TWO HIRING SESSIONS AVAILABLE

Spring Start: March
Summer Start: July 

SUMMARY

New instructors at Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School start their employment with a rigorous, training-heavy 16-week period meant to prepare them to become full-time instructors at or before the end of the 16-week period. New instructors will spend the first phase of this period in formal trainings designed to introduce instructors to what it means to work with students, how to manage risk in our course areas, and how to create the outcomes-oriented student experience we strive for. In the second phase, new instructors will begin to engage with our work! New instructors will work primarily in support roles and as co-instructors on programs. Through working in the support role, new instructors gain an inside-look at how our base operates and the work that goes into creating a successful program. While co-instructing on both Day Programs and Expeditions, they will observe and experience what makes an excellent Outward Bound program and apply their training, all with the support of experienced lead instructors. Both program support work and co-instructing provide new instructors with experience and knowledge that will be formative for their career as an instructor. 

A Year at CBOBS

During the Spring and Fall seasons, we partner with nearby public, charter, and independent schools to deliver 5-day peer leadership expeditions. In the Summer, we welcome students from around the world on longer, 8- to 12-day expeditions. We backpack on the Appalachian Trail and in the Dolly Sods Wilderness, canoe on the Potomac River, and sea kayak on the Nanticoke River near the Chesapeake Bay. Similarly, our day programs serve mostly school students during the Spring and Fall. Over the Summer, we work with groups from summer enrichment programs, camps, or mentorship groups. From mid-November to mid-March, our base shuts down for the Winter months; during this time, instructors often travel, find other work in education or the service industry, and/or pursue other interests in the Baltimore area. 

CBOBS programs currently include: 

• Expeditions are multi-day backpacking, canoeing, or sea kayaking programs on the Appalachian Trail in MD and PA, the Potomac River, Savage River State Forest in Wester MD, the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in WV, and the Nanticoke River on the Chesapeake Bay. They range in length from 5 – 12 days. 
• Day Programs occur predominantly at CBOBS’ facilities located in the 1,216-acre Gwynns Falls Leakin Park in Baltimore, MD, with some programs occurring off-site. Day Programs include youth and adult teambuilding and Challenge Course experiences.  

Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School’s Baltimore base provides the best of both worlds. Located in the 1,216 acre Gwynns Falls Leakin Park in Baltimore, MD, the base is within city limits, with easy access to Baltimore City while still being in a huge, wooded park.  

Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School is also actively developing a base in Washington, D.C., with offices located at the Josephine Butler Parks Center. Our D.C. partnerships are growing constantly, and we work directly with D.C. Parks and Recreation in an effort to revitalize several of D.C.’s green spaces. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Supervise and maintain the wellbeing of all assigned participants for the duration of the program. 
• Participate in expedition and 1-day program planning, including developing educational and outdoor skill curricula, route planning, food and equipment organization, and packing. 
• Effectively design and facilitate engaging activities, lessons, and discussions that meet learners' needs and course outcomes. 
• Assist with delivering CBOBS mission and facilitation of character development, leadership, and an ethic of service to others and the environment. 
• Work effectively with students 12 - 18+ years in age, students who may have never camped before, and students from marginalized communities. 
• Provides clear, effective, and timely communication with fellow instructors, area specialists, and administrative program staff. 
• Participates in all required staff training, commits to own professional growth, and improves technical and interpersonal skills. 
• Demonstrate excellent self-care and ability to model and oversee students' self-care, health, and hygiene in outdoor and wilderness settings.  
• Give and receive and receive effective feedback with co-workers and supervisors. 
• Manage and assist with field evacuations, emergency response situations calmly and concisely, adhering to all protocols and reporting chains.  
• Develop technical skills in CBOBS program activities, including backpacking, rock climbing, sea kayaking, canoeing, or challenge course facilitation. 

If you are motivated to serve young people and be a part of a supportive, fun, and hard-working community, apply to be an Instructor today! 

Minimum Qualifications 

- Authorized to work in the United States

- Must be 21 years of age or older 

- Fully vaccinated and boosted 

- Able to pass a FBI and MD state background check 

- Capable of performing the essential functions of the job for which you are applying, with or without a reasonable accommodation 

Preferred Qualifications 

• One or more years of comparable experience in risk management, education, and/or outdoor skills. 
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail. 
• Comfortable driving large vehicles with and without trailers. If able to drive for CBOBS, applicant must clear a motor vehicle record check. 
• Clear and effective communicator, both written and oral.  
• Experienced in working with a range of backgrounds and ages as colleagues, clients, and participants. 
• Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid certification preferred. 
• Demonstrated commitment to engaging in equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts (in a professional or personal setting). 
• Experience using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Google Suite.