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Lead Staff Position Description: 

The Lead Program Staff works with a small team of co-workers to provide a summer adventure-based program for youth. Our mission is to inspire confidence and leadership in children and teens from Washington, D.C. We provide a multi-year experiential curriculum focusing on outdoor adventure, backcountry trips and personal growth during three 16-19 day summer sessions. Base camp is our beautiful property, Broken Arrow Ranch, in Hoback Junction just south of Jackson Hole.   


 

Position Responsibilities

The Lead Program Staff works directly with  2 Trip Leaders & Counselors to facilitate outdoor experiences for 1 cabin group.   Primary responsibilities include staff management, trip coordination, and decision making responsibility for the group.


 

The responsibilities of Program Staff are multifaceted and include all of the following; 

 

Youth Mentoring-  Develop a positive, authentic and proactive relationship with participants, be a role model, facilitate team and personal growth.  

  • Demonstrate warmth, caring and respect for youth through intentional interactions
  • Provide a listening ear, guidance, individual attention and support to youth
  • Show consistency in structure, boundaries, behavior and communication to build trust with youth
  • Model and support campers in following City Kids honor code and behavioral expectations
  • Establish group norms to facilitate supportive community and group dynamics for youth.
  • Create opportunities for youth to make choices and have meaningful responsibility.
  • Create an environment that helps each youth know, accept, and take pride in oneself and develop a sense of independence. 



 

  • Lead Staff take the lead in managing individual  youth who are struggling or managing difficult group dynamics; including communicating issues to the Camp Directors, making decisions about supportive actions, and interventions.  

 

Staff Management 

  • Supervise 2-3 trip leaders and counselors.  
  • Facilitate positive group dynamics for staff and campers.  
  • Provide coaching, support, and feedback on a daily basis, resolve conflict, and address immediate performance issues.  
  • Effectively communicate with Camp Directors about staffing issues 


 

Trip Planning & Preparation

  • Responsible for overseeing trip planning and packing for all day and backcountry trips in coordination with the Camp Director and Trip Coordinator.
  • Implement and design daily schedule for trips
  • Delegate & assign roles and responsibilities to counselors & JCLs
  • Responsible for overall implementation of outdoor trips. 


 

Decision-Making

  • Serve as the lead instructor on wilderness overnights and day trips
  • Responsible for facilitating decision making in emergency situations and making final decisions for the group. 
  • Responsible for communication with the main office during emergencies, student updates, and trip agenda changes.


 

General Activity and Trip Leading- Responsible for planning and leading daily activities, outdoor living skills lessons, sports, day trips, and multi-day backcountry trips 

  • Lead daily activities include team-building games and activities, swimming, sports, arts, etc.
  • Teach “Outdoor Living Skills” (OLS) lessons to prepare youth for upcoming off-ranch outdoor trips, including basic camping skills, backpacking, canoeing, etc.  
  • Lead group meetings, facilitate debriefs and group conversations before, during, and after trips
  • Understand and enforce City Kids trip policies and procedures 
  • Lead outdoor adventure day trips include off-site day adventures including hiking trips, canoeing, white water rafting (guided), white water kayaking (guided), community service trips, visits to special events or to town.  
  • Lead multi-day backcountry trips ranging from 3 to 10 days, with most trips averaging 3-4 days.   Responsibilities include:
    • Managing the emotional and physically safety of campers and JCLs
    • Manage the basic needs of campers & JCLs including;  food, hydration, shelter, medical needs, appropriate dress and layering
    • Manage and instruct campers and JCLs on basic risk management in the backcountry including self-care, kitchen safety, wildlife, weather, and activity related risks.
    • Navigate on-trail terrain using maps
    • Teach basic canoe and paddle strokes 
    • Manage risks of paddling on open-water in alpine lakes


 

Cabin Supervision- When counselors are on break, Lead Staff step in to provide supervision as a cabin counselors including; 

  • Provide high quality auditory and/or visual supervision of campers when on duty
  • Wake up campers daily, prepare and pack for the day's activities, ensure campers have the correct clothing, gear, water, and food for the day.  
  • Lead daily cabin clean up in your cabin and daily camp chores for the community
  • Supervise meals 
  • Supervise showers and prepare campers for bed each night
  • Lead daily reflection activities at the end of the day
  • Check-in daily with each camper; reflect on the day, discuss challenges and successes, set goals for tomorrow.
  • Supervise siesta and other moments of down-time.
  • Ensure youth are eating well, staying hydrated, and caring for personal hygiene
  • Administer and record medications as required or as needed


 

JCL Management- Provide support to Jet Camp Leaders and staff directly managing JCLs within the staff team.  

  • Provide coaching to cabin counselors directly supervising JCLs
  • Assign daily tasks and responsibilities
  • Facilitate opportunities for leadership and growth for JCL’s within cabin and on trips
  • Oversee adherence to daily schedule and assign break opportunities
  • Enforce and Uphold“JET Behavioral Expectations”
  • Care for daily basic emotional and physical needs of JCLs
  • Participate in daily check-ins and evaluations as requested
  • Take the lead in managing JCL performance issues in collaboration with cabin counselors.  


 

Staff work as a team directly with the Camp Director and Program Directors to implement the program. This is a residential position and thereby is not limited to these stated responsibilities. Everyone at camp shares responsibility for day-to- day tasks, which are an integral part of living in a small close-knit community. 

 

Training & Required Certifications:

Contract includes a required paid 14-day City Kids staff training and 2 days of paid  pre-arrival training.   Staff are responsible for engaging with a growth mindset towards their own learning.  

Required Certifications

  • Current (by start of contract) CPR and Wilderness First Responder.  Lifeguard certifications strongly preferred.  
  • Driver’s license strongly preferred; valid, clean driving record and 2+ years of driving experience.  

Position Qualifications:

Lead Staff provide seasonal leadership to the City Kids program.  We are looking for motivated, hard-working individuals with a passion for our work.  Below are categories of experiences and qualifications we are looking for.  City Kids experience is strongly preferred.

 

         Youth Experience

  • Experience working with children in outdoor, camp or other residential settings
  • Competence in teaching, counseling, and guiding youth in a variety of settings
  • Ability to provide appropriate structure, boundaries, perspective and guidance in the process of program delivery.

 

Outdoor & Trip Leading Experience

  • 2+ years of professional trip leading experience
  • 1-2+ years managing staff in outdoor settings.
  • General to advanced knowledge and ability in several or all of the following activities: canoeing, horseback riding, swimming, backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, outdoor education, group dynamics, experiential education, games & initiatives, orienteering, and outdoor living.
  • Knowledge of environmentally acceptable practices for backcountry living.
  • The ability to anticipate and manage potential hazards in wilderness environments, both physical and emotional.
  • Judgment and the ability to manage a group effectively in the outdoors under stressful conditions.
  • Ability to hike for up to 15 miles with an up to 40 lb backpack in strenuous terrain.
  • Ability to paddle up to 10 miles per day in a loaded canoe. 
  • Ability to maintain ample energy, strength, and focus to lead and assist youth in a wilderness environment.   

 

Community Values

  • Cultural competency, the ability to work in diverse communities and a commitment to social justice, equity & inclusion, and anti-racism. Learn more about City Kids DEI Statement of Beliefs.  
  • An understanding and commitment to the goals, values,  and philosophy of City Kids, including our organizational core values of Joy, Connection, Preparation, Effort and Evolution. Learn more about City Kids Core Values. 
  • Patience, initiative, enthusiasm, proactive communication style, flexibility and energy are a must.
  • The ability to relate well to others and to work effectively with a variety of people.