Nature Camp Director for Call of the Wild Camps: Opening for Summer 2024 (June 3-August 9)! Open to applicants in the East Bay in or near Berkeley, CA and Oakland, CA.

Do you love working with children and camp counselors? Do you love the outdoors, nature, and hiking? Do you have a passion for children's books, reading, and writing? Are you enthused about leading, inspiring, training, and supervising camp counselors? Do you care about creating an inclusive and fun environment for children and staff of all abilities? How about combining your passions into one fun seasonal job? Open a door to the wonders of nature as a living classroom in outdoor nature camps, where kids in grades K-5 come to hike, read, write, explore, learn, and play!

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

• You are a communicative and collaborative team player bursting with creative ideas, fun, adaptable, friendly, outgoing, energetic, and eager to inspire and engage both children and camp counselors in learning by doing.
• You have experience supervising and managing staff in outdoor camps, nature camps, elementary school education, early childhood education, environmental education, literacy education, outdoor recreation, and 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: We believe that to inspire learning is to inspire action! We believe in experiential education and lifelong learning. Inspire Behavioral Learning's mission is to empower people to live happier, more independent and fulfilling lives by achieving their health and educational goals. 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" and the benefits of veganism on animals and the environment.
• We value the integrity of the whole person and are dedicated to a well-rounded blend of head, heart, and body -- being constant learners, kind and caring, and focused on learning by doing.
• We use emergent curriculum and principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the science of learning that focuses on observable interaction between the learner and environment.
• We are a small company focused on quality over quantity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Manage, administer, and oversee daily operations of youth programs on-site for Call of the Wild Camps, in cooperation with the camp supervisor and coordinator
• Reliably and punctually attend and actively participate in camp training online and on-site, rain or shine (training is the week before the first session of the season you are hired to work)
• Reliably and punctually attend outdoor nature camps on-site, rain or shine, M-F 8:25 AM-4:35 PM for the season you are hired to work
• Supervise and train camp counselors on-site, providing modeling, prompt fading, positive feedback, and constructive feedback
• Greet parents at drop-off and pick-up times, checking children in and out
• Communicate with parents/guardians in a friendly and professional manner
• Communicate with parents/guardians a brief summary of their child's day at pick-up time
• Safely lead hikes in parks for K-5th graders in small groups, up to approximately 6 miles per day
• Maintain a 4:1 or 5:1 student: staff ratio
• Lead theme weeks Enchanted Forest Art, Enchanted Forest Reading, Enchanted Forest Writing, and Enchanted Vegan Nature
• Create and facilitate fun and positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, and the environment
• Lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature and wilderness themes, including but not limited to circle time with story time and singing, literary show-and-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, personal journaling, and authoring and illustrating books
• Apply English Language Arts Common Core State Standards to science, such as topics in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, environmental stewardship, preservation, conservation, etc., integrating naturalistic observation, exploration, group discussion, games, and relevant children's books and writing activities
• Engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation and education, such as nature-themed hide and seek and chase games, crafting and playing forest "I Spy" games and scavenger hunts
• Facilitate nature-themed arts and crafts
• Engage children and staff with a fun teaching style and high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
• Supervise and facilitate children's rest breaks, snack and lunch breaks, and physical play breaks
• Delegate camp counselor duties
• Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities, including planning, organization, and time management
• Implement teaching and behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, and group contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences and choices
• Facilitate emergent curriculum and child-centered, student-centered, naturalistic, incidental, and play-based teaching and learning opportunities
• Create both structured and naturalistic learning opportunities
• Keep work materials neat, organized, and in good working condition
• Record accurate, objective incident reports
• Follow all health and safety requirements
• Make sure campers and staff follow safety rules and leave no trace principles
• Follow directions and implement feedback from supervisor
• Proactively communicate camp updates, questions and concerns with the camp supervisor
• Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive and professional manner with campers, parents/guardians, staff, and community partners
• Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education:

• Provide proof of a Bachelor's degree
• Provide your academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are permitted) in good standing

​Certification and Safety Requirements:

• Provide proof of unexpired CPR and First Aid certification
• Provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination
• Pass a DOJ and FBI background check

Required Experience:

