Resident Wilderness Educator Job Announcement
The Outdoor Academy
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina
The Outdoor Academy is an accredited, residential, semester school for high achieving tenth-grade and select ninth- and eleventh-grade students. Rising from a long tradition of experiential education at Eagle’s Nest Foundation, a non-profit organization chartered in 1950, The Outdoor Academy incorporates a college preparatory curriculum with environmental education, wilderness leadership, unique arts offerings, and regional studies in a small community setting. Established in 1995, The Outdoor Academy (OA) enrolls up to 28 students from across the United States each semester to attend our school located in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. The mission of the school is “Experiential education for young people, promoting the natural world and the betterment of human character.” The school is built around its four cornerstones of Intellect, Environment, Craft, and Community, and ENF and OA are currently focused on pursuing a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Resident Wilderness Educator team fosters a safe, healthy and productive living environment in the dorms, around campus and on trips. They oversee dorm life and work closely with the Dean of Students to design and implement residential life curriculum, including workshops on communication, feedback, identity, healthy relationships, leadership, etc. Their role in OA’s outdoor programming is extensive, as the team supports the Outdoor Education Manager in planning, preparing for, and leading hiking, climbing and paddling trips. Residents will also have the opportunity to identify an area of residential school life that interests them (e.g. assisting a classroom teacher or the Garden Manager) in order to hone skills that will support their career goals in academic, experiential or outdoor residential settings should they so desire. Resident Wilderness Educators are immersed in the life of the school and play a crucial role in students’ experience at The Outdoor Academy.
CONTRACT DATES
August 2022 – June 2023 with Fall and Spring Break time TBD. Residents may have the option to renew their contract for a second year. Note that there are multiple positions available.
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Live with students in a dorm or cabin for five nights a week.
- Observe and enforce all policies of The Outdoor Academy and Eagle’s Nest Foundation.
- Monitor student safety in outdoor and residential settings.
- Co-lead wilderness trips, including rock climbing, white-water canoeing and backpacking.
- Coordinate weekend activities.
- Facilitate morning and weekend meal preparation.
- Facilitate morning, evening and bedtime routines.
- Hold dorm meetings, monitor student issues and coordinate with Dean of Students to address concerns
- Work with Dean of Students to lead classes in residential life topics as part of the CIRCLE curriculum.
- Facilitate / participate in weekly work crews.
- Proctor study hours several evenings a week.
- Support Outdoor Education Manager in trip planning and preparation, cleaning and maintaining gear, and organizing pack-out and de-issue for outdoor trips.
- Distribute daily medications and support Medical Coordinator in monitoring student health and wellness.
- Accomplish other duties as assigned by the Dean of Students, Outdoor Education Manager and Director.
- As interests, schedules, and need allow, Residents will also have the opportunity to identify areas of school life in which they might like to play a greater role (e.g. assisting a classroom teacher, working with our Chef and Garden Manager to develop our garden-to-table program, etc.).
JOB SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
- A commitment to transformative educational and community experiences
- A college degree
- A willingness to be immersed in the life of the school for two semesters
- Experience with teenagers in an outdoor setting
- Significant background/skills in climbing, white-water canoeing or backpacking preferred
- Current Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT or proof of enrollment in a WFR/WEMT course that will be completed in advance of the contract dates above (note that OA cannot provide support for this certification in advance of the contract dates, though assistance for recertification during the contract year may be possible)
- Experience with teenagers in a residential setting preferred
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND SCHEDULE
The majority of work will be conducted on campus; however, off-site work in the outdoors supervising teenagers will occur several times each semester. The ability to work long days in hot and/or cold environments and lift heavy gear and boxes is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Faculty should be flexible to work evenings and weekends as needed to fulfill program demands. Residents work Thursday mornings through Tuesday mornings, with Tuesday and Wednesday nights off.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The Outdoor Academy provides salary, contributory health insurance plan, retirement plan, on-campus room and board, professional development as an outdoor instructor and classroom teacher, breaks and other vacation periods, equipment use and pro-deals on gear, outdoor leadership training and adventure days, and weekly time off. Additionally, Residents each have a private bedroom and access to a shared kitchen and lounge area in shared on-campus housing for use during their nights off.
TO APPLY: Submit your resume, cover letter, and our online application form using the link below.
Application Deadline: Open until position is filled.
Eagle’s Nest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on or tolerate harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, military status, veteran status or any other condition under applicable under federal, state or local law.