Location: Spruce Knob Mountain Center, Circleville, WV
Length of Employment: April 3, 2023 – October 31, 2023
Supervisor: Course Director

Overview: Experience Learning is seeking outdoor professionals to lead high-quality, adventure-based, outdoor education programs in backcountry environments throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Position Overview:

Based at the remote Spruce Knob Mountain Center in West Virginia, Field Instructors lead students on Wilderness Learning courses (both field and residential based), helping people become confident, competent individuals with a clear vision of their responsibilities and potential for improving the human condition and the natural world.

Our courses typically serve students in 5^th-12^thgrade. Courses can include 1-2 day dorm based courses, 1-2 day off-site courses in local communities (visiting WV public schools), 4-8 day field courses (Private schools from the Mid-Atlantic region) both in the nearby national forest, as well as variety of off-site courses in wild spaces throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including the Appalachian Trail.

Field Instructors help students gain confidence, experience, and appreciation for mountains through lessons and activities such as hiking, backpacking, camp craft, orienteering, caving, stream ecology, forest ecology, geology, rock climbing, canoeing, outdoor cooking, stewardship projects, and survival skills. In addition, Field Instructors tailor courses to meet the thematic goals of each school served, leading students in discussions and initiatives around leadership, communication, environmental stewardship, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.

While living and working on-site Field Instructors will also have the opportunity to cook for large groups, as well as be on-call at different points in time throughout the season.

Our ideal candidate will be able to:

• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students and guests
• Prepare and deliver hands-on, experiential, and inquiry-based lessons in a remote outdoor setting for both day and evening programs
• Lead 1-8 day residential and field-based programs in challenging settings that include hiking, backpacking, camp craft, orienteering, caving, stream ecology, forest ecology, geology, rock climbing, canoeing, stewardship projects, outdoor cooking, and survival skills
• Facilitate discussions and initiatives around leadership, communication, environmental stewardship, teamwork, creative problem-solving, and other subjects
• Implement and model excellent risk management strategies and administer first aid as needed
• Teach and lead groups in the outdoors, in varying weather conditions, and on uneven terrain
• Prepare facilities and gear before trips and clean facilities and gear at the end of trips
• Prepare and cook meals for visiting educational and rental groups with little supervision
• Maintain a professional demeanor while interacting with groups and guests
• Assist with facility upkeep as needed, including basic carpentry, repairs, vehicle maintenance, and general troubleshooting

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent life experience
• Current Wilderness First Responder Certification (Preferred)
• Minimum of Wilderness First Aid & CPR/AED certification (Required)
  • WFA class offered on-site 31 March – 2 April, 2023
• Valid driver’s license
• COVID vaccination required
• Effective communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
• Positive attitude, determination, and unassailable work ethic
• Teaching experience, either formal or informal
• Ability to confidently lead groups in a remote outdoor setting
• Desire to teach and work with young people from varying social and economic backgrounds
• Curiosity about the natural world and willingness to learn academic natural science lessons
• Experience working in the outdoors, especially in inclement weather
• Ability to live in shared space with other instructors and practice positive self-care.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and some weekends
• Desire to live in a remote place with an outstanding community of outdoor professionals and to work hard to make positive change in our world

Benefits:

• Daily compensation rate: $65.00-$105 a day based on the merit-based scale. On average our instructors begin at $75-$85/day
  • See the Merit Based Pay tab to see what pay range you might fall in
• $500 end of season bonus
• Shared housing provided
• 1 day of health leave per month worked
• Access to pro deals
• Opportunities for organizational advancement

Position: Kitchen Coordinator

Location:  Spruce Knob Mountain Center, Circleville, WV
Length of Employment:  March 15^th – October 31^st, with possibility of extension
Rate of Pay: Range $15-$20/hour, commensurate on experience

Overview:
Experience Learning, located on beautiful Spruce Knob in West Virginia, is seeking a Kitchen Coordinator to prepare menus and meals for school groups, camps, and special events at our Spruce Knob Mountain Center in Pendleton County, WV. The position will be 30 – 40 hours per week. The weekly schedule will vary with weekend availability needed.

As the Kitchen Coordinator, you are the leader responsible for ensuring the team delivers a safe, high-quality food experience for our guests. From school groups to summer camps to special events, the Kitchen Coordinator will be able to use their creative abilities to design a menu that fits each group’s specific needs. The manager must be able to work in a flexible working environment, and be able to manage dietary restrictions and any severe allergies our participants may have. The ideal candidate will be able to train staff so they are able to cook on their own for school groups and summer camps. The Kitchen Coordinator will share cooking duties some of the time, as well as the coordination of food ordering and budgeting process.

At Experience Learning we provide cooked meals for a variety of age groups from elementary and middle school students to teenagers to adults. During the school course season, we could serve up to 90 students per meal. Cooking for events can vary from 50-400 guests.

Responsibilities: 

• Direct preparation and serving of meals, snacks, and special event refreshments for up to 400 guests/participants
• Lead person for food packs for outdoor trips
• Account for any dietary restrictions and allergies
• Responsible for cleanliness of kitchen, dining room, walk-in fridge, and dry storage area
• Train staff to have the ability to cook on their own
• Assist staff by teaching and monitoring kitchen skills and safety.
• Keep track of kitchen needs, i.e. cleaning supplies, food supplies, kitchen tools, etc.
• Input Sysco food order each week
• Create a warm and welcoming environment for our guests, participants, and staff
• Budgeting – meal costs and produce budgets to grow the “business side” of the kitchen

Requirements: 

• A high school diploma or equivalent life experience
• Valid driver’s license
• WV food handler’s certificate or ability to acquire certificate within first week of work
• Ideal candidates will have experience preparing meals in a school, residential facility, hospital, nursing home, camp, or similar environment. Culinary degree is a plus.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic backgrounds
• Able to cook high quality meals for small groups as well as produce big meals for large events and manage a team of staff
• Must be excited about teaching/training Experience Learning Instructors to cook and to produce basic food for programs and events
• Able to adapt to continually working with new seasonal staff members
• Must have superior communication skills and the capacity to respond and handle multiple tasks appropriately in a dynamic work environment
• Ability to adapt to change quickly and take responsibility for the health and safety of others

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to walk, run, stand, kneel, stoop, and manual dexterity
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Ability to lift a maximum of 50 pounds
• Compliance with all COVID related PPE, cleaning, reporting and prevention expectation efforts.

Benefits:

• One day of health leave per month worked
• On-site housing could be negotiated
• Access to company pro deals
• PTO possible if offered year-round work
• Dental/Vision Insurance possible if offered year-round work

Our merit-based pay system compensates field instructors for the skills and certifications that provide the best background for teaching in our programs. Work through the table to determine how many points you qualify for. Then put those points into the matrix at the top to figure out an estimated pay range.