Vegan Nature Camp Counselor (Summer 2026)

Vegan Nature Camp Counselor (Summer 2026) Inspire Active Learning Oakland, CA Job Details Temporary | Full-time $21 - $23 an hour 1 day ago Benefits Paid training Referral program Retirement plan Qualifications Behavioral interventions CPR Certification Teamwork Outdoor work Writing skills First aid English High school diploma or GED Education First Aid Certification Driving Working with children Organizational skills Classroom behavior management Teaching Camp Time management Full Job Description Nature Camp Counselor for Inspire Active Learning's Call of the

Wild Camps:

hiring now for full-time employment in the summer 2026 season in Oakland & Berkeley June 1-July 17 Do you love teaching children? Are you an avid hiker with a love of nature & the outdoors? Are you vegan? Nature Camp Counselors teach and lead children in learning about the outdoors, biology, environmental stewardship, ethical vegan values, and more through experiential learning, play, hikes, and exploration in outdoor nature camps. Open a door to the wonders of nature as a living classroom in Call of the Wild Camps, where kids in grades K-5 come to hike, read, write, explore, learn, & play!

Camp Type:

day camp, nature camp, summer camp, elementary school level camp

APPLY:

complete the application in the

Google Form:

https://forms.gle/Jkwu6ySj19w6wVgw9. The application is also accessible on Inspire Active Learning's website www.inspireactivelearning.com. Only applicants who follow instructions are considered. You may be the ideal Nature Camp Counselor if you are: A communicative and collaborative team player bursting with creative ideas, fun, adaptable, friendly, outgoing, energetic, and eager to inspire and engage children in learning by doing. Experienced in early childhood education, elementary education, outdoor education, environmental education, nature education, literacy education, outdoor recreation, and related fields.

Vegan or open-minded about veganism:

"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

We believe that to inspire learning is to inspire action. We believe in experiential, lifelong learning. Outdoor educators in Call of the Wild Camps provide a fun, safe alternative to screen addiction; inspire nature connection and curiosity; and foster healthy, positive relationships with flora and fauna in our natural environments.

Essential Duties:

​Complete training online and onsite at Call of the Wild Camps Punctually and reliably attend scheduled work hours, rain or shine, including training, staff meetings, and camp session dates Safely lead hikes in parks up to approx. 6 miles 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, and motor activities for Call of the Wild Camps For summer camps, implement activities for theme weeks such as Enchanted Forest Art, Enchanted Forest Stories, Enchanted Vegan, & Trailblazers Supervise and engage children on occasional science museum & science center visits Teach and facilitate fun and positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, and the environment Teach and lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature and wilderness themes, including circle time with story time and singing, literary show-and-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, and authoring and illustrating books Teach and 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, and writing activities Teach and engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation and education, such as nature-themed field games, hide and seek and chase games, forest "I Spy" games, and scavenger hunts Teach and facilitate nature-themed arts and crafts Engage children with a fun teaching style and high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity Supervise and facilitate children's rest breaks, snack and lunch breaks, and physical play breaks Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities Implement teaching and behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, and contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences and choices Facilitate emergent curriculum and child-centered, student-centered, experiential, incidental, and play-based teaching and learning opportunities Create both structured and incidental learning opportunities Keep work materials neat, organized, and in good working condition Record accurate, objective incident reports Drive by personal vehicle during the work shift for emergency or safety-related situations or to access reception as needed under supervisor direction Follow the three camp rules: (1) be kind, (2) be safe, and (3) leave no trace, and make sure campers follow them Follow all health and safety requirements, and make sure campers follow them Follow all seven leave no trace principles, and make sure campers follow them Actively contribute and participate in staff training and meetings Proactively communicate camp questions and concerns with the camp director and supervisor Follow directions and implement feedback from supervisors Interact with students and staff in a kind, caring, respectful, positive, and professional manner Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive and professional manner with customers, staff, and park visitors Mentor and support Counselors in Training (CITs) participating in the internship program Meet all of the physical requirements for the job, including standing, bending, sitting, squatting, walking, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., hiking up to approx. 6 miles per day on varied terrain in varied weather with a backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight, visual acuity for reading books, maps, interpretive panels, and signs Perform other duties as assigned

APPLY:

you must complete the application in order to apply.

Google Form link:

https://forms.gle/Jkwu6ySj19w6wVgw9. The application is also accessible on Inspire Active Learning's website www.inspireactivelearning.com. Only applicants who follow instructions are considered.

