Explorations seeks a qualified and exceptional individual to serve as our full-time seasonal Summer Adventure Program Coordinator. We are looking for an individual with excellent communication and positive leadership skills to join the Explorations team.
Upcoming Openings for 2010
Staff Forms and Info:
Program Information
Explorations is a dynamic small program for teens and their families that offers unique summer adventure programs, family-based residential care and custom travel and family adventures. Our Summer Adventure offerings are 21-52 days in length, with separate groups for girls and boys, ages 13-18.
Explorations' Summer Adventure Program offerings are diverse and serve girls and boys ages 13-18, in separate 52-day sessions in various locations throughout northwestern Montana. We also offer a 30-day Summer Adventure Course for boys and a 21-day Women's Empowerment Course for young women. Our field areas include the Cabinet Mountains, the Clark Fork River, and destinations in between.
Explorations' Summer Adventure offerings teach self-reliance, responsibility and accountability through rigorous outdoor activities such as backpacking, biking, and canoeing and individual and group therapy. Each offering teaches a no-trace environmental ethic and students participate in service work. Parents are invited to participate in a week-long Parent Trip in the field with their child.
Students are mentored by experienced, caring outdoor instructors and each small group is supported by a therapist. We prioritize students' emotional and physical safety and allow them to explore self-imposed limitations hands-on through adventure activities and individual and group therapy. Our adventure courses are appropriate for students who would benefit from the inherent challenges of an adventure curriculum yet do not need the intensity of a typical backpack-only therapeutic wilderness experience.
Summer Adventure Program Coordinator
Responsibilities:
The Summer Adventure Program Coordinator for Explorations works full time March 15-September 1 in tandem with the Director and Executive Assistant to manage all aspects of the summer offerings.
The Coordinator is responsible for the hiring, training and oversight of all field instructors and will work collaboratively with the Field & Logistical staff, Clinical personnel, and Administrative team to manage all aspects of the summer offerings. The professional chosen will manage field and camp itineraries and land use permits, develop and conduct staff training commensurate with Explorations' vision, manage budgetary concerns, and oversee logistical operations.
This individual will conduct regular field visits, conduct briefings and de-briefings and serve as a member of the staff instructor team while in the field. The Coordinator will participate in Family Trips as scheduled and will interface with parents of participants.
Other duties include, but are not limited to:
- instructor evaluations
- on-call responsibilities
- finalization of all season-end responsibilities
- custom-designed trips and over-all program development
The individual selected will receive support and training. Opportunities exist for part time or full time employment following the summer season.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of Bachelors degree in the social or behavioral sciences, outdoor education or recreation, or related field required. Masters degree in related field preferred.
- Three to five years of directly related experience with outdoor education required.
- Three to five years of directly related experience with youth at risk, including supervision and administration, required.
- Intermediate PC skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Certified or in the process of approved First Aid.
- Must maintain a valid and appropriate driver’s license.
Category: Clinical
Location: Trout Creek, MT
Equal Opportunity Employer
Summer Adventure Program Therapist
Responsibilities:
We currently have openings for Summer Adventure Program Therapist. This is a full-time, seasonal, salaried position. This position requires our therapists to spend time in the field with our students, taking part in the scheduled activities and providing therapy.
Summer Adventure Therapists also spend the entirety of the Parent Trip in the field (4-6 days). We rely on our skilled therapists to provide accurate in-depth assessment, goals for student and family and recommendations for aftercare options for each of the students in their group.
Duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Provide individual, group and family therapy for caseload of 4-8 students.
- Timely documentation and case notes, including assessment of needs & discharge summary.
- Maintain scheduled phone contact with parents and referring professionals.
- Develop treatment plan with participant and family.
- Provide written recommendations for student aftercare.
- Provide individualized assignments for students to promote emotional growth.
- Read and respond to student journals and other therapeutic assignments.
- Participate in outdoor curriculum activities as scheduled with students.
