Outdoor Program Instructor

Competitive Compensation Package: $115 to $118* per day (DOE) 

  *Specific certifications can increase pay by $1/day, up to $120/day. 

Plus, off-site staff housing and workday meals are provided 

Full-Time seasonal position; February 4, 2026, to mid-November 2026; opportunity to renew your contract for the following season

Location: Sierra Nevada Journeys Outdoor Education Camp, Portola, California

JOB DESCRIPTION

Sierra Nevada Journeys is seeking Outdoor Program Instructors with experience delivering culturally relevant camp-based programs for schools and community partners, serving youth from under-resourced communities. This is a ten-month seasonal position with varying roles and responsibilities. 

During the spring and fall sessions, the primary responsibility of instructors is delivering one-to-five-day outdoor science education programs primarily serving 5th and 6th grade students from elementary and middle schools. All lessons rest upon the foundation of hands-on science and collaborative problem solving, with a focus on critical thinking, exploration, and environmental stewardship. Instructors are responsible for leading and educating a group of 12-to-15 students throughout their program, including facilitating large group activities, leading meals, and evening programs. All lessons are written according to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and we train our employees using University of California at Berkeley’s BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning & Expertise Sharing) teaching techniques and pedagogy. Sierra Nevada Journeys programs see several thousand participants each year.

During the summer session, Sierra Nevada Journeys delivers both overnight summer camp and community partner programs, including camps for people with disabilities and camps for teen leadership development. During our week-long summer camps, Instructors facilitate activities such as the challenge course, swimming, kayaking, and leadership programs. Instructors may find themselves in a summer camp leadership position such as head lifeguard, camp helper, staff mentor, or cabin leader. During community partner camps, instructors deliver programming using Sierra Nevada Journeys’ challenge course, as well as delving into social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies to facilitate leadership experiences and develop collaborative critical thinking skills. Instructors also assist organizations that serve people with disabilities by adapting traditional outdoor and camp activities to provide an enriching experience for their participants. Many of our community partners also bring participants to camp on the weekends in the spring and fall sessions. Instructors are directly responsible for ensuring that attending schools, community groups, and participants' educational outcomes are met. 

OPI’s may have the opportunity to be trained in our Ropes Lead role. The Ropes Lead will be trained to have the skills to oversee and mitigate risk on the course in tandem or in place of our Challenge Course Manager. The Ropes Lead role within the Outdoor Program Instructor role will report to the Challenge Course Manager regarding all Challenge Course SOP’s and facilitation style.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Training Attendance: Attend all staff trainings delivered by the Program Management team.
• Education Instruction: Facilitate high-quality outdoor science education and challenge course programs (day and evening) with proficiency in all Sierra Nevada Journeys outdoor school curriculum and teaching methods. Teaching principles of conservation and sustainability, fostering a respect for nature among participants.
• Camp Facilitation: Safely facilitate outdoor recreation activities, including archery and kayaking. Lead meals and engage participants before meals.
• Challenge Course Facilitation: Safely facilitate the challenge course to achieve collaborative, social, emotional, and problem-solving goals.
• Assessment and Evaluation: Deliver, organize, and grade student assessments and related paperwork. Support evaluation collection from participants at the end of program. Participate in debriefs after each program.
• Collaboration and Initiative: Effectively deliver programs while working with chaperones, teachers, community group staff members, and other instructors as needed. Identifying where other team members may need an extra hand and stepping in to support.
• Equipment Management: Clean, restock, and inventory program supplies, which could include educational materials, challenge course supplies, and camp program areas.
• Programmatic Support: Work on assigned projects, including, but not limited to, creating necessary paper materials for schools, camp improvement projects, and revamping curriculum as needed. Travel and support the facilitation of other programs within SNJ as needed.
• Professional Development: Continuing to develop personal skills and knowledge in outdoor education, leadership, and safety practices.
• Program Improvement: Observe, identify, and do what is needed to move Sierra Nevada Journeys forward in a way that best represents who we are as an organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Leadership experience or experience working with youth.
• Experience delivering culturally relevant camp-based programs for schools or community partners serving youth from under-resourced communities. 
• Enthusiasm for working with students and making a difference through education.
• Ability to work irregular hours and days, including nights and weekends.
• Ability to live and work positively in a communal shared environment with other staff members.
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and maintain a positive attitude.
• Willingness to be 30 feet off the ground on the challenge course high elements.
• Ability to lift 30 pounds and hike over varying terrain and distances up to seven miles.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification before start date (at your own expense)
• Ability to pass a background check.
• All employees are required to attest in writing that they have up-to-date immunizations against the diseases required for public school attendance in the State in which they work as a condition of employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluency in Spanish or another second language
• Experience in science instruction – either in a formal outdoor setting or in a classroom setting
• Experience working with students from communities of BIPOC.
• Wilderness First Aid/Wilderness First Responder Certification
• Current lifeguard certification or willingness to obtain certification before start date.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Competitive Compensation Package: $115 - $118* per day (DOE) plus off-site staff housing and meals while at camp (California meals stipend provided when meals are not provided on days worked)
  • *Specific certifications can increase pay by $1/day, up to $120/day. 
• Employees will earn $1 per day extra for each certification: 
  • Waterfront lifeguard/pool lifeguard
  • Wilderness First Aid/Wilderness First Responder  
• Phone use reimbursement at $5 per paycheck.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) – Six paid time off days accrued per full season
• Sick Time Off: Five sick days accrued per full season (per California State Law)
• Accrual period for PTO and Sick Time is based on start date and begins February 20, 2026, and ends October 15, 2026, and is adjusted based on start date. 
  • $850.00 total bonus available, broken out by consecutive sessions worked and paid following the successful completion* of the session, and is adjusted based on start dates
  • $100.00 available after successful completion of the first session
  • $250.00 available after successful completion of the second session
  • $500.00 available after successful completion of the third session
  • Sessions run as follows:
    • January 1 – May 28, 2026, paid June 4, 2026
      • May 29 – August 7, 2026, paid August 13, 2026
  • August 8 – November 19, 2026, paid November 20, 2026

• *Successful completion of the session is contingent upon maintaining good standing throughout employment, which includes not being subject to any active disciplinary actions or performance warnings. 

• Sierra Nevada Journeys provides 12 paid holidays each calendar year for full-time employees. In this role, you are eligible for any holidays that fall within your contracted dates (i.e., February through mid-November).
• Optional 403(b) retirement plan and up to a 4% match by Sierra Nevada Journeys
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish - differential of an additional 3% added to the hourly rate/annual salary.
• The determination of the employees designated to receive multilingual pay is at the sole discretion of Sierra Nevada Journeys. 
• 50% discount on Sierra Nevada Journeys’ youth camps for immediate family

Employment Highlights

• Home base for living, working, exploring, and recreating in the beautiful Sierra Valley
• Employment with an innovative company focused on improving outdoor education delivery.
• Professional development geared toward outdoor education leadership or classroom teaching goals.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ individuals who represent the rich diversity of cultures, language groups, and abilities of its surrounding communities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status or genetic information. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.