About North Country School & Camp Treetops

Located on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY, Camp Treetops and North Country School sit on a 333-acre campus amid majestic mountain peaks in New York State’s Adirondack Park. Since 1921 and 1938 respectively, we have been nationally renowned for pioneering educational programs rooted in progressive practices and experiential learning. Both Camp and School guide children to engage the natural world, take on intellectual and physical challenges in a nurturing community, and cultivate independence and creativity.

Position Overview

North Country School seeks Teaching Fellows for the 2026-2027 school year to support the institution’s academic and residential life programs. The goal of the fellowship is to introduce aspiring teachers to North Country School’s nearly 90-year-old unique teaching pedagogy and to provide opportunities for individuals to develop their teaching skills across a variety of disciplines in a supportive, hands-on learning environment. This experience will also prepare you for a teaching position after completion of the fellowship by helping you to develop a teaching portfolio and craft a personal teaching philosophy.

What You Will Do

Teaching Fellows play an integral role in shaping the student experience across academic, residential, and community life, fostering meaningful relationships that help students grow into confident, capable individuals. Working closely with experienced faculty, you will support experiential education, assist in leading outdoor trips, and contribute to community life. Your responsibilities will vary within these areas as you support students in the classroom, participate in daily chores, co-lead Saturday trips, and foster community through our house-based residential program. With signature programs in the outdoors, farm and garden, and the arts, as well as a robust academic program, this can include helping to create a variety of unique, dynamic, and engaging learning experiences—from using our educational farm’s lambing season as an extension of the classroom, to supporting student-led productions in our state of the art performing arts space, and celebrating and carrying on long held community traditions.

How You Will Spend Your Time

Residential & Community Life (50%)

During your fellowship, you will serve as a support houseparent for one of our houses where boarding students reside in order to foster a positive, inclusive living environment. This includes participating in rotating community work jobs and chores alongside students across campus—these can range from barn chores on our working educational farm to other contributions across campus that sustain our community. You will also serve as an adult tablehead during meals in our dining room to facilitate conversation and help our students build interpersonal relationships and socioemotional skills, and lead and supervise out-times—or structured weekday afternoon activities that help to bolster community life and student growth and connection—and weekend trips both on and off campus.

Classroom & Experiential Education (40%)

Over the course of a week, you can expect to support students during core academic classes and other learning experiences as you develop and hone your skills as a place-based, experiential educator. You will:

• Assist in lesson planning and instruction in core academic subjects (English, math, science, or humanities) and North Country School’s signature programs in the outdoors, farm & garden, and arts.
• Assist in developing and delivering curriculum rooted in hands-on, place-based, and cross-curricular learning.
• Support interdisciplinary, project-based learning experiences that integrate multiple subject areas and develop skills to support differentiated instruction and classroom management techniques.
• Engage in reflective teaching practices alongside mentors.

Professional Development & Growth (10%)

A key component of this fellowship is participating in a structured mentorship program. This will complement your teaching experience, giving you the chance to pursue opportunities for growth and mentorship through the development of a professional growth plan. You will also receive ongoing support and guidance from faculty mentors and participate in targeted professional development series, including training in progressive education and outdoor leadership.

The Benefits of Working Here

In addition to a monthly stipend of $1,800 a month, you will enjoy:

• On-campus housing
• Health insurance
• Personal time off during generous school vacations
• Vegetables and food from the farm when in season
• Seasonally sourced daily meals
• On-campus access to miles of walking/hiking/skiing trails, rock climbing crag, and ski hill
• Access to on-campus studio spaces

How to Apply

Fellowship positions are filled on a rolling basis. To apply, please compile a cover letter, resume, and references, and submit them through this survey. If you have questions, please send them to Ashley Waldorf EdD, Director of School, at employment@northcountryschool.org.

Please note: This position is intended for individuals aged 21 and up. Night and weekend work will be required.

Our Mission and Values

North Country School & Camp Treetops strive to create a diverse and inclusive community that gives children the self-confidence, knowledge, skills, and values to lead fulfilling and productive lives while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.

We are a values-driven community and seek to have a positive impact on the world around us by living out our core values on and off campus:

• Cultivate Community: We believe in the inherent value and contributions of every person, and in fostering connections to build and nurture a strong, inclusive community.
• Walk a Mile: We believe that understanding and honoring every person’s unique worldview, experiences, and challenges is at the root of empathy and compassion.
• Dig Deep, Keep Growing: We believe that by setting ambitious goals, working hard, and persevering, we build strength and character and set a course for lives of growth, purpose, and fulfillment.
• Stay Curious: We believe in the power of creativity and wonder. We believe that curiosity about ourselves, other people, and the world around us leads to growth, innovation, and sometimes unconventional ideas.
• Our Planet, Our Job: We believe in individual and collective responsibility for our planet, and in leading by example as a community that works to respect, protect, and restore the natural world.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.

Skills You Bring to Our Community

• Bachelor’s degree
• Ability to teach or assist in multiple disciplines and contribute to a vibrant academic environment
• Interest in residential life and mentoring students in a boarding school setting
• Prior experience in, or a willingness to embrace, outdoor education and participate in activities like hiking, skiing, and working on our educational farm
• Passion for, or interest in, progressive education, and experiential, hands-on learning

The Values You Bring to Our Community

• Enthusiasm for working with children in grades 4-9 and fostering their curiosity
• Deep appreciation for community and working with others
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to learn
• A passion for outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, and farm-based activities
• A growth mindset and openness challenge
• Warmth, kindness, empathy, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone
• Independence and ability to be a self-starter

About North Country School

North Country School is a junior boarding/day school for grades 4-9 located on a 220-acre campus in the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park in Lake Placid, New York. North Country School gives children a humanistic education rooted in respect and responsibility for self and others. Central to our academic program is a hands-on, place-based approach founded on the progressive tradition of John Dewey.

Connections working at North Country School