The HCCF is granted  in memory of Heather Campbell Chaney, a teacher and naturalist who passed away in 2001 while working with Catamount Institute and Palmer Land Trust. For each summer since her death, Heather’s family has awarded this fellowship to a summer staff member at Catamount Institute in memory of Heather as a way of letting her passion live on, for bringing a strong environmental ethic to our region’s youth.  

The Heather Campbell Chaney Environmental Fellow works with Catamount Institute’s year-round Education Department staff to form the core teaching, leadership, and safety supervision team for all of our camps. This position demands a high level of experience as Fellows teach from existing lesson plans, write some lesson plans of their own, and are at times the lead educator in charge of camp planning, programming, or campers.

Responsibilities

• Co-lead a comprehensive, age appropriate camp experience for children between the ages of 6 -15 at week long day-camps throughout the summer
• Prepare for and teach activities and lessons as assigned, including lesson review, learning background information, and supply acquisition
• Planning and attending staff meetings, planning sessions, and trainings
• Collaberate with the other HCCEF at the Palmer Land Conservancy to offer engaging, placed based educational experiences
• Update HCCEF social media pages
• Maintain contact with the Campbell family throughout the summer
• Maintain contact with the network of former HCCF fellows
• Write a reflection letter at the end of the season for Catamount Institute and the Campbell Family

• Know, follow, and enforce all safety guidelines associated with camp and all program areas. This includes but is not limited to being responsible for campers safety and knowing their whereabouts at all times
• Identify and respond to campers behavioral issues or emotional needs. Notify camp director of concerns
• Have flexibility in response to current and emergency situations and to shifts in camp responsibilities
• Mentor Summer Interns and Volunteers
• Transport students as needed in CI supplied vehicles (15 passenger vans), must be eligible to be covered by CI driving insurance, clean driving record required.

Qualifications

• College junior, senior, or bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience working with youth in the outdoors in a volunteer, staff, or professional capacity
• Must be comfortable working in the outdoors including hiking over rugged terrain, climbing, caving, and rafting
• Preference given to applicants with advanced outdoor skills like backpacking, rock-climbing, map and compass navigation or similar abilities

• Special skills (music, singing, storytelling, group dynamics, and games) helpful
• Willing to ask questions and learn new things
• Energetic, dedicated, & able to become involved in all aspects of the program
• Science, History, or Recreation background helpful but NOT required
• Current first aid and CPR certifications are required (Catamount will reimburse for training if not already certified), preference is given to candidates with higher certifications: WFA, WFR, Wilderness EMT, etc…
• Insurable to drive our 15-passenger van, clean driving record required
• Self-starter, ability to take initiative and without direct supervision, sometimes during stressful situations

Please note:

• You must have housing in the Colorado Springs area. 
• You must be available to work Tuesday, May 27th – Tuesday, August 8th with weekends and a week off (June 30th-4th) off. 
• The Fellow agrees to employment as a salary-exempt temporary employee with an hourly rate of $16.75 for no more than 40 hours a week
• Because this is a temporary, short-term assignment it is not expected that you would miss work during this time period
• Missing more than 3 days of work may impact Catamount’s ability to provide a positive recommendation letter at the end of your tenure with us.

If you have any questions about the position please email: martins@catamountinstitute.org

What you should expect

• Settings ranging from urban park to deep wilderness
• Work, play, and learn with students ages 6-15
• Work-weeks at camp run Monday-Friday
• Camps are week long day camps: 9 am - 4 pm throughout the summer. (Not including set up and end of day tasks for staff)
• The week of June 30th - July 4th there is no camp and seasonal staff have the full week off!
• Mandatory staff training begins after Memorial Day and runs Tuesday-Friday.
• August 4th - 8th is required for all summer staff for camp wrap up week.

Benefits

• Hourly rate of $16.75 for no more than 40 hours a week
• Build your resume through leadership, teaching, and science skills.
• Catamount Institute Staff Gear
• Climbing, Rafting, and more