Manager of Summer Wilderness Trips-Wiscasset, ME
Organization: Chiwonki Fundation
Position Title: Manager of summer wilderness trips
Location: Wiscasset, ME
Hours & Compensation: Salary based on experience, $34,000 – $38,000 per year.
Application Deadline:February 5, 2014
Description:
Chewonki Foundation is a year-round, nonprofit environmental education center based on a 400-acre peninsula in mid-coast Maine. We offer semester school for high school juniors, summer camps for boys, all-girl adventures, co-ed wilderness expeditions for teens and adults, programs for independent and public school groups, and travelling natural history programs.
Visit our web site at www.chewonki.org
Summer Wilderness Programs
Chewonki offers a wide variety of wilderness experiences that range from overnights for our youngest campers to 7-week long major expeditions for experienced teens. Chewonki groups travel the coast of Maine under sail and by sea kayak, we surf in Maine and Nova Scotia and we backpack, canoe and whitewater kayak throughout New England with some trips venturing into the most remote regions of Quebec and Labrador.
Mission
Chewonki inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives.
Objectives
Please see attached position description
Qualifications
• At least 3 years experience leading and managing youth and teen wilderness experiences.
• The ability to train staff in at least two of the following disciplines, whitewater canoeing, backpacking,
whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, surfing or small boat sailing.
• BA or BS degree
• Current Wilderness First Responder certification and experience with Life Guard Training.
• Candidates must pass a background check and have driving record approved by Chewonki’s insurance carrier.
Salary and Other Details
Salary based on experience, $34,000 – $38,000 per year. Benefits include health insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, optional vision insurance, retirement plan (with match after one year of service), Paid Time Off and access to professional development funds.
To apply
Submit a cover letter, resume, supplemental resume application (found on Chewonki website) to the address below or by fax or email (single file electronic submission preferred).
Human Resources
Chewonki Foundation, Inc. 485 Chewonki Neck Road Wiscasset, Maine 04578 [email protected] 207-882-9564 (confidential fax)
Chewonki Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
Position Description
Position Title: Manager of Summer Wilderness Trips Employment Category: Category A Permanent/Temporary: Year round – Full time Reports to: Director of Outdoor Programs Exempt/Non-exempt: Exempt
Benefits Eligible: Yes
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The Manager of Summer Wilderness Tips (MSWT) under the guidance and supervision of the Director of Outdoor Programs (DOP) is responsible for enrollment and execution of all aspects of the summer wilderness trip program, including in-camp cabin trips, girl’s adventures, and teen wilderness trips. All trips must meet Chewonki standards for safety, education, and professionalism. Chewonki Trips include, backpacking, whitewater kayaking and canoeing, sea kayaking, coastal sailing surfing and international travel.
This position is part of a dynamic staff team that includes the director of Outdoor Programs (DOC), director of Boys Camp (DBC), Director of Outdoor Classroom (DOC), Assistant Director of Outdoor Classroom, (ADOC), Supervising Nurse (SN) and the Equipment and Logistics Coordinator (ELOC).
In addition, the MSWT provides support for all non-camp wilderness and outdoor programs, including those operated by the Outdoor Classroom and Semester School. The Chewonki Outdoor Programs staff and resources are utilized whenever there are outdoor/wilderness programs associated with these programs.
OBJECTIVES
• Continue and bolster Chewonki’s reputation as a leading outdoor organization in the Northeast by creating and managing the best possible outdoor/wilderness programs.
• Promote and enroll all Chewonki summer outdoor/wilderness programs, increase the conversion rate from in-camp participants to teen wilderness programs, and increase the retention for multiple extended trips. This enrollment strategy and effort will be led by the Boys Camp Director.
• Recruit, train, and retain excellent trip leading staff who believe in the Chewonki mission, have a team-first attitude, and bring entrepreneurial energy to their work.
• Contribute to the development of in-camp outdoor skills progression development that will prepare campers for their trips over time.
• Collaborate with camp leadership to align, simplify, and integrate in camp and trip activities for a seamless progression from ages 8 to 17.
• Provide strong leadership and training, and be a good role model for all staff involved in summer outdoor/wilderness programs.
