Big City Mountaineers (BCM) is committed to providing transformative experiences through nature that strengthen life skills and build community for youth from disinvested communities. BCM creates opportunities for 12 to 18 year-old students to connect with nature, themselves, community, and joy by providing free, fully outfitted, and professionally-led backcountry trips. BCM programs occur on the ancestral territories of many of this nation’s first peoples. Headquartered in Denver, CO, BCM is a national organization with a dedicated team of full-time staff, seasonal trip instructors, and volunteers. Our regional hubs are on the lands of the Ute, Araphaho, and Cheyenne (Denver), the Dakota and Anishinibawaki (Minneapolis), the Ohlone, Ramaytush, Chochenyo, and Muwekma (San Francisco Bay Area), the Duwamish and Muckleshoot (Seattle), and Muscogee and Shawnee (Birmingham).

Position Overview: BCM’s instructors are responsible for providing youth with the high-quality experiences in nature that BCM is known for, which include backpacking and canoeing programs. Instructors guide with joy, compassion, empathy, and deep care in facilitating this often new experience. It’s important that Instructors have an interest and passion for understanding and addressing access barriers for communities that have been historically underrepresented in the outdoors. Furthermore, they have a commitment to personal self-reflection, accepting and giving feedback, and leading in a way that centers youth experience.

Instructors are an integral part of the BCM program model. Instructors manage the implementation of the field component of BCM’s programs, while working to create a collaborative and inclusive environment that fosters youth’s connection to nature, self, community, and joy.

Instructors are responsible for leading single-day programs, 1 to 2-night campouts, and 5 to 7-day backcountry expeditions, as well as supporting the logistical needs of each of these trips. The group size varies anywhere from 5 to 15 youth depending on the type of program as well as a team of up to 5 other adults composed of local volunteers, staff from partnering organizations, student leaders, a BCM Instructor and a BCM Lead Instructor.

Instructors are responsible for delivering outcomes-based curriculum, managing risk and safety, and overseeing direct program logistics with support from the Regional Program Manager (RPM). BCM programming takes place in city and state parks as well as remote settings on public land.

Baseline Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth from racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities, specifically those whose identities and lived experiences are underrepresented in outdoor recreation spaces.
• A minimum of 14 days of documented relevant experience leading groups in a backcountry or outdoor setting.
• Ability to attend a two-day Regional Instructor Orientation (with a $190 stipend included).

Position Competencies:

• Passion for working with youth.
• Interest in the outdoors, particularly in science, natural history, and/or recreation.
• Experience working in wilderness programs, outdoor education, summer camps, or related fields.
• Experience working with youth from diverse backgrounds in environmental education and/or adventure education.
• Experience supporting and leading a team of instructors and staff.
• Self-directed and innovative thinker.
• Passionate about building relationships in the community.
• Commitment to BCM’s mission and vision, with the ability to speak passionately about it to individuals and community partners.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and responsiveness.
• Experience working respectfully with colleagues and students from a variety of ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds.
• Understanding and application of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, with an interest in furthering this work personally and within the organization.
• Commitment to expanding access, relevance, and belonging for traditionally underrepresented groups in the outdoors.
• Positive attitude.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Spanish-speaking.
• Demonstrated fluency and/or native proficiency in other languages relevant to the youth served.
• Mental Health First Aid training.
• Trauma-Informed Care training.
• Wilderness Water Safety/Lifeguard certifications (for canoe programs only).
• Experience handling documents containing sensitive information, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with relevant data protection policies.
• Experience working with BCM partners and engaging with the communities we serve.
• Experience in partnership development.

Priority will be given to instructors who:

• Can commit to facilitating multiple programs throughout our program season (April 1 – Labor Day) including day programs, overnights, and weeklong expeditions.
• Live within 100 miles of BCM hub cities.

BCM Hub Cities:

• San Francisco Bay Area, California – backpacking
• Denver, Colorado – backpacking
• Minneapolis, Minnesota – canoeing (Boundary Waters)
• Seattle, Washington – backpacking
• Birmingham, Alabama – backpacking

Daily compensation: $110 – $200/ field day dependent on region, experience, and qualifications , $95/admin day, and $45/pre-trip meeting & meeting prep.