What are the responsibilities and job description for the Outdoor Recreation Instructor position at National Park College?
SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE:
National Park College is seeking a passionate and experienced faculty person to teach in the college’s new Outdoor Recreation program. Located in the heart of the Diamond Lakes Region, Hot Springs offers unparalleled access to municipal, state, and federal park lands and services, including Hot Springs National Park, the Ouachita National Forest, and a growing network of bike and recreational trails. This position is ideal for an educator who thrives in outdoor environments and is committed to preparing students for careers in recreation, outdoor leadership, natural resources, and tourism and hospitality. This position will teach classes, coordinate off-site instruction, and work with local industry and agency partners to provide the best educational experience possible for our students. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to establish the foundations of the program from its inaugural term in the fall of 2026. Salary is commensurate with education and experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Teach a select range of Outdoor Recreation courses, labs, or field experiences.
- Design and lead experiential learning activities in local natural areas, including hiking/camping, wilderness safety, and outdoor recreation programming.
- Align the curriculum to current industry standards and regional outdoor opportunities.
- Mentor and advise students regarding courses, career pathways, internships, and potential transfer opportunities.
- Maintain regular office hours and participate in departmental and college-wide initiatives.
- Coordinate with local agencies and organizations to enhance student learning through internships, service-learning projects, and employment placement.
- Participate in professional development, college service, professional conferences, and student recruitment activities.
- Collect and analyze data for program evaluation, assessment of student learning outcomes, and required institutional reporting.
- Will perform other duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrated experience in higher education outdoor instruction, community leadership, or professional guiding.
- Proficiency in multiple outdoor technical skills is advantageous.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
- Familiarity with teaching and working with diverse student populations.
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Education and Experience:
- Master’s degree in Outdoor Recreation, Natural Resources, Environmental Studies, or a closely related field. Some equivalent combination of education and professional experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience in higher education outdoor instruction, community leadership, or professional guiding.
- Strong understanding of risk management, emergency procedures, and industry best practices.
- Industry-standard certifications such as Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness EMT (WEMT), Leave No Trace Educator, ACA/AMGA certifications, etc.
- Experience with outdoor program coordination, experiential education, or guiding according to equitable and inclusive access standards.
Physical Requirements:
- ability to perform duties associated with outdoor instruction, including hiking, lifting, and working in varied weather conditions.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, transcripts, and three professional references.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and will be provided unless doing so would result in undue hardship to NPC.
National Park College does not discriminate in access to employment opportunities or in employment or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.
Job Description Acknowledgement
I acknowledge that I have received, read, and understood the job description for my position as the Outdoor Recreation Instructor. I understand the duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with my role, as well as the performance standards required by NPC.
I am aware that this job description is not an exhaustive list of all my duties and responsibilities, and that the nature of my job may require me to perform additional tasks as directed by my supervisor or management. I also understand that NPC reserves the right to modify, amend, or terminate job descriptions as necessary.
By signing this acknowledgment, I confirm that I can fulfill the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, as outlined in the job description.
Employee Name (Printed): ____________________________________
Employee Signature: ________________________________________
Date: ________________