• Maintain positive working relationships with Chewonki Program Directors and staff.
• Using market research, develop new outdoor/wilderness experiences (and perhaps recommend the end of others) to meet market demand while staying true to Chewonki’s mission. This may include programs of different lengths, different elements, and different locations.
• Provide continuity and growth of all-girls outdoor/wilderness programs at Chewonki in anticipation of a renewed and larger residential camp for girls in the near future.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Promote and enroll summer wilderness trips through a range of proactive steps: The MSWT will work with the Boys Camp Director to develop a schedule of recruitment trips. The MSWT will spend up to one week per month from October through April (about 7 weeks in total) on the road promoting Chewonki summer trips.
• The MSWT will respond to all wilderness/outdoor program inquiries within 48 hours: The MSWT will work with the Camp director, assistant director, and Summer Programs Administrative Assistant to ensure timely registration of participants and entry of information into the Camp Minder system.
• Under guidance of the (DOP), plan and prepare for all summer outdoor/wilderness programs: It is the MSWT’s responsibility to make sure that wilderness/outdoor programs are prepared for and executed safely, and that they meet all Chewonki standards. This will include making all necessary camping reservations
• In consultation with the DOP, and administrative support of the Manager of Human Resourses, the MSWT will hire seasonal outdoor programs and trip leader staff: Since the summer wilderness trips offered in conjunction with Camp Chewonki are the longest and most complex of the Chewonki Wilderness/Outdoor Program offerings the MSWT will work closely with the Camp Directors in hiring trip leading/outdoor program staff.
• Develop and execute training for all summer outdoor/wilderness trip leaders. This will be in conjunction with (DOP), Boys Camp Director (BCD), supervising Nurse (SN) and the Director for Outdoor Classroom (DOC). The trainings will need periodic updating as methods and standards change.
• The MSWT is expected to participate in an active and positive way as a member of the Summer Camp and Wilderness Trips Staff Team. As time permits the MSWT should promote wilderness trips to younger campers by actively participating in camp meals, campfires and Sunday service and encouraging extended trip groups to do the same.
• Maintain wilderness trip maps, charts and files: Each Chewonki Outdoor program is catalogued and a file is created containing information pertinent to that trip. The MSWT will be responsible for maintaining these files including maps and charts and keeping them updated with the assistance of the Summer Program Administrative Assistant.
• Debrief staff post trip: After all outdoor programs it is the responsibility of the MSWT to debrief outdoor/wilderness program staff and document the discussion. This debrief will include constructive feedback for the trip leaders.
• Work with the DOP to coordinate the use of offsite properties: The DOP is responsible for the programmatic use of all off-site lands and facilities including our coastal islands, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge Campsite, Big Eddy Campground, and Debsconeag Lake Wilderness Camps. The MSWT will assist the DOP coordinating the programmatic use of these properties as necessary.
• The MSWT will be expected to work a 6-day workweek beginning with staff training in June through the end of Summer Programs in August.
• The MSWT will be expected to be on call and reachable 24/7 by cell phone when programs are in the field.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• The MSWT will have oversight of travel logistics for all summer wilderness trips. This will include hiring of drivers and vehicle scheduling.
• Recommend items and priorities for wilderness program equipment purchases: The ELOC with approval of the chief financial officer (CFO) will be responsible for purchasing all outdoor wilderness program equipment, in consultation with program leaders.
• Lead occasional outdoor/wilderness programs. The MSWT will lead occasional outdoor/wilderness programs for all ages and areas of Chewonki.
• Be a resource Semester School outdoors skills programs and lead Semester wilderness trips.
• Contribute as an active member of the Chewonki community, e.g. serve on committees, dish
crew, Chewonki Day.
• Other tasks as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
• Maintain Registered Maine Guide status.
• Maintain qualification as a Maine State Trip Leader Instructor.
• Maintain Wilderness First Responder certification.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, early mornings and/or
evenings.
• Must be able to lift 55 pounds.
• Must maintain Wilderness First Responder and Lifeguard certifications.
TO APPLY
Visit: http://www.chewonki.org/About/employment.asp
