What are the responsibilities and job description for the Outdoor Programs Instructor- Spring 2025 position at Madison School & Community Recreation?
Outdoor Programs Instructor- Spring 2025
Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is Madison’s public recreation provider. MSCR offers a wide variety of athletic, recreational, arts and enrichment activities and classes for all ages in an accessible, inclusive setting. Programs include swimming instruction, MSCR on the Move, arts & enrichment classes, youth summer camps, sports camps & clinics, adult & 50 fitness, adult sport leagues including pickleball, softball and tennis, and a wide variety of outdoor pursuits including paddling sports, pontoon trips, camping, orienteering and challenge courses.
As a department of the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), MSCR also provides afterschool enrichment activities, clubs and sports as well as summer programming in Madison elementary, middle and high schools, Allied Learning Center and Meadowood Neighborhood Center. Afterschool clubs and sports include: arts & enrichment, homework/academic clubs, drama, dance, skiing, soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross country and much more!
Program Description:
MSCR Outdoor Programs offer dynamic and engaging experiential and environmental education opportunities for students, community members and corporate clients. Our mission is to empower and facilitate individual and group transformation through experiential learning by providing positive outdoor experiences. We do this through activities including paddling, environmental education, and teambuilding. Paid professional development and training are provided to help build your skills, scheduling is flexible, and you get to join a great group of Outdoor Programs instructors.
Job Description & Duties:
Outdoor Programs Instructors are trained to facilitate a variety of outdoor activities including environmental education, orienteering, canoeing, kayaking, and high and low challenge courses. Instructors facilitate the activities, help develop and design programs, and maintain safe operating procedures. Instructors are trained to facilitate in all program areas but may choose to work in or prioritize a specific area.
Program Dates:
Season runs late March through November 2025
Training dates listed below:
3/24, 9-12 Season Kickoff Meeting
3/25, 1-4 Facilitation Principles
3/26, 9-5 Low Course at Kennedy
3/27, 9-5 High Course at Kennedy
3/31, 9-5 Field Studies and Orienteering at School Forest
4/1, 9-5 Low Course (am) and High Course Experience (pm) at School Forest
4/3, 9-5 High Course Facilitation at School Forest
4/7, 10-12 Inclusion Services for Outdoor Programs
4/21, 1-4 Cherokee Marsh Field Studies
4/28, 12-5 Canoe Training
4/29, 12-5 Kayak Training
Work Location:
Primary programming sites including Madison School Forest, 1577 Fritz Rd. Verona, Kennedy Challenge Course, 5025 Sudbury Way Madison, and various parks and water based sites around Madison.
Hours/week:
Varies based on programming scheduled, up to 40 hours a week.
Work hours:
Varies depending on programs, can include week day(s) and weekend(s) and programming can take place between the hours of 6:00am-9:00pm. Most programming is M-F between 7:30am-4:30pm.
Application Deadline: Open until filled.
Payrate: 17.00 - 20.00 /hour
Minimum Qualifications:
- Willingness to work outdoors for up to 8 hours.
- Function as a team member working collaboratively to support program operations.
- Reliable transportation to program site location(s).
- Enthusiasm for facilitating and learning in the outdoors with all ages.
- Commitment to the mission and vision of MSCR and the goals of MSCR Outdoor Programs.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certified or able to obtain certification in CPR/AED.
- Knowledge of regional flora/fauna including forest, prairie, oak savanna and wetland ecosystems.
- Previous experience teaching environmental education concepts.
- Logged Challenge Course facilitator hours that attest to technical and facilitation skill and/or Association for Challenge
- Course Technology (ACCT) FI-FII certifications.
- Logged hours to attest to paddling facilitation skills and/or American Canoe Association (ACA) Canoe and/or Kayak Level 1 certifications.
- Secondary language skills in Spanish and/or Hmong highly desired.
Other Information:
For more information, please contact Emily Peffer at eapeffer@madison.k12.wi.us or Liz Just at ekjust@madison.k12.wi.us
