Jobs

Employment Opportunities at The Mountain Workshop

The Mountain Workshop (TMW) field instructors are responsible for safely co-leading school aged children and teens in wilderness settings. Successful candidates will be at least 21 years of age, have some outdoor adventure experience, as well as some experience mentoring children and young adults and possess a strong enthusiasm for outdoor adventure.

TMW field-staff work hard, often with long days, challenging overnights, and full seasons. The job requires field-staff to be energetic and flexible, to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and co-workers, and perhaps most of all, to be patient with young people as they explore the fringes of their comfort zones. You may find yourself leading trips in some of the most spectacular natural settings in the northeast, including New England,  the Adirondacks, the Berkshires, the Hudson and Delaware River Valleys, among other destinations. Workplaces like these can make even the hardest day well worth the amazing experience.

Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities include teaching, leading or participating in some or all of the following activities.

  • Flat Water Canoeing
  • Moving & Whitewater Canoeing
  • Voyageur Canoeing
  • Sea Kayaking
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Sailing
  • Rock Climbing & Rappelling
  • Caving
  • Challenge Courses, High & Low Ropes Facilitation
  • Map & Compass Orienteering
  • Bike Touring
  • Nature Study
  • Day Hikes
  • Backpacking Trips
  • Service Projects
  • Backcountry Cooking
  • Leadership Skills
  • Camp Craft
  • Survival Skills
  • Group Debrief
  • Public Speaking
  • Large & Small Group Dynamics
  • Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
  • Adhering to all standard safety guidelines
  • FUN!!!

Additional duties include driving 12-15 passenger vans (often with boat or box trailers), transporting participants and equipment, greeting and debriefing parents, completing comprehensive trip reports, packing-in and packing-out gear, organizing and cleaning equipment before and after all programs, and assisting with logistical preparations.

Staff are hired based on their judgment, experience, enthusiasm, teaching skills, relevant certifications, ability and desire to learn technical and group management skills, and overall attitude.

Field Staff Positions:

Instructor: (Day and Multi-Day Instructors) Staff hired at an entry-level position.  New instructors are generally paired with Lead Instructors who are familiar with TMW's style, program sites, and instructional techniques.  New instructors also have the opportunity to participate in many valuable field-related trainings, many leading to a certification.

Lead Instructor: (Day & Multi-Day Instructors)  Lead staff carry the responsibility of ensuring the safety and quality of a program.  Promotion to the position of Lead Instructor comes when an individual is assessed as having the skills and experience necessary to assume full responsibility for a Mountain Workshop program.  Program instructors are considered Lead when they have been with The Mountain Workshop for several years or have comparable technical, leadership, and facilitation skills from previous employment.

Rock-Climbing Specialist: (Day Programs)  The rock-climbing specialist will work Awesome Adventures day programs in CT and NY.  The specialist must have the ability to set-up/take-down top-rope climbing sites, teach basic climbing skills and be able to safely manage a rock-climbing site.  The rock specialist will participate in an AMGA certified top-rope course in the spring.

Programs:

Schools Outdoors Programs:  We have day and overnight trips for K-12 grade students that run in the spring and fall in CT, PA, UT, and NY.

Awesome Adventures Day Programs:  In the summer we work with youth ages 8-14 years old.  Programs are one week in length and are Monday-Friday 7AM-5PM day trips that run in CT and NY.  Certain trips may also require a two night overnight camping trip during the week.

Trailmark Expeditions:  Instructors are hired to lead one to two week expeditions for 11-17 year old participants.  These programs are in the summer and visit locations throughout New England, including the Adirondacks, the Berkshires, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Qualifications:

  • Experience working with youth and/or personal outdoor knowledge
  • Experience leading expedition style programs and/or personal outdoor knowledge. 
  • You must be 21 years of age to apply for an Instructor position.
  • You must have a clean driving record (DMV and criminal background checks will follow interview). 
  • New hires must be available for mandatory pre-season trainings.
  • TMW's current minimum first-aid standard is: American Red Cross First-Aid/AED/CPR for the Professional Rescuer, Wilderness First-Aid (SOLO), ACA Essentials of River Canoeing, ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring and ARC Lifeguard with waterfront module training. (These certifications will be offered "free of charge" for employees who commit to the full summer season.)

Compensation:

  • At-Will seasonal employment
  • Per-Diem rates are highly competitive within the industry and are determined based on education, seniority, and field experience
  • Limited employee housing available for staff contracted for a full season
  • Food provided on all overnight trips
  • Extensive training in the aforementioned program related skills, including widely recognized certifications in the areas of boating, Wilderness First-aid, CPR, and Lifeguarding for employees committed to an entire season
  • Pro-Deal discounts to staff from the best equipment and clothing manufacturers in the industry

Our Instructors...

Our staff members are dynamic, energetic people committed to creating personal growth opportunities for youth in the outdoors. They come from many different professional backgrounds including school teachers, park rangers, athletic coaches, camp counselors, ski instructors and patrollers, river guides, outdoor equipment retailers, adventure course facilitators, social workers, military veterans, college students, full-time parents, and even a few folks from the mainstream corporate world.

Does this sound like a good fit for you?

Applications are accepted continuously through the spring and summer, although priority will go to staff that apply early and commit to a full season. One of the best parts about working for The Mountain Workshop is the incredible community of people with whom you will be working. Come join us and make a difference in people's lives - including your own!

 

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