- Participate in the field with parents and students during parent trip.
- Facilitate individual and family sessions during parent trip.
- Provide crisis intervention services as needed.
- Provide overnight student coverage as needed.
- Provide direction and supervision to field instructors as needed.
- Assist in program development as assigned.
- Attend team meetings and supervision as scheduled.
- Schedule and facilitate end of summer family conference meetings and parent groups.
- Careful adherence to all Explorations policy and procedure.
- Support of Explorations program structure, rules and limits.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Masters in MSW, CSW, LCSW, LPC or MFT. Licensed in the State of Montana. Will consider license eligible or intern level applicants.
- Experience or strong aptitude for working in the outdoors.
- Experience or strong aptitude for interpreting and implementing psychological testing in treatment.
- Ability to work as a member of a team.
- Experience working with adolescents.
- Very strong communication skills and ability to represent program to referral sources and parents. Experience working with primary referral sources (educational consultants and other referring professionals) is preferred.
Category: Clinical
Location: Trout Creek, MT
Equal Opportunity Employer
Summer Adventure Program Instructors
- Lead Instructor
- Instructor
- Apprentice Instructor
Each of these positions is a full-time, seasonal position for outdoor enthusiasts who want to share their love of the outdoors with teens. Instructors work in beautiful northwestern Montana while backpacking, canoeing, rock-climbing, rafting and biking!
Responsibilities:
Instructors are responsible for safety, supervision and participant progression through all adventure curriculum elements. They are supported by therapist and logistics personnel. Applicants must agree to criminal background and DMV checks and drug screen.
We're looking for individuals who are high energy, creative, fun and able to safely mentor youth side-by-side during our expeditions. Competitive salary and gear deals. Applicants with education or interest in experiential education, outdoor recreation, psychology, or social work are encouraged to make application. EXCELLENT references a must!
Lead Instructor:
Operates as the senior instructor on a team and provides supervision and instruction to other team members. Require a minimum of 3 years experience as field instructor, with increasing levels of responsibility. Certified as EMT-B, WEMT or WFR.
Must be patient, team-player and able to manage difficult and complex situations in a field environment. Additional certifications a plus. Documented field hours and college degree in related field preferred. Range of personal and professional experience in a variety of outdoor activities. Must be at least 21 years old.
Instructor:
Operates as key member of instructor team. Requires at least 1-2 years experience working with youth, preferably in outdoor environments, with increasing levels of responsibility. Certified as EMT-B, WEMT, WRF. Experience with backcountry skills, navigation, and low impact camping and wilderness safety a must.
Experience and/or certification in canoeing, flatwater rafting, biking, climbing a plus. May assume position of Lead Instructor in his/her absence. Must be at least 21 years old.
Apprentice Instructor:
Assists in providing care and teaching back country skills to teens as member of a team. Requires love of the outdoors and desire to work with teens in outdoor environments. CPR/1st Aid & high school diploma or GED required. Must be at least 20 years old. Willingness to learn and add to a team of outdoor professionals.
Category: Outdoor
Location: Trout Creek, MT
Equal Opportunity Employer
Application Procedure
Please submit resume with cover letter to:
Explorations
PO Box 1469
Trout Creek, MT 59874
or:
Leona Gollen , Executive Assistant
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Telephone: 406.827-3863
Fax: 406.827.4072
Here are Explorations' employment forms for 2010:
- New Hire packet for 2010 (.doc | .pdf)
- New Hire Packet e-form to fill out on your computer and email it to us (.pdf) **Must print and send in hard copy with signatures, also**
- Self Declaration Form (.doc | .pdf)
- IRS form I-9 for 2010 (.pdf)
- IRS for W-4 for 2010 (.pdf)
Staff information:
Documents and forms may be available as both a MS Word .docs and as Adobe Acrobat pdfs. You can get a free copy of the Acrobat PDF Reader at Adobe's web site.
This article was updated on: Apr 29, 2010
