Job Title: Program Instructor
Reports to: School Year Programs Manager
Housing Available: Yes
Employment Dates: January 21, 2025 - approximately May 23, 2025
Compensation: $720/week, fluent in Spanish: $792/week
Apply by: December 31st, 2024
About Keystone Science School
With the outdoors as a backdrop for learning, Keystone Science School inspires curiosity and critical thinking through the lens of science to change lives and strengthen communities. KSS offers a variety of adventure and traditional camp activities within a structured environment designed to allow each camper and participant to understand their potential. In all programs, campers and participants will create lifelong friendships, explore and learn about the natural world, and gain leadership and wilderness skills. For more information go to keystonescienceschool.org
With a staff that cares deeply about social justice and racial justice, we believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds create a rich work environment and enhance our ability to pursue our mission. We are committed to building an organization with raised consciousness in order to impact how we work with clients, as well as how we work together as a team.
Position Overview
Winter Program Instructors will facilitate dorm based and camping based outdoor education field trips during the school year.
Program Instructors are responsible for teaching environmental science and leading team building activities to groups of up to 13 students accompanied by a chaperone. Program Instructors are responsible for executing a lesson plan and preparing materials for every program. They are also responsible for the facilitation of meals, evening programs, and the completion of manual labor tasks on a rotating basis. Schedule is typically 5 days per week, including a few nights per week and a few weekends throughout the season.
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.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Manage and teach a group of up to 13 K-12 students on their own
Facilitate team building, leadership, and social emotional learning activities
Implement the multi-day lesson plans posted by the lead instructors
Attend staff meetings and trainings as assigned
Program facilitation includes ‘support staff’ duties such as teaching evening programs, campus cleaning, meal set-up and clean-up, and on-call responsibilities
Possibly stay in dorms with students for one or two specific weekend programs (ex. Girls in STEM, H2O outdoors)
Instruct camping based programs at various locations around Colorado
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends
Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with students with diverse backgrounds
Ability to create an inclusive learning environment for students with a wide range of learning abilities and backgrounds
Proven ability to creatively carry out science education curricula and lesson plans
Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations
Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment
Customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box'
Facilitate and provide support for a wide variety of KSS programs and activities
Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS
Regularly drive a 15 passenger van with students in the mountain environment and in many weather conditions
Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community
Strong work ethic
Professional Performance
Adhere to all Personnel Policies and Procedures for the organization
Maintain professional standards of performance, demeanor, and appearance at all times; act as a “role model” both at and away from the organization
Maintain a creative, team-building approach to job performance and seek to bring a constructive, problem-solving orientation to all tasks
Perform all tasks and responsibilities with attention to detail and in a complete and timely manner, complying with organization policies and standards and conforming to the scheduling requirements of the job and program
Maintain an awareness of the organization’s mission and work to promote the positive individual and social change goals it embodies
Exercise discretion and professional judgment at all times keeping with the responsibilities carried personally and by the organization for the care and welfare of the clients; act with honesty and integrity in all aspects of organization business
Actively strive to upgrade professional skills through engaging in appropriate professional training and experience
Actively strive to create and maintain a culturally sensitive, justice-centered and appropriate environment through communication and interaction that demonstrates respect for diversity, socio-economic and cultural differences and that fosters a work environment where people from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued
Required Education, Experience, and Certifications
Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or 6 months of college training + 6 months of teaching experience
Minimum of 3 months of experience teaching students in an outdoor or classroom setting
Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) with CPR certifications minimum
Age 20+ with a minimum of 4 years driving experience, excellent driving record, and a valid driver's license
Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check
Preferred Skills
Ability to communicate verbally and teach science in Spanish (10% salary increase)
Experience in overnight camping trips
Proficiency with Google Suite, Slack, and able to learn new software as needed
Wilderness First Responder Certification
Bachelor’s or higher degree in a related field such recreation, education, or a subject in the human services field
Previous employment experience at Keystone Science School
Work Schedule
This is a full-time, seasonal position.
The School Year season will require a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends usually working about 40 hours a week. Typical working hours for dorm based programming will be Monday – Friday between 9:00 am – 5:30 pm, or 7:30am-11:30am and 4:30pm-8:30pm.
This position requires the employee to work in close contact with their teammates. The office space is small and the employee must have the ability to stay focused while others are working in close proximity. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job.
This position will require traveling to programming locations throughout Colorado. In most situations, KSS will provide transportation to off-site programming locations. However, staff may be asked to use personal vehicles to travel within Summit County. Any travel mileage in personal vehicles outside Summit County may be reimbursed.
The salary range for this position is $720 per week and $792 per week for fluent Spanish speakers. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to experience, education, training, and performance.
KSS provides a comprehensive benefits plan including employer sponsored medical and dental benefits, employer paid life insurance and disability benefits, paid vacation, paid sick leave, paid holidays and employees may participate in the 401k retirement plan. Benefit eligibility varies depending on your employment status and the number of hours you are regularly scheduled to work.
Able to work a majority of the time outside at high altitude in varying conditions such as uneven and slick terrain, or unpredictable weather and situations
Physically able to assist participants with recreation equipment during activities
Able to lift a minimum of 75 lbs. with assistance
Dexterity, auditory and visual acuity to operate computers and phones or mobile devices
Auditory and visual acuity to interact with guests, students, clients on a daily basis
Able to successfully manage multiple, high priority tasks in a fast-paced and oftentimes crowded and noisy environment