Eagle Rock School

This role is a combination of in-field backpacking instruction and on-campus student development. While facilitating the 24-day wilderness student orientation program you will directly supervise 2-4 staff members and support 5-15 teenagers in the foundational outdoor living skills and seek to implement our school curriculum while in the field. Main curriculum goals include: social-emotional learning, conflict mediation skills, interpersonal communication, and fostering individual leadership within students. This role reports to the Outdoor Education Program Manager when in the field. Once the trip is complete you will transition to on-campus support and work directly with the Athletics Coordinator.

Wilderness Overview

All Eagle Rock students begin their school orientation with the transformative power of the wilderness. This backpacking experience is an essential rite of passage to becoming a veteran student and is their first introduction to our school's values. Throughout 24 days in the wilderness, our outdoor instructors will support students' journey as they:

• Build community with other new students and instructors
• Learn wilderness skills - hiking, climbing, camping, cooking, basic hygiene and nutrition 
• Expand their comfort zone, embracing healthy challenges
• Build confidence, resilience, and determination
• Practice leadership, conflict resolution, restorative practices, and effective communication skills
• Reflect and make commitments toward the future they want to create  

The Successful Candidate Will Possess the Following Attributes: 

• A deep commitment to working with high school students
• A love for supporting students in the outdoors who may have been historically excluded from outdoor spaces
• An ability to be resilient and gracefully adapt to changing circumstances
• High level of self-awareness and the ability to care for oneself while caring for others
• Strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills
• Highly competent in risk management, leadership, and coaching skills
• A commitment to being anti-racist and to promoting social justice 

Implicit in this job is a willingness to commit to both personal and professional growth, specifically aligned with our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Qualifications & Essential Job Functions  

• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in outdoor and adventure programming
• Experience as a program manager/supervisor
• Lead instructor for extended backcountry trips (18+ day courses)
• Current WFR & CPR certifications (SPI, AIRIE Avi I, Swiftwater Rescue, Lifeguard certifications preferred)
• Experience in teaching social/emotional, restorative practices, and technical outdoor skills curriculum  
• Strong logistical, organizational, supervisory, and facilitation skills
• Exceptional role model, mentor, and advisor for students  
• Ability and willingness to work long hours in difficult and stressful conditions in the backcountry. Excellent physical condition, ability to carry a 60+lb backpack
• Clean driving record and experience driving multi-passenger vehicles (15-passenger vans and/or buses)
• Experience working with diverse populations including but not limited to students from low and middle-income backgrounds; LGBTQIA+ students; students from suburban, urban, and rural settings; students from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds; young people ages 14-20; students who have not found success in traditional educational settings. 

Responsibilities

In-field Curriculum & Instruction responsibilities

• Lead instruct three 24-day backpacking courses for students per academic year;
• Aid in the planning, development, and facilitation of staff training for Outdoor Education Contract Staff 
• Assist in the development and implementation of an outdoor education curriculum that is culturally competent and relevant to our diverse student body;
• Support students in feeling comfortable in the outdoors and support programming to effectively engage historically underrepresented students in the outdoors and increase equity in the outdoor education field
• Serve as mentor and supervisor for all instructors through one-on-one coaching and delivering timely feedback while in the field
• Support Wellness Week experiences by planning and facilitating multi-day adventure activities 

On-Campus Program Support

• Create and deliver outdoor education experiences for students that integrate related content areas. 
  • Areas of instruction may include personal growth, technical wilderness skills (rock climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, telemark skiing, hiking, etc.), first aid and safety, environmental science, and others depending upon expertise
• Manage Outdoor Education resources, including equipment upkeep, repairs, coordinating inventory, and management of first aid kits and medications
• Manage & upkeep the indoor climbing wall and other HPOE spaces
• Coordinate wilderness food inventory and purchasing
• Manage department resources appropriately
• Assist with maintenance of department budget, track expenditures, and turn in receipts in a timely manner

• Prepare written evaluations of students and track new student credit
• Assisting with ongoing risk management projects and AEE accreditation