• Minimum of one year experience as a director, supervisor, or manager supervising staff and children for outdoor education camps, outdoor recreational camps, nature camps, science camps, literacy camps or equivalent experience
• Minimum of one year experience working with elementary school age children in K-5th grade
• Experience hiking trails of moderate difficulty on hilly and uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a day
• Experience working with culturally, linguistically, and developmentally diverse children
• Experience working with students with widely diverse abilities, including disabilities (e.g., autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, dyslexia, speech and language delays)
• Experience taking initiative leading staff and groups of children
• Experience leading extracurricular enrichment activities for children
• Experience implementing effective and appropriate behavior management for elementary school age children
• Experience with child development and age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities

​Required Skills:

• Ability to model and educate about veganism as more than a diet
• Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly and uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a day five days a week for multiple consecutive weeks
• Ability to carry a loaded hiking backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight for the duration of each camp day
• Ability to stand, bend, squat, stoop, sit, climb, and lift (up to 50 lbs)
• Demonstrate a fun and engaging leadership style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
• Kind, caring, compassionate, and patient teaching style for learners of all skill levels
• Eagerness and openness to continually learn and develop your skill set
• Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
• Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple and easy steps
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Ability to confidently take initiative with minimal direction
• Eco-conscious skills with a demonstrable love of nature and the outdoors, life sciences, biology, environmental science, outdoor education, or environmental education
• Health-conscious skills with a demonstrable love of active and healthy living
• Enthusiasm for language arts and literacy teaching
• Enthusiasm for making education relevant to children's lives
• Must demonstrate care for children and a desire to help the whole child learn and grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to subject-matter competence in language arts and relevant life sciences

Other Requirements:​

• Provide proof of a valid California driver license
• Possess your own reliable transportation to regional and city parks in Oakland and Berkeley

​PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience hiking in Joaquin Miller Park, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, and Tilden Regional Park
• Experience working in an outdoor nature camp
• You are vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society (https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism), and you can articulate the benefits of veganism on animals and the environment.

PERKS AND BENEFITS:

• Have fun teaching, leading, and inspiring kids and camp counselors in the outdoors!
• Paid training
• Paid rest breaks
• Off-duty lunch breaks
• Retirement plan if working at least 30 days
• Supportive and friendly environment with coaching and mentorship
• Successful hires may be invited to work in future seasonal camps
• Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee’s and student’s happiness and success!

LOCATIONS: Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland (June 10-June 28). Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland (July 1-August 2, except July 4th is a day off). Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley (June 10-August 9). Only applicants residing in the East Bay are considered.

SCHEDULE: 8:25 AM-4:35 PM. Training Jun 3-7. Summer camps are M-F, Jun 10-Aug 9. Thursday, July 4th is a day off.

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt employee, temporary, seasonal.

APPLY: Submit both a resume and complete application specifying why you might be a great fit for the Nature Camp Director in Call of the Wild Camps at Inspire Behavioral Learning! You may also apply from our website www.inspirebehavior.com. We look forward to connecting with you!

Please note when applying on the Indeed website: Indeed automatically labels custom screener questions as optional; this is an error on Indeed's part. You need to complete the application in full for your application to be considered.

Keywords: Oakland Camp Director, Oakland Camp Supervisor, Berkeley Camp Director, Berkeley Camp Supervisor, Oakland Camp Manager, Berkeley Camp Manager, Oakland Camp Counselor, Berkeley Camp Counselor. This type of position may also be known as camp leader, camp teacher, camp instructor, outdoor educator, outdoor camp director, outdoor camp supervisor, naturalist, nature camp director, youth leader, youth group leader, program leader, lead camp counselor, elementary program leader, recreation leader, summer program director, and youth program director.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• In-person
• Outdoor work

Application Question(s):

• Can you meet the physical requirements to hike approx. 6 mi. per day M-F multiple consecutive weeks? (Required; Indeed erroneously indicates "optional")
• Do you have your own reliable vehicle for commuting to and from work at the camp sites in Oakland, CA and Berkeley, CA? (Required; Indeed erroneously indicates "optional")
• Why might you be a great fit as a Nature Camp Director specifically with Inspire's Call of the Wild Camps? (Required; Indeed erroneously indicates "optional")
• Are you vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society (https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism), and what are the benefits of veganism for animals and the environment? (Required; Indeed erroneously indicates "optional")
• Are you available to work during ALL dates and times from 8:25 AM-4:35 PM, Mon-Fri, Jun 3-Aug 9 (with Thursday, July 4th as a day off)? (Required; Indeed erroneously indicates "optional")

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• work with K-5th graders: 1 year (Required)
• supervising camp counselors/novice educators: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• UNEXPIRED First Aid Certification (Required)
• UNEXPIRED CPR Certification (Required)
• California driver's license (Required)

Work Location: In person