Summer Staff Kidder Creek Wilderness/Adventure Trip Lead

Position Objective:

The KC Wilderness/Adventure Trip Lead is responsible for hosting and leading adventure groups and camper groups on the river, ropes courses, rock climbing and other adventure/recreation activities, as well as leading campers and staff in the Wilderness Programs to ensure that students have a fun, safe and missional adventure experience in a manner consistent with MHA’s mission, vision and values.

General Qualifications:

The Kidder Creek ("KC") Wilderness/Adventure Trip Lead is a Ministerial position. Ministerial staff render their work, stewardship, relationships and behavior as evidence of being followers of Jesus Christ while embracing and affirming Mount Hermon Association, Inc.’s (“MHA”) mission, vision and beliefs.  They are responsible for defining, cultivating and leading MHA’s Christian community, conference programs, and retreats.  

Key Job Accountabilities:

• Will lead daily meetings and communicate responsibilities and needs to staff and supervisor.
• Ensure the implementation of programs; meet goals and objectives of the program.  
• Ensure care and maintenance of all adventure equipment and areas, including daily and regular inspections and submitting timely reports of damaged or broken equipment.
• Transport campers to and from wilderness, adventure, river and camp activities as needed.
• Ensure the safety of all campers in wilderness, adventure and river activities while guiding/facilitating.  
• Host Outback adventure and River groups and assist with KC programs when adventure activities are not operating.
• Ensure the implementation of the spiritual program with campers and lead debriefs relating activities and experiences to applicable Biblical truth. 
• Actively participate in and contribute to the broader camp programs of KC, at the river and in the Wilderness to ensure smooth execution of the program specifically by being on time, prepared, and willing to assist with immediate and/or unforeseen needs.
• Actively engage and help build the summer staff community with attitude, words, and actions.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Wilderness Counselor Guides
• Adventure Guides on assigned trips
• Rotating staff serving on the river

Education/Certifications/Licenses:

• Must be at least 21 years of age or older with a clean driving license due to MH driver policy.
• At least 2 years’ college experience preferred.
• Must be CPR/WFR certified prior to arrival at camp.  WFA, WAFA or EMT certification may be acceptable. 
• Must have successfully completed KC's River Guide School and Swift Water Rescue (or equivalent course from another provider) prior to summer.
• Must take and pass ropes level 2 training during KC staff training.
• Must take and pass rocks training during KC staff training.
• Food Handler’s Card.

Work Experience:

• Prior experience working with elementary, junior high and high school students.
• 1 year of experience river guiding on Class III-IV river required.
• Previous KC experience preferred. 
• Experience with ropes courses and/or rock climbing preferred.
• Previous leadership or management experience.
• Backpacking experience required. 
• Rock climbing experience required. 
• Prior camp counseling experience or similar ministry experience required.
• River guiding or swift water experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ as communicated in Scripture.

• Ability to demonstrate a personal, committed and thought-through faith in Christ.

• Positive role model, listener, enthusiastic leader, and friend.

• Follow-through, creativity, flexibility and ability to adjust to changing job assignments and schedules with short notice as well as the challenges of the program.

• Ability to engage in a variety of outdoor activities and demonstrate sound judgement.

Physical Demands:

• The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions.
• Requires sitting, standing, squatting, stooping, twisting, hiking long distances on varied terrain, swimming, climbing, and shouting.
• Requires lifting and transporting 15-60 lbs. of gear and equipment up and down stairs or over uneven terrain.
• Requires engaging in general physical play with children.
• Requires ascending and/or descending ladders, stairs, cables and trees using hands and feet.
• Requires talking and hearing from close and long distances in adverse conditions.
• Specific vision requirements of this job include close vision, distance vision, use of both eyes ability to distinguish basic colors and shades; depth perception, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Requirements/Skills:

• Must be at least 18 years of age due to the requirement for onsite community living.
• Attend all required staff meetings and events.
• Adherence to the basic principles as expressed in MHA’s Mission, Vision, Values and Commitment statements.
• Adherence to company dress code and professional standards for personal grooming and appearance.
• Requires driving camp vehicles to various activity locations both on and off campus. Must agree to and comply with MHA’s employee driving guidelines for MHA-owned vehicles and/or use of personal vehicles for business purposes.
• Satisfactory completion of background investigation as well as ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.