Career Center

Lakeside School, an independent coeducational day school located in north Seattle, Washington, is currently recruiting for outdoor specialists to co-lead trips for 6^th and 7^th grade Middle School students which will occur in May 2023.

 Lakeside Middle School’s Outdoor Program consists of 4-day, 3-night backpacking trips for 7^th grade students, and 3-day, 2-night camping trips for 6^th grade students. The goals for the program are to help students:

• Develop a sense of place in the Pacific Northwest:
•  Learn how to contribute as members of teams;
• Take physical, emotional, and social risks;
• Learn the fundamentals of ‘wilderness’ backpacking and camping and leave no trace protocols.

Responsibilities
The outdoor specialist is one of two or three adults to co-lead, co-manage, and execute all aspects of the trip for a group of ten to twelve middle school students. Core responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

1. Supporting student learning by facilitating group activities with a diverse group of students.
2.  Supporting a diverse student body who will come into the program with a wide array of outdoors experience, including many students with limited or no outdoor experience.
3. Providing wilderness, camping, and backpacking expertise as well as teaching students relevant and appropriate skills and knowledge in these areas.
4. Managing risk appropriately to create a safe and supportive environment for all students.
5. Driving students to and from site and as needed during the trip.

The trips are planned as follows:

•   Leader training day – Monday May 15
• 6^th grade prep day – Tuesday May 16
• 6^th grade camping trip – Wednesday May 17 – Friday May 19
• 7^th grade prep day – Monday May 22
• 7^th grade backpacking trip – Tuesday May 23 – Friday May 26
• Leaders must be available for the leader training day, the prep days and all days of the trip in which they are leading. Preference is given to those leaders who can lead both a 6^th and 7^th grade trip, though we will consider those who are only available to lead one trip. Training and Prep day hours will be approximately 7:30am – 4:00pm at Lakeside School in Seattle. Most trips will plan to depart around 8am on departure day and return by 4pm on return day, though some hours may vary depending on the trip. Leaders may need to stay later than 4pm to clean up after the trip.
• Optional paid work day available on Saturday May 20

Requirements and Qualifications
Successful candidates must be:                                                                                                                                                         

1. At least 21 years of age;
2.  Have experience leading multi-day wilderness expeditions working with middle school age children;
3. Have experience working with diverse student populations and demonstrated equity and inclusion mindset. Candidates should be aware of their own identity and biases, consider how privilege impacts outdoor recreation spaces, and take into account student’s varied exposure to the outdoors.
4.  Have experience and willingness to contribute to all group activities;
5. Have training and/or experience in experiential/outdoor education;
6. Demonstrated cultural awareness, including knowledge of themselves and the cultural lenses they bring to interactions. The candidate will understand different perspectives; interact respectfully with cultures other than their own; and cultivate meaningful relationships with people that have different cultural frameworks.
7. Must possess current Wilderness First Aid & CPR certifications (Wilderness First Responder preferred).
8. Willingness to be trained in and able to drive a mini-bus (15 passengers) preferred, but not required. (No special license required, drivers must be 25 years old.)
9. Candidates must provide proof of vaccination and booster to human resources. Candidates requesting a medical and/or religious exemption should reach out to Human Resources.

References should speak to the applicant’s integrity, flexibility, and ability to be an effective member of a team. Additionally, candidates must satisfactorily complete two criminal background checks.