Outdoor School Program Leader

OVERVIEW

The Outdoor School Program Leader plays a key role in the Outdoor School Program (ODS) at Cheakamus Centre. ODS runs from October to May each school year and involves 4-day programs with grade 6 students and 3-day programs with grade 4 students. The primary duties of the ODS Program Leader are to orient students and facilitate and lead meal service; assist with field studies and recreation programs;

mentor, train and work alongside secondary school student counsellors. This is a highly dynamic role, with shifting duties throughout each program week.

• Facilitate meal service and supervise students at meals; assist with monitoring of special dietary requirements and ensuring meals are timely and organized
• Coordinate and supervise chores with secondary school counsellors and cabin groups
• Supervise recreation programs (i.e. garden games, archery, team building and more), which are facilitated by secondary school student counsellors
• Facilitate outdoor and environmental learning Field Studies (i.e. farm, salmon, birds, forest and more)
• Assist with training, mentoring and supervising secondary school counsellors
• Maintain safety and wellbeing of students as part of program staff team
• Contribute to the creation of a welcoming and inclusive culture for all
• Liaise with program staff, visiting teachers and administrators, parents, etc. on program logistics and student concerns, some of which may be confidential in nature
• Assist with providing counsellor feedback
• Other duties as assigned

• First Aid Certificate – OFA Level 2 preferred, or equivalent
• Willing to submit a current Criminal Record Check, with Vulnerable Sector Check
• Experience working with youth and children in outdoor education setting
• Experience mentoring youth in leadership development
• Strong interest in developing personal leadership skills
• Work effectively independently and in a collaborative team environment
• Work varied hours including early mornings and occasional weekends (schedule will be known well in advance)
• Friendly, positive and enthusiastic approach
• Strong time and group management to ensure meal times are smooth and on time
• Strong communication skills including ability to provide constructive feedback to youth

• Experience and/or interest in nature interpretation and outdoor and environmental education.
• Interest in mentoring secondary school students
• Experience with the Outdoor School Program, and its mission, vision, values and goals

• October 2024 – May 2025 (excluding holidays and non-programming times)

The ideal candidate would also be available as a Field School Program Leader. This role involves direct program facilitation during the Field School Season. This staff member would then transition into the ODS role in October and back to the Program Leader role in May.

• End of August – October: Field School – program facilitation (day and evening shifts available)
• October – May: Outdoor School – program support (12 hour day shifts required)
• May-June: Field School - program facilitation (day and evening shifts available)

Cheakamus Centre, Brackendale, BC (near Squamish)

• Pay starting at $21.00/hr. (35-40 hours per program week, with an averaging agreement)
• Room & Partial Board (optional) – please note: meals are only provided during programming periods
• Staff discount at Listel hotels and Listel owned restaurants

Located on 420 acres of ecological reserve lands in the Cheakamus River Valley near Squamish, BC, Cheakamus Centre is a world-class outdoor learning centre that brings together the values of environmental stewardship and sustainability through place-based learning. We would like to thank…