Full job description: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wjyH-6rmAY8g2UheVPRTcjGN3MkEimsx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110109401794994059245&rtpof=true&sd=true
Vida Verde’s mission is to promote educational equity by providing FREE overnight environmental learning experiences for students who don’t otherwise get the opportunity. Since 2001, we have served thousands of youth from historically marginalized communities with our core program—a three-day, two-night camping trip, taken as a class during the school year.
Summary
The instructor position is well suited for folks with experience in outdoor education, classroom teaching and/or engaging and supporting low-income and students of color.
We are looking for someone who wants to be challenged and work hard towards educational equity and who can handle a lot of responsibility and details. The position is best suited for a driven, positive and independent worker.
Traditional Overnight Program Work
All of the below is describing our in-person, 3-day and 2-night camp program
Program Work is three consecutive & long days per week (Tues-Thurs)
- Instruction includes leading six core programs: (1) Goat Milking & Cheese Making (2) Redwood Hike (3) Tidepool, Marsh & Beach Exploration (4) Organic Farm Activities (5) Campfire (6) Night Hike
- Cook & facilitate meal prep/cooking with students (instruction provided)
- Perform first aid for students in the case of injury or illness
- Lead games, songs & stories intermittently throughout week
- Facilitate two camper’s choice activities per week (1 hour and 2 hours)
- Set up, tidily maintain, cleanup & takedown camp each week
- Work outside in varying weather conditions
- 90%+ work time on feet. Hike/walk up to 4 to 6 miles in a day.
- Lift heavy objects up to 50 lbs
- Long work days during program days (~10-12hr workdays)
Outside of Program Work
Typically Mondays and Fridays:
- Participate in weekly, half-day student management/professional development workshops
- Participate in and prepare for fundraisers, donor events, and site work days
- Teambuilding and communication: attend staff meetings, professional development, and proactively keep up with work communications (email, etc.)
- Support Vida Verde in its ongoing efforts to create and implement the org JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) plan
Camp Caretaker Work*
Instructors will be responsible for a subset of the following Farm and Facilities chores (typically completed Mondays and Fridays).
- Raking pasture for compost and feeding farm animals
- Cleaning chicken coop and maintaining chicken flock
- Hot tub maintenance
- Program and farm shopping in town
- Recycling and trash runs
- Restroom cleaning
- Possible garden/landscaping work
- Vehicle maintenance/cleaning
*Each weekend, one instructor is on animal/greenhouse duty for about three hours/weekend, on a rotating basis (approximately one weekend/month).
Compensation Information
Compensation
- 1st Year regular pay is $20/hour (plus housing) for those holding (CDL) Commercial Drivers License (38-45 hours/week, approx. $800/week).
If not holding a CDL upon hire, 1st Year pay is $15/hour (plus housing) until certification is obtained, typically within 3 months (38-45 hours/week, approx. $600/week)
- Housing provided, a large private bedroom in a three-bedroom staff house or yurt. (Closet, storage space, washer/dryer, shared living room/kitchen/bathrooms.) Access to community hot tub, trail, creek. Secluded rural setting.
- $200 monthly contribution towards group Health, Dental & Vision insurance.
- Full-time staff at Vida Verde are eligible for retirement benefits (Vida Verde matches up to 5% of your salary) after nine months of employment. Vida Verde’s contributions are applied retroactively upon completion of nine months of work, and are vested over a five-year period.
- Pro Deals (deep discounts on products from: Smartwool, Patagonia, Chaco, and others)
- Paid Instructor and Caretaker Training (6-7 days)
- Option to eat food prepared for program during the program week Tues-Thurs
To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume via email to the following three recipients:
Daniel Rodriguez (Daniel@vveducation.org), Raffelina Grano (Raffelina@vveducation.org), & Arturo Cervantes (Arturo@vveducation.org)
