Colorado Nonprofit Association

Field Instructor

About Cottonwood Institute

Cottonwood Institute (CI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit on a mission to connect middle and high school students to nature and inspire them to protect it. CI partners with local schools and youth organizations to break down barriers to the outdoors through environmental education programs and service learning projects. We lead classes and programs in Boulder, Lafayette, and Aurora and overnight trips throughout the Colorado Front Range.

About this Position

Cottonwood Institute is looking for knowledgeable and passionate field instructors to lead inspiring outdoor programs throughout the year. Most programs operate in base camp settings throughout the Front Range. During the school year, field instructors work with our school-based instructors to take their classes on field days and overnight camping programs. Please read the CAP class section of our website to get a better sense for our flagship school based program. During the summer, field instructors lead a variety of programs for local youth organizations ranging from week long backpacking trips to urban watershed day programs. Please see more information about out-of-school programs on our website.

Time Commitment

We are looking to hire a field instructor for field days and 1-night camping trips in the spring and longer programs in the summer. Although we hire seasonally, high performing instructors will be eligible to continue employment year round and receive pay increases for every 10 field days worked. This is a variable hour, part-time position, meaning that your contract will vary depending on the program schedule and your availability; you will receive contract dates for the upcoming season upon hiring. In addition to time on programs, your contract will include paid time before and after each trip for tasks like planning, packing out gear, picking up vehicles, unpacking gear, debriefing, and filling out paperwork. We compensate for all time spent working, including training. Please see application for specific upcoming program dates.

What you will do

• Co-instruct 1-2 day outdoor experiences for middle and high school students
• Co-instruct multi-day outdoor experiences for youth
• Facilitate positive group dynamics with and among teens through community building activities
• Teach and model exemplary leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills
• Teach and support outdoor skills such as camp cooking, fire building, and campsite setup
• Teach and support environmental awareness, including leading hikes, games, and nature connection activities
• Manage the safety of all participants and respond to incidents using CI’s risk management plan
• Drive students to and from sites in company and/or rental vehicles, including 15-passenger vans
• Document program experiences with pictures, videos, blog posts, and participant quotes
• Substitute for school-based instructors in the classroom as available

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 21 years or older
• Must have a valid driver’s license by the start date of this position,
• Must pass a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check
• Must pass a background check and a registered sex offender check
• Must have current certification in Wilderness First Aid and CPR or willingness to obtain by the start of this position

Required Competencies

• Capacity to facilitate experiential education programming with groups of teens ages 12-18
• Ability to manage group camping and field logistics with youth, or significant personal outdoor experience
• Skills for managing social, emotional and environmental risks in dynamic outdoor conditions
• Ability to create inclusive and supportive spaces with students from a variety of cultural economic backgrounds
• Personal commitment to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, especially in the outdoors
• Enthusiasm for service-learning, environmental education, and outdoor education

Above-and-beyond Competencies

• Spanish proficiency (eligible for pay incentive)
• 3+ years of experience with outdoor trip leading in an overnight camping context (eligible for pay incentive)
• Extensive experience teambuilding and facilitating teen leadership development in an outdoor setting
• Wilderness First Responder or W-EMT certification (eligible for pay incentive)
• Extensive knowledge of local environmental issues such as fire ecology, water issues, plant/animal identification