Outdoor Education Instructor/Camp Counselor (Edustaff Position) - Outdoor Education Center

Great things are happening at Battle Creek Public Schools!

Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) is located in Calhoun County, Michigan (between Chicago and Detroit), serving the City of Battle Creek as well as parts of Emmett, Pennfield and Bedford townships, and the City of Springfield. With a bold goal of achieving 100% success for every Bearcat, we offer a broad range of educational experiences to meet the individual needs of students at all levels, including experiential learning, individualized instruction, advanced and accelerated curricula, and outdoor education. In 2017, BCPS received an historic investment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and we are continuing our transformation plan, advancing bold, top-to-bottom changes to provide a world-class career, college, and community-ready education for every student, in every grade, at every school. Apply now and join the Bearcat family!

Please note: This position is employed by Edustaff, the district's staffing partner.


OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER
The Outdoor Education Center (OEC), commonly called 'Clear Lake Camp', is a division of the Battle Creek Public School System (BCPS). We are located on Clear Lake in Dowling, Michigan. We offer a serene rural environment less than an hour's drive from Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo.

As the oldest school camp in the nation, we have been offering programs to supplement school curriculum for over 60 years. We currently offer overnight and day programs to schools located across southern Michigan. In addition, we host weddings, family retreats, and workshops.


Position Summary:
Instructors at the OEC serve an essential role in the camp experience for visiting students. Instructors are responsible for providing an engaging, positive experience in the environmental-based learning of students. Instructors oversee groups of students during the day by leading activities, overnight while supervising groups in the dorms, and are involved with the day to day care of OEC resources, such as animal ambassadors, adventure courses, land, and trails.


Position Responsibilities:

• Lead student groups in experiential learning activities in an outdoor setting.
• Teach classes with a science, adventure, and outdoor pursuits focus, includes programs such as Pond Exploration, Canoeing, and Survival. Be able to teach programs independently as well as teach with co-instructors.
• Participate in daily meals with students depending on which shift you are working.
• Work with classroom teachers to meet class goals within program framework.
• Provide responsible leadership for student campers.
• Handle and help care for the OEC animals; snakes, frogs, fish, and raptors.
• Upkeep classrooms, equipment, and program areas.
• Attend all staff meetings and training sessions.
• Adhere to all camp policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old. At least 21 years of age preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Natural Science, or related degree preferred.
• Current certifications in CPR and First Aid
• Certifications in Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder preferred.
• Prior experience instructing
• Pass background check, drug screen, and central registry clearance (at own expense).

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work with co-workers in a team setting.
• Provide overnight supervision of students on a rotating basis.
• Required to work up to 10 hours a day.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including split shift.
• A willingness to be coached and open to performance feedback.
• Ability to work outside in all weather conditions; rain, snow, cold, heat, etc.
• Experience with urban students preferred.
• Experience supervising students overnight preferred.
• Prior experience in residential/environmental education preferred.

Compensation:

• Ranges from $104.00 to $120.00 per day, or $13.00 to $15.00 per hour (depending on the program), based on demonstrated skill set and experience.
• Paid training days.
• Private room or cabin housing onsite.
• Meals provided during training and when groups are onsite.
• Optional healthcare benefits offered at employee's expense (by Edustaff)

Working Conditions:
Programs are run in all weather conditions, instructors need to be able to work outdoors for long hours in cold, heat, rain, snow, and other weather that arises. Instructors will also need to be able to stand for hours and be able to hike up to 5 miles. Should be able to lift or move up to 25 pounds. Instructional season consists of up to nine [9] months employment with pre-defined periods of non-paid time off.



SCHOOL SAFETY CLEARANCE: The successful candidate will be subject to a fingerprint and background check as a condition of employment. All fees required for this check (estimated $73.00) will be the responsibility of the successful applicant.


The Battle Creek Public School District is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, sex, age, religion, national origin, weight, height, or marital status in its employment practices.