Required Qualifications:

​

Required Education:

​ Proof of your high school diploma or higher degree Most recent academic transcript (unofficial is permitted) in good standing with a 3.5 minimum GPA. If your school does not provide grades, you do not qualify for this position. Proof of a declared major or minor in a relevant discipline or completion of one or more relevant courses, such as biology, environmental science, or education ​

Certification and Safety Requirements:

​​ Proof of CPR and First Aid certification that remains unexpired through all camps dates you are applying to work. The only accepted CPR and First Aid certification involves passing a live skills assessment with an instructor. Entirely asynchronous online courses are not accepted. Proof of current

COVID-19

vaccination obtained within 12 months of hire before hire or obtain an exemption for medical or sincerely held religious belief reasons. Pass a DOJ and FBI background check. ​

Required Experience:

​​​ Minimum 12 months of experience as a camp counselor, outdoor educator, naturalist, recreation leader, coach, instructor, or classroom teacher working in person with GROUPS of elementary school age children at K-5th grade level, ages 5-10. Babysitting or nannying are not equivalent experience. Frequent, regular experience hiking, trail running, or backpacking trails on varied terrain at least 6 miles in a day Experience working in person with culturally, linguistically, and 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, dyslexia, speech and language delays), and 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 and appropriate behavior management in person for children in grades K-5, ages 5-10 Experience with child development and implementing age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities in person for children in grades K-5, ages 5-10 ​​

APPLY:

https://forms.gle/Jkwu6ySj19w6wVgw9

Required Skills:

​ Ability to model and educate about veganism as more than a diet Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly and uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a 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 Ability to meet all other physical requirements for the job, including standing, bending, sitting, squatting, walking, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., and visual acuity for reading books, maps, interpretive panels, and signs Demonstrate a fun and engaging leadership style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity Friendly, kind, caring, compassionate, and patient teaching style for learners of all skill levels Eagerness and openness to continually learn and develop your skill set Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple and easy steps Excellent time-management and organizational skills Outstanding oral and written communication skills Eco-conscious skills with a demonstrable love of nature and the outdoors You can articulate how veganism benefits animals, health, and the environment Health-conscious skills with a demonstrable love of active and healthy living Enthusiasm for nature-themed language arts and literacy teaching Enthusiasm for making education relevant to children's lives Demonstrate care for children and a desire to help the whole child learn and grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to subject-matter competence in language arts and relevant life sciences

APPLY:

https://forms.gle/Jkwu6ySj19w6wVgw9 ​

Other Requirements:

​ You are an adult (age 18 or older) or will be an adult before the start date of the camp session Proof of a valid California driver's license Proof of auto insurance ​​

Preferred Qualifications:

​​​ Experience hiking in the parks where you are applying to work You are vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society and as described on Inspire's website here: https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/what-is-veganism

APPLY:

https://forms.gle/Jkwu6ySj19w6wVgw9 PERKS

AND BENEFITS

​ Have fun teaching and inspiring kids in the great outdoors! Employees get paid training; paid rest breaks; off-duty lunch breaks; and retirement plan if working at least 30 days Referral bonus Supportive and friendly environment with coaching and mentorship Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee's and student's happiness and success! ​

LOCATIONS

East Bay parks​​​​​. This job is for work in both Oakland and Berkeley, not either/or. Check the Call of the Wild Camps web pages for more information on all locations.

Berkeley:

Tilden Regional Park​ and

Tilden Nature Area Oakland:

Joaquin Miller Park, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Roberts Regional Recreation Area ​

SCHEDULE

​​

Initial Training:

two dates before the start date of camp sessions

East Bay Summer Camps:

8:25 AM-4:35 PM, Jun 1-Jul 17, Mon-Fri ​

CLASSIFICATION

Non-exempt employee for temporary, seasonal work. Full time for the summer camp season. ​

COMPENSATION

$21.00/hr - $23.00/hr DOE ​

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

1) Application 2) Interview via Google Meet for qualified applicants 3) Employment verification, plus reference checks with two supervisors who have overseen your work with children 4) Conditional job offers are made to selected candidates 5) Final job offers are made, contingent upon successfully completing all requirements for hire ​

APPLY:

you must complete the application in order to apply.

Google Form link:

https://forms.gle/Jkwu6ySj19w6wVgw9. The application is also accessible on Inspire Active Learning's website www.inspireactivelearning.com. Thank you!

Keywords:

nature camp counselor, camp leader, camp teacher, camp instructor, outdoor educator, youth leader, youth group leader, program leader, lead counselor, lead camp counselor, elementary program leader, outdoor camp counselor, forest camp counselor, naturalist, summer camp counselor, hiking camp counselor, science camp counselor, vegan camp counselor, writing camp counselor, reading camp counselor, academic camp counselor, K-5 camp counselor, nature instructor, naturalist, Berkeley camp counselor, Oakland camp counselor

Job Types:

Full-time, Temporary Pay:

$21.00 - $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

Referral program

Work Location:

In person