Camping and Outdoor Leadership Instructor

Join our team of amazing counselors and staff in our beautiful Berkshires location!
Camp Description
YMCA Camp Hi-Rock is an overnight camp for campers ages 7-16. Nestled among 1,000 acres in the Berkshire Mountains, surrounded by conservation forest, and centered around our pristine, private, 90-acre lake, YMCA Camp Hi-Rock enjoys a truly magnificent location.
Job Description

The BOLD & GOLD Program is dedicated to inspiring courage and confidence in diverse groups of adolescents through outdoor adventures. Our goal is to increase confidence, courage, emotional intelligence, wonder, and community awareness in participants. We believe these traits are the foundations of leadership and work to inspire participants to develop their own leadership style. We prepare young people, from middle school on, to be the next generation of leaders through multicultural experiential education in the natural world. We run both gender-inclusive and single-gender expeditions. Additional work is available between courses supporting Overnight Camp. This may include facilitating classes such as High and Low Ropes, Climbing, Hiking, Lifeguarding, Outdoor Living Skills, etc. Instructors may also be asked to cover cabins during evening activities or overnight.

Qualifications

         Commitment to working with diverse groups

         Excellent judgment, decision making, and risk management skills

         Strong group facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution skills

         Experience facilitating activities addressing issues facing adolescents

         Experience making the transference of a wilderness experience relevant to the everyday lives of underserved youth

         Knowing how to have fun!

         Instructors must be available for training in the Massachusetts area June 1, 2024.

Essential Functions

         Ensure both a physically and emotionally safe environment.

         Create value-forming experiences for adolescents.

         Create an inclusive environment for youth in the outdoors.

         Facilitate the learning of leadership and outdoor skills during our 7 day wilderness-based backpacking or canoeing.

         Aid with various camp needs when not in the field *

        Understand and uphold all applicable licensing standards, grant stipulations, YMCA policies, state and local laws, and YMCA of the USA risk management recommendations.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

         Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgment.

         Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in such a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.

         Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs.

         Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.

         Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents, and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.

         Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential.

Required Certifications
  • Must complete online New Employee Orientation, Child Abuse Prevention, Mandated Reporter, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communication, and Employee Safety trainings prior to start of position.
  • Must hold and maintain CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration certifications - required for job placement.
  • WFR training will take place at Hi Rock in early June, certification costs will be covered by Hi Rock for instructors committing the full summer
  • Professional instructional experience in backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and/or mountaineering

     

     
  • Knowing how to have fun!
  • Current W-EMT, WFR, or WFA (Assistant Instructors only) and CPR (training will be available to full time instructors)