EMPLOYMENT
JOIN OUR TEAM
Telluride Academy staff members are the heart and soul of our organization! They are the creative engines behind every interaction, experience and outcome we strive to achieve with our students. They are educators, guides, adventurers of the highest order, and the architects of Telluride Academy’s highly reputable outdoor and enrichment programs. Our team of instructors, specialists and interns represent a diverse collection of passionate individuals that come together to contribute to a high-energy and dynamic youth program that explores the southwest and beyond. Our success relies on collaboration, problem-solving and a ton of enthusiasm! We believe in working hard and playing harder and that a good day on the job is filled with equal parts discovery and dirt. If you are an expert at finding the perfect balance between silliness and safety, free play and focused instruction, then we would love to meet you!
CURRENT OPENINGS
Telluride Academy is now hiring summer Field Instructors. Strong candidates must be team players and possess sound and responsible decision-making skills, have previous experience working with groups of children, as well as strong organizational skills to handle weekly student field reports, program logistics, instructor evaluations, and activity budgets. Successful applicants are flexible, motivated individuals that have an affinity for creativity and spending significant time outside! Instructor responsibilities include ensuring a safe, engaging, and educational experience for groups of students ranging in age from 5-17. Most Academy programs occur in the Telluride region of the San Juan Mountains and the deserts of the Southwest. During a typical two-week Telluride Academy program, two co-instructors (male and female) will share responsibility for a maximum of 13 students. Programs typically run from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday with overnight campouts each Wednesday. First-year Academy instructors will typically run programs that cater to our younger participants and will visit locations within the Telluride region. However, we try to create an experience for all of our staff that involves interactions with various ages and activities. Types of activities that instructors may facilitate include field games, overnight camping, day hiking, ecological exploration, mountain biking, swimming, inflatable kayaking, SUPing, outdoor cooking, arts and crafts, rock climbing, and backpacking.
Additionally, all staff are expected to practice and teach environmental stewardship principles as well as leadership and teambuilding initiatives to groups of students. Within the structure of established itineraries and program descriptions, Academy instructors are given the freedom and flexibility to shape, plan and implement daily programming – a unique and successful key to the Academy’s long-standing success. Potential instructors must pass a criminal background check, as well as a safe driving check and be available for our annual pre-season staff training held in late May each summer.
Qualifications
- Organized, dependable and professional
- Demonstrated selflessness in previous roles being a “team player”
- Knowledge and enthusiasm for outdoor/experiential education
- Significant prior experience working with youth
- Strong communication skills with administrators, co-workers, campers, and parents
- Ability to be present and “cell phone” free while at work
- Current WFA and CPR certification (or ability to obtain with the Academy or independently)
- Must pass a criminal and driving background check
- Must be at least 21 years of age
Compensation
• On average, weekly salary from $750 – $1000, dependent on program assignment
Telluride Academy Interns play a vital role in the success of our summer programs. Interns may participate in our annual staff training in June with our entire Field Staff. Interns will then spend the summer season working in a variety of different arenas that make up the Academy’s day to day operations. These are, but are not limited to:
1. Assisting our Field Instructors on daily and overnight adventures in such activities as hiking, rock climbing, paddleboarding, field experiments, art projects and overnight campouts.
2. Coordinating parent drop-off/pick-up, student check-in and camp store.
3. Office administration duties such as on-line registrations, answering phone calls, data entry and uploading program photos.
4. Gear administration and repair, vehicle logs, patrolling parent parking during student drop off and pickup and handling program shuttles.
5. Working with the administrative team to plan and implement summer fundraising events and parties. The Telluride Academy provides a fun, casual, creative and engaging work environment.
Our staff are expected to be professional and outgoing communicators that can be proactive in general problem solving and work well in a team. Interns should be comfortable working with a variety of aged youth in numerous non-traditional environments as well as familiar with general computer programs. Interested applicants must be 18 yrs or older and are mature self-starters that display initiative and drive and have an appreciation for creating fun and positive experiences for others. *Must be 18 years old
Qualifications
• Organized, dependable and professional
• Knowledge and enthusiasm for outdoor/experiential education
• Ability to be present and “cell phone” free while at work
• Must be at least 18 years of age
Compensation
• $15 – $16 per hour DOQ