On-Campus Student Support

• Facilitate activities for students to feel seen, valued, and able to show up as their authentic selves
• Support students as they are confronted with a variety of issues related to their personal and academic growth
• Hold students accountable through conversation, relationships, and restorative processes;
• Celebrate student successes, recognized rites of passage, and cultivate joy;
• Create, support, and facilitate evening activities that excite and empower students and support their engagement in the community
• Model effective communication, conflict management, and self-care
• Meet students where they’re at and support their (and your own) ongoing learning
• Be a student advocate, mentor, and support. This can include engaging with student families, staff, and student success teams to support student wellbeing
• Help plan and facilitate Athletic Programming such as Intramurals, morning exercise, weekly chores, related clubs, groups, and holding relevant community gatherings

Schoolwide Involvement

• Assist with the development of special events and other recreational activities within the Athletics and Outdoor Education Program and across campus
• Co-create and deliver engaging student programming opportunities as part of the student service team. This includes some evening and weekend schedules
• Perform other duties related to being an active community member at ERS including advisories, intramural participation, community meetings, service projects, house team participation, driving, and other events
• Share your unique skills with the school (e.g., sports, spiritual practices, poetry, yoga, music, hiking, magic tricks, etc…)
• Engage in professional development and all staff programming
• Actively participate in school-wide and departmental diversity, equity, and inclusion work as part of our organizational commitment to an anti-racist and social justice school
• Be an active member of the ERS community beyond this job description
• Practice self-care, model having boundaries, and engage in healthy coping mechanisms to support your well-being in this immersive community and, intense role

Application Materials 

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references (phone number and email address) as ONE document submitted through https://tinyurl.com/ERSOESpecialist. Clarifying questions can be sent to mrutberg@eaglerockschool.org. 

Compensation:

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package: 

• Salary range for this position: $55,000-$70,000, based on education and experience. 

Hiring Timeline 

We are committed to finding the right person. This timeline is offered to give applicants a sense of our ideal process. We intend to do as much as we possibly can to stick to this plan. However, we do realize that there might be a circumstance with the best candidate that would require us to shift our plan. We hope the right person is not dissuaded from applying by incongruence between their commitments and our timeline. 

Application Deadline:  Open until filled (the posting will be removed if we are no longer accepting applications)

Phone Interviews:   March-April 2025

On-Site Community Interviews:   March-May 2025

Start Date:  May, 2025 

Eagle Rock is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and does not tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination. All employment decisions at Eagle Rock are based on merit and to the principle of equal employment opportunity. In keeping with both the letter and spirit of this policy, Eagle Rock will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels the most qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other protected characteristic. Therefore members of racial/ethnic minorities and other protected classes are encouraged to apply.

Contract Length: 30 days

Contract Dates: 8:00 am of 6/22/25 - EOD of 7/21/25

Course Location: Lost Creek Wilderness, Colorado

Role Overview:

An in-field backpacking instruction role working as part of a team to facilitate a 21-day backcountry experience for high school-aged youth. You will directly support 5-15 teenagers in the foundational outdoor living skills and seek to implement our school curriculum while in the field. Main curriculum goals include: social-emotional learning, conflict mediation skills, interpersonal communication, and fostering individual leadership within students. This role reports directly to the Outdoor Education Program Manager.

Wilderness Overview:

All Eagle Rock students begin their school orientation with the transformative power of the wilderness. This backpacking experience is an essential rite of passage to becoming a veteran student and is their first introduction to our school's values. Throughout 21 days in the backcountry, our outdoor instructors will support students' journey as they:

• Build community & relationships with Eagle Rock students and instructors
• Learn wilderness skills - hiking, camping, climbing, cooking, basic hygiene and nutrition 
• Expand their comfort zone, embracing healthy challenges
• Build confidence, resilience, and determination
• Practice responsible decision-making, self & social awareness, conflict resolution, restorative practices, and effective communication skills
• Reflect and make commitments toward the future they want to create

