Instructor Job Description

The mission of Big City Mountaineers is to instill critical life skills in under-served urban youth through transformative wilderness mentoring expeditions. Big City Mountaineers does this in partnership with a vibrant network of youth agencies and adult volunteer mentors, and delivers a proven youth development curriculum that strengthens assets and skills in its young people. As a BCM Instructor, you will be responsible for leading a single gender group of 5 teens, a staff member from a partnering youth agency and 2-3 volunteers on a weeklong wilderness expedition. This is likely the first backcountry experience for the teens and youth agency leader, and while BCM volunteers often have previous backcountry and/or youth experience, it is not a requirement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Current CPR plus WFR or WEMT
Minimum of 6 weeks (42 days) of documented multi-day, wilderness-based outdoor leadership experience
Pass background and MVR check
Valid driver’s license
At least 23 years old
Priority given to Instructors willing and able to instruct two or more summer expeditions
- Two professional letters of recommendation including skills evaluation checklist
Documented experience in at least one of the following youth development areas:
- Experiential education and facilitation
- Mentoring with teen-aged youth (prefer experience with urban, at-risk adolescents)
- Teaching (prefer experience with teen-aged adolescents)
Documented experience in the following outdoor program areas:
- Backcountry travel, navigation, and camping skills and LNT
- Group management
- Risk management
- For backpacking trips—mountain hazard evaluation
- For canoeing trips—lake hazard evaluation, flat water paddling and portaging skills, T and self rescue, convoy travel

FOR BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA EXPEDITIONS:
- Prior BWCA paddling experience (prefer three or more multi-day trips)

BCM INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The BCM Instructor leads and manages the all aspects of the expedition while creating a collaborative and inclusive environment that fosters youth asset development and learning. The instructor is responsible for managing risk and safety, adherence to policy and procedures, and quality delivery of the curriculum. BCM expeditions take place in remote settings, and communication and consultation with BCM administrative and program staff is not always possible. In order to provide for the physical and emotional well-being of expedition participants, Instructors need to be prepared to make decisions affecting all aspects of their expedition including: itinerary and/or route changes, behavior management, youth development practices, etc. While BCM expressly encourages group decision making, the instructor is ultimately responsible for all field decisions.

Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Content

Ensuring that team members and youth organization participants are thoroughly prepared for their BCM expeditions through information sessions, orientations, and other pre-trip activities.
Instruction and facilitation using BCM curriculum

Logistics

Coordinating all expedition logistics, including pre and post: communications, scheduling, travel arrangements, gear issue and de-issue, and managing the expedition budget and expense report.
Completing all BCM expedition reporting and other paperwork

Quality

Participating in all pre-expedition trainings
Participating in a post-expedition debrief with BCM program staff
Ensuring expedition effectiveness by:
- Identifying and clarifying group goals
- Assigning and managing adult team member roles and responsibilities
- Establishing and managing expectations for adult team members and teen participants
Evaluating adult team member performance

Risk Management

Following BCM policies, procedures, and guidelines
Managing risk and attending to team member and teen participant health by following accepted industry standards and practice

Compensation

Commensurate with experience