Olympia Summer Camp Program Instructor

Who we are:

The Mountaineers is a community of outdoor recreationists and conservationists founded in 1906 to explore the peaks and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. Today, we have 16,000 members and seven branches in Western Washington, where we deliver most of our outdoor education programming. Thanks to the work of generations of volunteers and our internationally recognized publishing division, we continue to enjoy an outstanding reputation in the fields of outdoor education, recreation, and public lands conservation and advocacy.

Our dedicated volunteers and staff get people outside to experience the power of the natural world. We advocate for access and protection of recreational lands so that future generations can enjoy these places too. Our core value of community reflects the belief that a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. Our 65 staff, divided between our program centers and our nonprofit publishing division, Mountaineers Books, and 2,500+ volunteers work together to achieve our mission to enrich lives by helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Visit www.mountaineers.org to learn more.

Position Description

Program Instructors play the most important role in supplying a positive, valuable, safe experience for Mountaineer summer campers. They are directly responsible for the daily supervision of a group of 8-10 campers ranging in age from 8-16. They teach varying outdoor curriculum, including climbing, hiking, first aid, navigation, and safe methods of recreating outdoors. They will work collaboratively with other camp staff to create an inclusive, enthusiastic, and welcoming camp environment.

About Camp

Olympia Mountaineers Summer Camp offers four weeks of day camp for kids age 8-12, two weeks of teen adventure camp for kids 13-17, and two week of overnight camp for kids 10-14. All weeks will be packed with games and fun, skill building, and outdoor adventure. Day camps consist of beach fun, first aid and navigation training, camp cooking, shelter building, wild animal safety, as well as lots of fun and games. Overnight camps consist of day hikes in Mt. Rainier NP, wading in lakes and rivers, exploring nature, group cookouts, and fun around the campfire. Teen Adventures include backpacking trips and climbing trips. Most Olympia staff will have the chance to work 2-4 weeks of overnight camp. As a camp staff, we work hard, long days to provide a meaningful experience for each week of camp…and have a lot of fun doing it!

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide a meaningful camp experience, keeping campers happy, healthy, safe, and having fun
• Foster a positive sense of community within the group and seek ways to include all campers
• Facilitate creative outdoor activities using Mountaineers curriculum
• Enthusiastically teach games and activities to group of campers
• Assist in the set up and break down of camp
• Attend weekly staff meeting
• Ensure Mountaineers Youth Policies and Procedures are followed and adhered to at all times
• Be a mentor and role model for Counselors in Training

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum age 18
• High school diploma
• Positive, enthusiastic team player
• Experience working outdoors with youth
• Ability to pass a national criminal background and sex offender check
• Must attend all of staff training on June 16th -20th
• Ability to work all summer from June 23rd- Aug 15th

Desired Qualifications

• Hiking experience
• Knowledge of quick games and time fillers to keep campers engaged during transitions
• Summer camp experience, specifically working with 8-13 year olds
• Experience teaching outdoor recreation skills
• Current CPR & First Aid Certification
• Climbing and belaying experience is a bonus!

Cultivating an inclusive staff is central to The Mountaineers focus on advancing equity. Our core values are Adventure, Advocacy, Community, Education, and Volunteerism, and we believe a diverse and inclusive environment inspires unity, respect, and passion for our work and one another. We’re interested in hearing from people who can work with colleagues of varied experience and background. The Mountaineers is an equal-opportunity employer, and candidates from all backgrounds are considered, and as an organization that values equity and inclusion, we highly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and veterans to apply.

The Mountaineers believe a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. We are committed to building a culture where all people feel emotionally and physically safe. In support of this commitment, all prospective employees must agree to abide by The Mountaineers Code of Ethics and our Child Protection Policies. We do not tolerate discrimination, sexual misconduct, harassment, micro-aggressions, retaliation, assault, or any form of child abuse.

Work Environment

This is an on-site role based in Olympia, WA at Squaxin Park/ Olympia Friends Meeting House.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift/move 20 pounds regularly, and up to 40 pounds occasionally on program days
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time while leading youth
• Ability to hike on uneven and hilly terrain continuously for up to 6 miles, while carrying a backpack up to 35 lbs
• Ability to bend, squat, run, or climb as part of duties leading youth

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.