Responsibilities 

• Function as part of an instructor team for a 21-day wilderness backpacking course for 5-12 students newly enrolled at Eagle Rock School
• Participate in a 3-day staff training and 3-day pre-course orientation with students on Eagle Rock’s campus to prepare for the expedition (including food packing, day activities, student support, and other course logistics)
• Familiarize yourself with Eagle Rock School curriculum and course design
• Actively build group dynamics, generate generative conflict resolutions, and reinforce personal growth in young adults
• Aid in driving school vehicles with passengers to and from the course area
• Assess student’s performance throughout the course, providing feedback, coaching, and ongoing support
• Write a comprehensive assessment of overall performance at the end of the course for individual students

Technical Qualifications: 

• Extended trip leadership with youth (18+ day backpacking or other expeditionary courses) experience is preferred
• Applicants must have a current Driver’s License, Wilderness First Responder & CPR certification
• Highly competent in risk management, leadership, and coaching skills
• Ability to navigate group/interpersonal conflict and teach/coach conflict management skills to high school-aged students

The Successful Candidate Will Possess the Following Attributes:

• A deep commitment to working with high school-aged students
• An ability to effectively engage with individuals who may have been historically excluded from outdoor spaces
• Practice patience in tumultuous situations or adverse situations and willingness to adapt to changing course conditions
• High level of self-awareness and the ability to effectively facilitate challenging conversations
• A commitment to being anti-racist and to promoting social justice 

Implicit in this job is a willingness to commit to both personal and professional growth, specifically aligned with our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

Benefits: 

• $5,000 for the 30-day contract 
• Workers Comp insurance for the duration of the contract 
• Room and board is provided during orientation week, and course wrap-up week 
• We offer up to $300 reimbursement for round-trip travel to Estes Park, CO 

Any questions and or inquiries can be sent to the email provided below. To apply, please send a resume and three professional references (email + phone number) to Eagle Rock School’s Outdoor Education Program Manager, Jordan Cerna at jcerna@eaglerockschool.org 

Eagle Rock is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and does not tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination. All employment decisions at Eagle Rock are based on merit and to the principle of equal employment opportunity. In keeping with both the letter and spirit of this policy, Eagle Rock will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels the most qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other protected characteristic. Therefore members of racial/ethnic minorities and other protected classes are encouraged to apply.

The Eagle Rock Fellowship selects promising young educators to participate in advanced service and leadership development focused on education and youth work. Located at the nationally recognized Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Estes Park, Colorado, Eagle Rock is an opportunity for young leaders who are passionate about working with 15-21 year-old students from diverse backgrounds for whom having voice and agency in their education is the pathway to success. We also support schools nationally to implement effective and engaging practices to equitably serve all students. 

The Fellowship at Eagle Rock is a residential, community-based opportunity for aspiring teachers, social workers, and youth advocates who are passionate about alternative learning strategies, youth development and empowerment, and re-engaging high-school students in their education. Fellows work with high school students in either teaching, professional development, residential life, outdoor education, or health & wellness. All fellows engage in residential life evening and weekend programming to support students outside the classroom. As the job is residential in nature, fellows also participate in a number of activities outside their typical work day: community meetings, dinners with house teams, evening activities, affinity group meetings, intramural sports, community service, and transporting students off campus.

Fellowship Position Descriptions

Dates:

Current Program Year: Concludes June 30, 2025

Applications for 2025-2026 Program Year Open: Rolling

Priority Application deadline:  January 2025

Interviews:  February & March 2025

2025-2026 Program Year:  August, 2025 to June, 2026

Benefits:

• $20,500 - $22,640 living stipend
• Private room in a communal house 
• Meals while students are on campus
• Healthcare (fully covered) 
• On-going professional development, coaching, and mentorship
• Use of laptop for the year
• $500 professional development stipend
• $5,000 education bonus
• Teaching License: Opportunity to apply for and participate in a Colorado state alternative teacher licensure program, paid for by Eagle Rock (for Educator Fellows with a bachelor’s degree) 

For more information and how to apply visit us at the Fellowship Website.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or for more information:  fellowship@eaglerockschool.org