Job Title: Adventure Instructor

Dates of Employment: May 12, 2025 or May 19, 2025 - August 16, 2025

Reports To: Adventure Programs Manager

Housing Available: Yes

Compensation: $800 per week base rate, 10% increase for Spanish speakers, 3% increase for returning staff.  

*$30 dollars a week differential if hired as a rock climbing site manager, site manager training is attended from May 12-16th, and the rock climbing site manager check-off is successfully completed.*

Adventure Instructors are responsible for planning and facilitating curriculum and activities during field-based programs. Adventure Instructors are familiar with the daily schedule, risk management practices, emergency action plans, and the overall energy of Adventure programs. They are responsible for guiding students in their personal growth and daily living skills. Adventure Instructors also manage logistics and packing for off-site programs on a rotating basis.  

The job duties of this position are performed personally, in cooperation with your supervisor, and/or in coordination with other staff. Additional work functions and duties may be assigned.

Main Areas of Focus:

• 65% Teaching and facilitating programming/activities;  
• 10% Lesson planning and curriculum development;  
• 25% Support duties (e.g. facilitation of meals, set up/clean up, transportation, student free time). 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise up to 13 students in the front and backcountry on 6-12 day programs with other instructors;  
• You can expect to work 6-7 days per week with one to four days off in between trips. Expect regular 18-hour work days and responsibility to respond to student needs 24 hours a day while on a trip. 
• Teach students outdoor living skills such as packing, camp set-up/take-down, outdoor cooking, orienteering, and risk management;  
• Maintain organization of storage areas and upkeep, clean, repair, and inventory gear as needed.
• Teach students basic rock climbing safety and skills.
• Plan, prepare, and teach age appropriate curricula and leadership.
• Document course progression/student concerns, participate in self and peer feedback system, and engage in a post trip debrief.
• Able to carry pack weights of up to 60 pounds.
• Commitment to own professional growth as well as improving technical and interpersonal skills.
• Implement Adventure logistics including schedules, trip routes, emergency action plans, menus, etc.;  
• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies by engaging with incident prevention and response;  
• Attend and help facilitate wilderness trainings for Instructors, and attend all staff meetings and trainings as assigned;  
• Administer client medications, perform student health screens, and utilize first aid skills;  
• Gather and submit pictures and videos to reflect the experience children have during KSS programs;  
• Provide an electronics-aware experience for all children;  
• Drive a 15-passenger van with a trailer and successfully complete Van Driver and Trailer Training;  
• Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Minimum Requirements

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children in a backcountry setting;  
• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, abilities, and experience;  
• Proven ability to develop and facilitate science, diversity & inclusion, leadership, and risk management lessons;  
• Ability to adapt instruction and lessons to meet a wide variety of learners utilizing different educational philosophies;  
• Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations;  
• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete;  
• Growth oriented mindset and willingness to give and receive feedback;  
• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community;  
• Interpret a variety of instructions provided in written or verbal form;  
• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment;  
• Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box';  
• Strong command of communication, writing, and organizational skills;  
• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions;  
• Write incident reports and lesson plans with attention to detail.  

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications

• Experience leading/guiding participants in a wilderness/backcountry setting (minimum of 5 overnight trips);  
• Prior experience working with school-age children: at least three (3) months (460 hours) of full-time or equivalent part-time satisfactory and verifiable experience with school-age children;  
• Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor education industry;   
• Current Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment;  
• Age 21+ with a minimum of 5 years driving experience, excellent driving record, and a valid driver's license;  
• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check; 

Preferred Skills

• Lifeguard certification from approved vendor
• Paddleboarding certifications from approved vendors
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and hike steep terrain with climbing equipment. 
• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish; 
• Previous experience driving with a trailer; 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and Adobe;  
• Extensive experience on personal backcountry trips; 

Rock Climbing Minimum and Preferred Skills

KSS is looking for staff with a strong background in outdoor sport climbing. Our rock climbing program functions with scaffolded responsibilities based on training and demonstrated competencies. 

All adventure staff will be trained as rock climbing instructors and training will include group management, the knowledge to demonstrate, teach and supervise top rope belaying, ability to lead belay, and teach students fundamental climbing skills as well as fit, inspect, and maintain climbing gear. Applicants should have a demonstrated history of top rope climbing, and preferably sport climbing. Lack of extensive experience with rock climbing does not disqualify applicants from this position. 

Some adventure staff will be hired as rock climbing site managers. Please see the salary section of this job description. Rock climbing site managers will be required to attend the site manager training from May 12th-16th and successfully pass the KSS site manager check-off. Site managers will be the primary person responsible for sport climbing, setting up and cleaning top rope climbs, institutional rappels, managing the crag and, in collaboration with the co-instructor, holding high standards of safety and risk management. Applicants should have a demonstrated history of sport climbing and be confident and knowledgeable to guide outdoor climbing trips for participants ages 5-17. Professional experience and industry specific current certifications are a plus.