Employment
Join the team!
Interested in joining our instructor team? We are always looking for motivated individuals who love going on adventures and sharing their passion for the outdoors. Contact us today!
Year-Round Employment
There are currently no year-round positions open.
Seasonal Instructors
We are currently hiring seasonal instructor staff to co-lead to programs in July, 2023: the Mountaineer Backpacking Trip for 10-13 year olds (July 6-10) and the Cheat River Watershed Expedition for 15-17 year olds (July 16-29). Contract dates: July 3-11 and July 13-30.
APEX runs two types of programs: Front country day camps for kids ages 5-8 and 9-13. And backcountry expeditions ranging from three days to two weeks. These trips may include any of the following activities: backpacking, canoeing, rafting, biking (mountain and/or gravel), and caving.
Job Description:
APEX instructors are the feet on the ground for our organization. Instructors are expected to teach our curriculum, engage our participants, and create a fun atmosphere of learning and games. Our front country programs (day camps with ages 5-13) aim to connect kids with nature and go on daily adventures. The days typically run from 8am to 3 or 5pm, depending on the program. Our backcountry programs involve multi-day trips backpacking, canoeing, and rafting. Instructors will teach participants our leadership curriculum, wilderness skills, and environmental understanding.
The training trip will run from May 8-14, 2023. New instructors will be required to attend this trip unless otherwise stated. On the training trip we will develop an understanding of APEX mission, vision, and values; practice our leadership, teaching, and decision making skills; familiarize ourselves with the program areas and co-instructors; and have a lot of fun. There is currently no cost to attend this trip, but there is an expectation to be fully present and to learn and teach the skills we will deliver in our programming.
Job Qualifications: Affinity for the outdoors. Inspiring appreciation and awareness for the natural world is key to our organizational mission.
- A desire to teach. We are looking for instructors who are excited to teach through experiential education.
- A desire to work with children of all ages. Age ranges for our programs range from 5 to 17 years old.
- Attendance of our training trip.
- Preferred applicants will have a background teaching experientially, especially in outdoor education; a wilderness medicine certification (WFA is great, WFR is better); and a background in wilderness travel.
Job Benefits:
- Day Camp staff wages begin at $85/day and field staff wages begin at $100/day based on experience.
- Develop competencies in wilderness skills, environmental understanding, and teaching skills.
- Time outdoors with amazing people, playing fun games, and engaging with nature
To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for a reference to alex@appalachianexpeds.org.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2023
DEI Apprenticeship Program
Appalachian Expeditions acknowledges that systematic oppression has made it difficult for people of color and other marginalized communities to access the outdoors. As a member of the outdoor industry, we want to create a more inclusive environment and make it easier for all people to get outside. We believe that the natural world is inherent in our identities and essential to who we are as humans, no matter where we come from or what we look like. For this reason, this apprenticeship program is open to people of color, people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and other marginalized groups.
Job Description:
The Apprenticeship begins with the Training Trip May 8-14 and is followed by field work from June 26-August 26 (with days off and breaks in between programs). Housing will be provided prior from May 7th-August 31
Throughout the course of this contract, the apprentice will serve three distinct roles, outlined below.
The apprenticeship will begin with a seven-day Training Trip. On this trip we will backpack and/or canoe through the Cheat River watershed while teaching our foundational curriculum involving leadership, wilderness, and environmental ethics. This Training Trip runs May 8-14, 2023 and sets the stage for teaching these skills to our participants. Throughout this trip, the apprentice’s role will be to learn and practice the curriculum, systems, and ideologies that are the focus of APEX.
After the Training Trip, we will begin our programming season. Here, the apprentice will work as part of an experienced instructor team. They will teach wilderness skills, leadership lessons, and other classes that they will have seen taught on the Training Trip. Additionally, they will be involved in planning logistics, making risk management decisions in the field, and participate as a member and leader of the group in games, activities, and lessons. In essence the apprentice will help to create a transformative and unforgettable experience for the participants.
Lastly, the apprentice will develop their own leadership and teaching styles through small assignments, discussions, and feedback sessions. The goal is to help the apprentice grow into a leader within the outdoor industry. The Apprentice will participate in our culture of feedback by supporting APEX’s initiatives to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment and by providing perspectives, ideas, and programmatic feedback.
Job Qualifications:
- Person of color, member of the LGBTQIA+ community, or a member of another marginalized group
- Ages 21 and up
- Affinity for the outdoors. You must enjoy being outside for extended periods. Our longest program is two weeks in length, during that time apprentices will be backpacking and/or camping on the river and will have limited access to frontcountry amenities (i.e. flushing toilets, cell service).
- A desire to teach. This is an outdoor education apprenticeship. We are looking for someone who is excited to teach through experiential education.
- A desire to work with children of all ages. Age ranges for our programs range from 5 to 17 years old. Apprentices will be placed in programs based on need and best fit.
- Wilderness First Aid Certification. This is our minimum first aid requirement. If you do not have a WFA certification we will cover the cost of your course. Please see notes below about professional development.
- Apprenticeship Dates: May 8-14 and June 26-August 26. During this time, apprentices will participate in the Training Trip, 2-3 backcountry programs, and 1-2 day camps.
Job Benefits:
- Develop competencies in wilderness skills, wilderness medicine, and teaching skills. This apprenticeship will prepare you for jobs in outdoor and experiential education, outdoor recreation, and various teaching positions. It will also prepare you to adventure in new and remote places, to become a leader in your community, and to teach others about and through the natural world.
- Professional development stipend. Appalachian Expeditions will provide up to $250 in professional development funds. These funds should be used on wilderness medicine certifications first, but if the apprentice has wilderness medicine certifications they can be used for other professional development opportunities.
- Stipend: This apprenticeship pays $4,000. In addition to the stipend, all meals will be covered while on course (we will work with you on dietary restrictions and preferences) and instructor housing will be provided between backcountry programs.
To Apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for a reference to alex@appalachianexpeds.org.
Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Non-discriminatory Statement
