Instructor Responsibilities

This is a full-time, school-year (August-early June) position

General Program Expectations

• Be committed to the Vida Verde mission and vision; embody the Vida Verde values at work (see values below)
• Manage student groups to success utilizing Vida Verde’s positive-reinforcement group management techniques. Create an awesome space and team each week with a classroom of high-potential human beings.
• Lead games and activities, practice conflict resolution, be a role model.
• Collaborate with the instructor team to develop an emotionally safe and supportive learning environment for the students
• Ensure students’ physical safety
• Respect and engender understanding for the diversity of our staff and students
• Connect with and understand students as individuals, take time to learn about them and their communities
• Facilitate safe and positive interactions between students
• Embrace a culture of feedback via peer-to-peer observations, teacher evaluations, video recordings, team debriefs, monthly meetings with your manager and quarterly goal setting
• Drive safely and learn the particulars of driving & attending to the Vida Verde vehicles
• Interact positively and professionally with donors and site visitors
• Be willing to take on responsibility for unexpected challenges and opportunities that arise
• Arrive on-time to all work engagements, including program shifts, meetings, etc
• Support and direct classroom teachers & chaperones
• JEDI work: Contribute to an inclusive culture and commit to the org's JEDI statement. Work to achieve goals outlined in the Org-wide JEDI plan which are applicable to your position
  

Traditional Overnight Program Work

All of the below is describing our in-person, 3-day and 2-night camp program

Program Work is three consecutive & long days per week (Tues-Thurs)

• Instruction includes leading six core programs: (1) Goat Milking & Cheese Making (2) Redwood Hike (3) Tidepool, Marsh & Beach Exploration (4) Organic Farm Activities (5) Campfire (6) Night Hike
• Cook & facilitate meal prep/cooking with students (instruction provided)
• Perform first aid for students in the case of injury or illness
• Lead games, songs & stories intermittently throughout week
• Facilitate two camper’s choice activities per week (1 hour and 2 hours)
• Set up, tidily maintain, cleanup & takedown camp each week
• Work outside in varying weather conditions
• 90%+ work time on feet. Hike/walk up to 4 to 6 miles in a day.
• Lift heavy objects up to 50 lbs
• Long work days during program days (~10-12hr workdays)

Outside of Program Work

Typically Mondays and Fridays:

• Participate in weekly, half-day student management/professional development workshops
• Participate in and prepare for fundraisers, donor events, and site work days
• Teambuilding and communication: attend staff meetings, professional development, and proactively keep up with work communications (email, etc.)
• Support Vida Verde in its ongoing efforts to create and implement the org JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) plan

Camp Caretaker Work*

Instructors will be responsible for a subset of the following Farm and Facilities chores (typically completed Mondays and Fridays).

• Raking pasture for compost and feeding farm animals
• Cleaning chicken coop and maintaining chicken flock
• Hot tub maintenance
• Program and farm shopping in town
• Recycling and trash runs
• Restroom cleaning
• Possible garden/landscaping work
• Vehicle maintenance/cleaning

*Each weekend, one instructor is on animal/greenhouse duty for about three hours/weekend, on a rotating basis (approximately one weekend/month).