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Nature Camp Counselor

Inspire Active Learning, LLC
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Nature Camp Counselor in Call of the Wild Camps: Inspire Behavioral Learning, LLC has an outdoor educator opening for day camps in Oakland, Berkeley, and Castro Valley.

Current Openings:

  • ​Day camps on the second Saturdays of the month October to May at multiple sites across the East Bay
  • Fall break camp Nov 24-26 in Oakland's redwoods

Do you love teaching children? Are you an avid hiker with a love of nature & the outdoors? Are you vegan for animals or the environment? How about combining your passions into one fun job? Join us in creating & implementing educational programs outdoors, leading the next generation of environmental stewards. Nature Camp Counselors teach & lead children in outdoor nature camps for K-5th graders to connect with nature, hike, read, write, explore, learn, & play in nature sites of the Bay Area.

You may be the ideal camp counselor for this job if:

  • You are a dependable team player, communicative, creative, fun, adaptable, friendly, playful, outgoing, energetic, & eager to inspire & engage children in learning by doing
  • You care about science, the scientific method, facts, empiricism, reason, critical thinking, & objective reality
  • You have experience in nature education, science education, early childhood education, elementary school education, outdoor education, environmental education, literacy education, outdoor recreation, & related fields
  • You are vegan: "Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals." - The Vegan Society

WHO WE ARE: Inspire Behavioral Learning, LLC believes that to inspire learning is to inspire action! We believe in experiential education and lifelong learning. Outdoor educators in Call of the Wild Camps provide a fun, safe alternative to screen addiction; inspire nature connection and curiosity; and foster healthy, positive relationships with flora and fauna in our natural environments.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE:

  • We believe in the wisdom of "be kind to every kind" & the benefits of veganism on animals & the environment.
  • We value diversity & include children with disabilities & typically developing children alike in our programs.
  • We value the integrity of the whole person & are dedicated to a well-rounded blend of head, heart, & body -- being constant learners, kind & caring, & focused on learning by doing.
  • We use emergent curriculum & principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the science of learning that focuses on observable interaction between the learner & environment.
  • We are a small company focused on quality over quantity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

  • Complete training online & outdoors onsite at Call of the Wild Camps in East Bay nature sites
  • Punctually & reliably attend scheduled work hours, rain or shine, including training, staff meetings, & camp session dates
  • Safely lead hikes in parks up to approx. 6 mi. per day for K-5th graders in small groups
  • Maintain a 4:1 or 5:1 student: staff ratio or ratio approved by the camp supervisor
  • Implement age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, K-5 level nature-themed science, outdoor education, language arts, art, & motor activities for Call of the Wild Camps
  • For Saturday camps, supervise & engage children on occasional science museum trips
  • Teach & facilitate fun & positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, & the environment
  • Teach & lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature & wilderness themes, including circle time with story time & singing, literary show-&-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, & authoring & illustrating books
  • Teach & facilitate science activities on topics in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, stewardship, conservation, preservation, etc., integrating naturalistic observation, group discussion, games, children's books, & writing activities
  • Teach & engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation & education, such as nature-themed field games, forest "I Spy" games, & scavenger hunts
  • Teach & facilitate nature-themed arts & crafts
  • Engage children with a fun teaching style & high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, & positivity
  • Supervise & facilitate children's rest breaks, snack & lunch breaks, & physical play breaks
  • Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities
  • Implement teaching & behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, & contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences & choices
  • Facilitate emergent curriculum & child-centered, student-centered, experiential, incidental, & play-based teaching & learning opportunities
  • Create both structured & incidental learning opportunities
  • Keep work materials neat, organized, & in good working condition
  • Record accurate, objective incident reports
  • Follow all health & safety requirements, & make sure campers follow them
  • Drive by personal vehicle during the work shift for emergency or safety-related situations or to access reception as needed under supervisor direction
  • Follow all seven leave no trace principles, & make sure campers follow them
  • Actively contribute & participate in staff training & meetings
  • Proactively communicate camp questions & concerns with the camp director & supervisor
  • Follow directions & implement feedback from supervisors
  • Interact with students & staff in a kind, caring, respectful, positive, & professional manner
  • Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive & professional manner with customers, staff, & park visitors
  • Mentor & support Counselors in Training (CITs)
  • Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

