transformational outcomes for our students. At the  Riekes center, all students, all goals, and all interests are equally important. It's a place where  real world diversity thrives and empathy is encouraged. The Core Values of Self Supervision,  Honest Communication and Sensitivity to Others are the Center's operational and social  standards.  

How to Apply  

Please send your cover letter, resume, and a few paragraphs telling us about yourself to  kpeters@riekes.org and abalfany@riekes.org.

We are committed to responding to every applicant in a timely manner. We will respond within 5  business days to inform you of whether we would like to schedule an initial interview.