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Job Description
Nature Camp Counselor for Inspire Active Learning's Call of the Wild Camps, day camps in the Bay Area.
Hiring now:
full time employment for the 2026 summer camp season in Cupertino/Los Altos & Los Gatos, July 20-Aug 14. Do you love teaching children? Are you an avid hiker with a love of nature & the outdoors? Are you vegan? How about combining your passions into a fun seasonal job? Openings are for energetic, creative, & dependable outdoor enthusiasts. Nature Camp Counselors teach & lead children in outdoor nature camps for kids aged 5-10 to connect with nature, hike, read, write, explore, learn, & play in nature sites of the Bay Area! You may be the ideal camp counselor for this job if: You are a communicative & collaborative team player bursting with creative ideas, fun, adaptable, friendly, playful, outgoing, energetic, & eager to inspire & engage children in learning by doing You have experience in early childhood education, elementary school education, outdoor education, environmental education, nature education, literacy education, outdoor recreation, & related fields You are vegan: "Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals ." – The Vegan Society
WHO WE ARE
Inspire Active Learning, LLC believes that to inspire learning is to inspire action. We believe in experiential education & lifelong learning. Outdoor educators provide a fun, safe alternative to screen addiction, inspiring nature connection, curiosity, & healthy, positive relationships with flora & fauna in our natural environments. We believe in the wisdom of "be kind to every kind" & the benefits of veganism on animals & the environment. We value diversity & include children with disabilities & typically developing children alike. We value the integrity of the whole person & are dedicated to a well-rounded blend of head, heart, & body — being constant learners, kind & caring, & focused on learning by doing. We use emergent curriculum & principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the science of learning focused on observable interaction between the learner & environment. We are a small company focused on quality over quantity.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Complete training online & onsite in day camp sites Punctually & reliably attend scheduled work hours, rain or shine, including training, staff meetings, & camp session dates, rain or shine, each scheduled day for the season you are hired to work Safely lead hikes in parks up to approx. 6 mi. per day for K-5th graders in small groups Maintain a 4:1 or 5:1 student: staff ratio or ratio approved by the camp supervisor Implement age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, K-5 level nature-themed science, outdoor education, language arts, art, & motor activities for Call of the Wild Camps Implement activities for theme weeks such as Enchanted Nature Art, Enchanted Vegan, Nature Storytellers, & Nature Explorers Teach & facilitate fun, positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, & the environment Teach & lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature & wilderness themes, including circle time, story time, singing, literary show-&-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, & authoring & illustrating books Teach & facilitate science activities on topics in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, stewardship, conservation, preservation, etc., integrating naturalistic observation, group discussion, games, children's books, & writing activities Teach & engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation & education, such as nature-themed field games, hide & seek, chase games, forest "I Spy" games, & scavenger hunts Teach & facilitate nature-themed arts & crafts Engage children with a fun teaching style & high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, & positivity Supervise & facilitate children's rest breaks, snack & lunch breaks, & physical play breaks Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities Implement teaching & behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, & contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences & choices Facilitate emergent curriculum & child-centered, student-centered, experiential, incidental, & play-based teaching & learning opportunities Create both structured & incidental learning opportunities Keep work materials neat, organized, & in good working condition Record accurate, objective incident reports Follow all health & safety requirements, & make sure campers follow them Drive by personal vehicle during the work shift for emergency or safety-related situations or to access reception as needed under supervisor direction Follow all leave no trace principles, & make sure campers follow them Actively contribute & participate in staff training & meetings Proactively communicate camp questions & concerns with the camp director & supervisor Follow directions & implement feedback from supervisors Interact with students & staff in a kind, caring, respectful, positive, & professional manner Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive & professional manner with customers, staff, & park visitors Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
High school diploma or higher Most recent academic transcript (unofficial permitted) in good standing with 3.5 minimum
GPA Certification & Safety Requirements:
Must already have CPR & First Aid certification from a live skills assessment unexpired through all camp dates you're applying to work Proof of current
COVID-19
vaccination obtained not more than 12 months before hire Pass a
DOJ & FBI
background check
Experience:
Minimum 12 months experience as a camp counselor, outdoor educator, naturalist, recreation leader, coach, or teacher working in person with GROUPS of children at K-5th grade level, ages 5-10 Frequent, regular experience hiking, running, or backpacking trails on varied terrain at least 6 mi. in a day Experience working in person with culturally, linguistically, & developmentally diverse children Experience working in person with students with widely diverse abilities, such as giftedness, typically developing children, children with disabilities (e.g., autism, ADHD), & English Language Learners (ELL) Experience leading extracurricular enrichment activities in person for groups of children in grades K-5, ages 5-10 Experience implementing effective & appropriate behavior management in person for children in grades K-5, ages 5-10 Experience with implementing age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities in person for children in grades K-5, ages 5-10
Skills:
Ability to model & educate about veganism as more than a diet Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly & uneven terrain up to approx. 6 mi./day five days a week for multiple consecutive weeks Ability to carry a hiking backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight for the duration of each camp day Fun & engaging teaching style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, & positivity Kind, caring, compassionate, & patient with learners of all skill levels Demonstrate care for children & a desire to help the whole child learn & grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to language arts &/or biology subject-matter competence Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, & pragmatics Eagerness & openness to continually learn & develop your skill set, no matter how minimal or extensive your experience Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple & easy steps Excellent time-management & organizational skills Outstanding oral & written communication skills Ability to work independently & as part of a team Punctuality & reliable attendance Demonstrable love of nature & the outdoors, eco-conscious, & health-conscious You can articulate how veganism benefits animals, health, & the environment Enthusiasm for nature-themed language arts and literacy teaching Enthusiastic about making education relevant to children's lives
Other Requirements:
You are an adult (age 18+) Valid CA driver's license Possess your own reliable vehicle & proof of auto insurance Must be in California (no out-of-state applicants are considered)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience hiking in the parks where camps are held & familiarity with their flora & fauna Majoring in or degree in biology, environmental science, education, or related field You are vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society & on Inspire's website: https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/what-is-veganism
PERKS & BENEFITS
Have fun teaching kids in the great outdoors! Paid training Paid rest breaks Off-duty meal breaks Referral bonus Retirement plan Supportive & friendly environment with coaching & mentorship Successful hires may be invited to return for additional seasonal camps Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee's & student's happiness & success!
LOCATIONS
Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve in Cupertino and Los Altos; Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos
SCHEDULE
Camp session date Monday-Friday, July 20-August 14. Orientation & training 2 days mandatory before camps start: one online (2 hrs) & one onsite (approx. 7.5 hrs).
Hours during camp sessions:
8:25 AM-4:35 PM.
CLASSIFICATION
Non-exempt employee, temporary, seasonal
COMPENSATION
$21-23/hr
DOE APPLY
Have an accurate, up-to-date, relevant resume that clearly shows verifiable experience meeting required qualifications, & apply on LinkedIn or inspireactivelearning.com. Thank you!