  • High school diploma
  • Academic transcripts (unofficial permitted) with minimum 3.5 GPA. If your school does not provide grades, you do not qualify for this position.
  • Declared major in a relevant discipline or completion of one or more relevant courses, such as biology, environmental science, or education

Certification & Safety Requirements:

  • Must already have CPR & First Aid certification unexpired through all camp dates you're applying to work. The only accepted CPR and First Aid certification involves passing a live skills assessment with an instructor. Entirely in person or hybrid in-person/online courses are the only acceptable courses. Entirely online courses are not acceptable.
  • Proof of current COVID-19 vaccination obtained within 12 months of hire before hire or obtain an exemption for medical or sincerely held religious belief reasons.
  • Pass a DOJ & FBI background check

Experience:

  • Minimum 12 months experience as a camp counselor, outdoor educator, recreation leader, teacher, or equivalent experience (babysitting or nannying are not equivalent experience)
  • Minimum 12 months experience working in person with GROUPS of children at K-5th grade level, ages 5-10
  • Frequent, regular experience hiking or running trails on varied terrain at least 6 miles in a day
  • Experience working in person with culturally, linguistically, & developmentally diverse children
  • Experience working in person with students with widely diverse abilities, such as giftedness, typically developing children, children with disabilities, & English Language Learners (ELL)
  • Experience taking initiative leading groups of children
  • Experience leading extracurricular enrichment activities in person for grades K-5, ages 5-10
  • Experience implementing effective & appropriate behavior management in person for grades K-5, ages 5-10
  • Experience implementing age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities in person for grades K-5, ages 5-10

Skills:

  • Ability to model & educate about veganism as more than a diet
  • Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly & uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a day each day
  • Ability to carry a loaded hiking backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight for the duration of each camp day
  • Fun & engaging teaching style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, & positivity
  • Kind, caring, compassionate, & patient with learners of all skill levels
  • Demonstrate care for children & a desire to help the whole child learn & grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to language arts &/or biology subject-matter competence
  • Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, & pragmatics
  • Eagerness & openness to continually learn & develop your skill set, no matter how minimal or extensive your experience
  • Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple & easy steps
  • Excellent time-management & organizational skills
  • Outstanding oral & written communication skills
  • Ability to work independently & as part of a team
  • Punctuality & reliable attendance
  • Demonstrable love of nature & the outdoors, eco-conscious, & health-conscious
  • You can articulate how veganism benefits animals, health, & the environment
  • Demonstrable love of language arts & literacy teaching
  • Enthusiastic about making education relevant to children's lives

Other Requirements:

  • You are an adult (age 18+)
  • Proof of a valid California driver's license
  • Proof of auto insurance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience hiking in the camp park sites & familiarity with their flora & fauna
  • You are vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society & on Inspire's website

PERKS & BENEFITS:

  • Have fun teaching kids in the great outdoors!
  • Paid training
  • Paid rest breaks
  • Off-duty meal breaks
  • Referral bonus
  • Retirement plan
  • Supportive & friendly environment with coaching & mentorship
  • Successful hires may be invited to return for additional seasonal camps
  • Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee’s & student’s happiness & success!

LOCATIONS:

  • Saturdays camps: East Bay parks & science museums - Lake Chabot, Shorebird Park, Roberts Regional Park, Joaquin Miller Park, Chabot Space and Science Center, The Lawrence Hall of Science, Tilden Park, Dimond Park, UC Botanical Garden, & Lake Merritt
  • Fall break camp: Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland

SCHEDULE:

  • Training: before camps start
  • Saturday camps: Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13, Jan 10, Feb 14, Mar 14, Apr 11 & May 9. 8:55 AM-5:05 PM.
  • Fall break camp: Nov 24-26. 8:25 AM-4:35 PM.

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt employee, temporary, seasonal

COMPENSATION: $20.00-$22/hr DOE

LEARN MORE: Learn more about Inspire Behavioral Learning, LLC and Call of the Wild Camps at www.inspirebehavior.com

APPLY: Have a relevant, up-to-date, accurate resume, and complete the application in the Google Form at https://forms.gle/JZetJjBJANYfecur9.

 If you do not meet the required qualifications for this employment position, consider applying for the unpaid internship to gain experience: https://www.inspirebehavior.com/nature-camp-counselor-teen-college-internships

We look forward to connecting with you!

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