STEM Instructor

Science Adventure School – STEM Instructor

Location: Summit Bechtel Reserve or Heritage Farm and Jackson's Mill 4H Camp or WVU Outdoor Education Center

Type: Seasonal (August – November)

Job Summary:

The Science Adventure School is a 4-day, 3-night outdoor science school serving West Virginia’s youth. We integrate adventure sports-driven STEM curriculum with hands-on, engaging environmental lessons. Through experiential education, we inspire inquiry, instill confidence, and empower the leaders of tomorrow.

STEM instructors deliver lessons from our innovative Science Behind the Sport program, helping students explore the engineering, physics, and math that make their arrows hit a target and keep their BMX bikes upright. Lessons are short, activity-based, and hands-on. For example, students who have just tried rock climbing might rest while learning about the muscles that they used to climb. After the anatomy lesson, they'll partner up to make their own nylon rope, learning how climbing rope’s construction and elasticity give it strength, before heading back to the climbing wall for round two. Because students get to immediately put the fundamental principles of STEM into practice, they discover the best possible answers to the question, “How will we actually use this stuff in real life?”

Responsibilities and Duties:

STEM Instructors will be expected to:

• Teach Science Behind the Sport lessons and hands-on activities, placing special emphasis on the practical applications of STEM.
• Cultivate a fun, energetic, positive atmosphere where students learn by doing.
• Manage a class of up to 16 students, plus two field staff and a teacher chaperone.
• Maintain and organize science displays, demos, and activity materials.
• Engage students in outdoor activities, which may include rock climbing, cycling, archery, zip lining, and paddling. STEM Instructors may monitor student safety, coach and encourage students, and help other trained staff run these activities. All relevant training will be provided.
• Collaborate with Outdoor Education Guides to orient students and run team building activities.
• Maintain a positive attitude, willingness to take initiative, and professional language, appearance, and behavior.
• Assist field staff and teachers with other camp duties as needed, to ensure success of the program as a whole.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements:

The applicant must, at a minimum, have the following experience/qualification:

• Post-secondary education and/or equivalent contemporary knowledge in STEM
• Friendly personality with the ability to connect and communicate effectively with youth
• Willingness to live and work in an outdoor setting that requires moderate physical activity
• Attention to organization, time management, and risk management
• Excellent organizational skills, time-management skills, and risk management skills
• Passion for science, education, and creative thinking
• Ability to pass a federal background check

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred, but are not mandatory:

• Prior experience working with youth (ages 10-14)
• Experience/familiarity with rock climbing, archery, cycling, zip lining, paddling, and other outdoor activities
• Knowledge of modern teaching strategies and techniques

Time Commitment:

The Science Adventure School will begin staff training in early August. We expect that you will be available to work with us through the beginning of November with minimal time off throughout that time, except for a mandatory week off near the middle of the programming season.

Staff will be expected to work Monday-Friday with weekends off. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be “on-duty” nights where staff are expected to remain on-site at camp to assist with evening programming. Although sufficient breaks will be scheduled throughout the week, expect to be working long days with students Tuesday morning through Friday afternoon. Hours vary, but while students are on-site, days frequently start around 7:00AM and end around 10:00PM.

We have a small number of “limited hour” positions available, where staff would only be expected to work Wednesday and Thursday. Please ask in your interview if this is of interest.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive per diem starting at $100/day and up to $160/day
• Additional pay will be allotted as per SAS pay matrix with increases for education, experience, and/or relevant certifications.
• Shared lodging in the form of sturdy tents, yurts, and/or cabins will be provided for the duration of contract (including weekends and off-days). All locations have running water and showers
• All meals will be provided Monday-Friday, and accommodations for food preparations will be available on weekends.
• Laundry and internet will be available on site at no charge.
  
• All professional training will be paid and provided for free.