Site Support

Whole Earth Nature School is seeking applicants who want to make a positive impact on youth in our area while gaining experience mentoring students outdoors. In accordance with Oregon Department of Education policy, Whole Earth requires staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to work with students, unless they have a valid medical or religious exception. 

Whole Earth is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome the unique contributions that you bring to Whole Earth including your culture, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages, veteran status, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. We value diversity and are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all students, volunteers, and employees. Our commitments include:

• normalizing pronoun use during meetings and programs
• providing needs-based scholarships to students
• offering affinity camps for girls, boys, and gender-diverse campers
• providing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion training to all staff
• paying staff to participate in a monthly justice-focused community
• decolonizing curriculum and incorporating land acknowledgments in programs 
• amplifying Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices and perspectives
• using trauma-informed, culturally responsive student support strategies
• providing accommodations for students to participate in our programs and for staff to lead programs

ABOUT COYOTE OUTDOOR SCHOOL

Coyote Outdoor School (COS) is a Whole Earth program that provides state-funded, outdoor experiences to 5th and 6th graders during a school week. Outdoor School is for everyone. We create an environment where each person can be themselves and belong. We strive for every student to develop: curiosity; inquiry and observation skills; ecological understanding; gratitude; and an enhanced connection to self, community, and nature. Learn more at coyoteoutdoorschool.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are hiring 1 full-time Site Support to work Outdoor School programs March-June 2023 with options to continue through summer. The Site Support position supports instructors and students at Coyote Outdoor School during day only programs in the 2023 season. This position will receive training and support to fulfill all of their job responsibilities related to tasks that support the flow of operations on site

SITE SUPPORT JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Help distribute and manage supply needs for 18-20 field instructors
• Set up, break down, and facilitate dining hall during lunch for 90-100 students
• Manage large groups of students and staff during critical transition periods throughout the day (arrival, mealtime, group activities, departure)
• Facilitate daily staff meetings alongside Director and Assistant Director
• Adapt to meet immediate needs including delivering curriculum and support for instructors
• Help maintain a clean and presentable site by assisting with cleaning, laundry, trash collection
• Encourage and support students to participate in discussions, activities, stories, games, and/or songs
• Use trauma-informed group management strategies to support student needs
• Ensure safety of all participants at all times and maintain participant confidentiality
• Provide support and mentorship to instructors to ensure all group needs are met
• Communicate with program leaders about challenges during programs such as hazards or conflicts

Note to potential applicants: Research shows that BIPOC folx, trans and non-binary folx, and women are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe that they meet every qualification listed in a job description. Your skills, experience, and education can come from personal interests, self-directed learning, community roles, and life experiences. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested in the position, even if you do not believe that you meet all of the qualifications.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Interest in youth development, outdoor programming, and operations
• Interest or ability to lead diverse groups of fifth- and sixth-grade students outdoors 
• Capacity to carry and lift up to 25 pounds with support of other staff members
• Adaptability to balance and prioritize multiple demands and self-directing work 
• Adaptability to meet students where they are at with sensitivity to students’ life experiences and needs
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students, especially students who have been excluded in outdoor education like students with disabilities, BIPOC students, and LGBTQ+ youth

OTHER DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS (NOT REQUIRED)

• Prior experience working with youth, particularly outdoors
• Prior experience facilitating groups and demonstrated leadership skills
• Prior experience in a camp setting, hospitality, operations, events, or similar program support role
• Skills or knowledge in ecology, culture, conservation, wilderness skills (fire, journaling, navigation, shelter, archery), music, crafting, teambuilding, or storytelling
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish, ASL, Braille, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Japanese, French and/or Arabic
• Experience or education in childhood development, particularly equity-centered and trauma-informed

POSITION DETAILS

Job Title: Site Support, Outdoor School

To apply: Complete this online form https://forms.gle/fj7zdBrcPJuGYUDY8 by February 13th. Applications are accepted after this date on a rolling basis. 

Hiring timeline & process: Whole Earth follows equitable hiring practices. We anonymize all materials to reduce bias. Most or all instructor applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and schedule requirements will be interviewed. Remote and outdoor/in-person interviews will be scheduled between February 14-16 for our priority deadline. 

Reports to: Outdoor School Director, Assistant Director

Pay: Training (80 hours) is paid at $15/hour. Programs are paid at $18/hour, depending on experience. 

Work Schedule: Site Supports may begin work as early as March 2, participating in part time training and assisting in leading approximately 80 hours of instructor training and orientation March 27 through April 7, Coyote Outdoor School all staff training March 27-April 7 with Outdoor School programs estimated to run April 10-May 31 with wrap up by June 2. You may opt-in to be considered for continued work through Whole Earth Summer Camps through August. Program schedules are subject to change.

Benefits

• Paid leave: Instructors receive paid sick leave, hazardous weather leave, and few paid holidays occurring during outdoor school season 
• Required First Aid/CPR course covered with professional development funds 
• Stipends and discounts: $150 annual continuing education stipend. Discounts for dependents on Whole Earth programs. Discounts on outdoor gear through “pro-deal” programs.
• Meal service at Camp Lutherwood Monday-Friday during training and the outdoor school season
• Ability to stay overnight at Camp Lutherwood in furnished dormitory cabins, personal tent/hammock, camper van, Monday-Thursday during Outdoor School Season (optional) 
• Other: Access to environmental education library and Whole Earth workshops 

Type of work required: Work will consist of: moving around the program site outdoors supporting site operations including materials organization and transporting items to field instructors (40%), providing support to instructors, students, and teachers during field study (20%), facilitating meetings, events, and trainings indoors, outdoors, or remotely (20%), assisting in daily cleaning of cabins, bathrooms, dining hall (10%), setting up and breaking down tables and chairs in dining area (5%), reviewing information and resources on printed materials or electronic device (3%), communicating and collaborating with other staff in person or via electronic devices (2%). We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants to perform job functions. 

Job location: Pre-season training and prep work in early March will take place at Whole Earth office in Eugene, Oregon with occasional travel (2-3 days) to our Outdoor School site: Camp Lutherwood for site setup and site support orientation. Some of this pre-season work can be completed remotely for applicants living outside of Eugene.

From approximately Mid-March to June, work is performed primarily at our Outdoor School site: Camp Lutherwood. All in-person work gatherings will meet or exceed all public health recommendations.

Other details: Finalists must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit an approved religious or medical exception. Finalists will complete a criminal history background check. Candidates with disqualifying criminal history set by ODE will not be eligible for this position. Employees must obtain or provide proof of First Aid+CPR certification for adults and children, which can be reimbursed using the continuing education stipend.

Contact the Outdoor School Director with questions about this position at [email protected].