Outdoor Education Specialist

About the role

Outdoor Education Counselors lead hands-on nature and wilderness skill blocks that spark curiosity and confidence outdoors. You’ll handle planning, prep, instruction, and breakdown for daily sessions, think nature walks, orienteering, shelter building, pond/forest studies, and Leave No Trace, keeping activities inclusive, engaging, and safe.

• Plan and facilitate age-appropriate outdoor education sessions aligned to camp goals.
• Prep and reset field stations; manage gear and signage.
• Teach core outdoor skills and concepts, differentiating for varied age groups.
• Enforce safety protocols and maintain constant supervision.
• Monitor environment and terrain; identify and report hazards/maintenance issues; complete incident/accident reports as directed.
• Coordinate with Counselors/Junior Counselors for roles, behavior expectations, and smooth transitions to/from outdoor sites.
• Track inventory; request supplies within budget/approval; label and organize durable field kits for rapid turnarounds.
• Meet or exceed ACA practices and Virginia child day program licensing standards.
• Communicate professionally; maintain confidentiality; be punctual, prepared, and flexible; perform other duties as assigned by the Camp Director or designee.

• Experience leading youth in outdoor/environmental education (camp, school, nature center, scouts).
• Naturalist skills (basic plant/animal I.D., watershed/ecology) and simple fieldcraft (orienteering, knots, tarp shelters).
• Strong lesson-planning and group-management skills; calm, clear communicator under pressure.
• Pediatric First Aid/CPR (or able to obtain before the season and maintain throughout employment).
• Organized and safety-minded; comfortable outdoors in varied weather and moving equipment.

Must be at least 18 years old by the first day of employment and able to pass required background checks per School and Virginia regulations.