Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

UPDATES: Hiring!

Hiring:

To Apply: Complete online application for field staff; In addition, please send a resume/cover letter to wildclass@cottonwoodgulch.org

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions seeks an enthusiastic educator to join our Students In Wilderness Initiative (SIWI) team in a full-time or part-time capacity. Our Students in Wilderness Initiative is a collaborative program developed with The Wilderness Society (TWS), a variety of schools across New Mexico, and is part of TWS’s larger Youth In Wilderness program. Our program focuses on public lands, issues around the wilderness, the history of public lands in the US, and environmental education. The curriculum is delivered through a series of classroom sessions and field-based expeditions; the classroom sessions explore topics with students and connect them with stakeholders in those topics; field expeditions are designed to experience public lands, “big W Wilderness,” and build comfort in these spaces. This program works with middle school students and is designed to address the access gap that many historically marginalized communities experience in predominantly white outdoor spaces. In part, we hope to inspire and empower students to become advocates for wilderness and public lands and to develop a life-long relationship with public lands. A component of this position is developing strong connections with the communities in which our SIWI program works (meaning students, families, teachers, administrators, and other community leaders). The person in this position works with students and teachers both in school and on field expeditions from August-May and works with youth in CGE’s open enrollment multi-week traveling programs during the summer. 

Job Objective: Serve as the lead educator both in the classroom and the field for 130-150 SIWI students in 6-8 classrooms per academic per year; coordinate logistics and refine curriculum for all field expeditions; collaborate with other SIWI team members on curriculum design. Support 5-7 weeks of open enrollment summer programs (3 weeks training new staff, 2-4 weeks working with participants).

Responsibilities: 

Students in Wilderness Initiative (~85%): 

• Prepare, schedule, facilitate, and support classroom-based learning experiences about the land designation and Wilderness with middle school students throughout New Mexico; Check in with classroom teachers throughout the year for classroom sessions and field-based expeditions; Guide students in a project-based learning component

• Schedule and communicate with stakeholders for classrooms sessions 

• Facilitate and attend planning meetings via phone and in-person with teachers and administrators; represent CGE in a professional manner; facilitate and attend after-school parent meetings with families of SIWI students; answer questions about risk, backpacking, the relevance of curriculum, etc. 

• Build relationships with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other community leaders to support the SIWI program 

• Plan effective itineraries to get students into public lands and wilderness areas in compliance with organizational processes and serve as a team lead to ensure logistics for field expeditions are executed; Spend up to 5 nights at a time camping/backpacking in the field; total overnight fieldwork for SIWI will be between 50 and 65 nights per year. 

• Collaborate closely with other SIWI Field Educators/Program Director on curriculum design

• Serve in a leadership capacity while in the field acting as a group leader 

• Assist with SIWI program administration including collaborative data collection and analysis at various levels, including information from student pre- and post-surveys; virtual communication with The Wilderness Society once every 1-4 weeks, in collaboration with other SIWI staff and program director 

• Assist with publicity, outreach, marketing, storytelling, and blog writing for the SIWI program

• Assist in writing reports to foundations and other funding agencies 

• Assist with annual reviews of SIWI curriculum and collaboratively work to make improvements

• Communicate effectively with a variety of audiences including teachers, parents, land managers, funders, board members, etc. 

Summer Expeditions (~10%): 

• Lead and support outdoor education expeditions across the American Southwest, including in front country and backcountry settings, ranging from single-day programs to multi-week programs; Depending on position, spend up to 21 nights at a time camping in the field; total overnight fieldwork for summer expeditions will be 25 days or less. 

• Specific roles in summer programs will be determined based on employee’s skills and interests and the staffing needs of the organization 

• Willing to live at our summer Basecamp in Thoreau, NM from June 1st - Aug 15th 

Program Support (~5%): 

• Participate in meetings, assist with partnership reporting/conversation 

• Engage as a working professional in an office with ~10 full-time employees, assist with projects as needed

• Serve as an assistant trainer during field staff training expeditions 

• Assist with facilitation of other CGE programs as a support staff person; anticipated 5-10 days per year

• Assist with other school contract programming 

Compensation: This is a year-round position, based on funding provided. Annual salary starting at $30,000. 100% Health Care Premiums paid, available after the first 30 days. Professional development opportunities both within and outside of the organization. Various Pro-Deals are available to all staff. Retirement matches up to 5% available after six months; HC/DC FSA account available. Housing at Thoreau Base Camp provided June-Aug.

Target Starting Date: August 3, 2021

Requirements 

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age by the position start date and possess a valid driver’s license. Must have a clean driving history and be able to meet the criteria for CGE vehicle insurance. 

• Must be able to live at Basecamp or travel with a group during the summer. 

• Work hours are frequently outside of traditional office hours. Overnight camping is required for 50-90 nights/year.

• Strong organizational skills; Ability to learn how to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and independently. 

• Ability to learn software (Google Drive, Adobe products, and Microsoft Office) quickly

• Ability to learn how to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide range of audiences (TWS representatives, fellow staff, teachers, students, parents, etc.) via a wide range of tools 

• Passion for and experience with spending time outdoors 

• WFR/WEMT or ability to acquire within 90 days of hire 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience as an outdoor educator, managing risk, supervising field staff, and independently running trips throughout a season; 

• Experience leading backpacking; 

• Education, classroom teaching, or curriculum development training or experience; 

• Experience using Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc. for professional purposes and/or virtual teaching

• Experience with federal, state, tribal, and private land management 

• Connection, understanding of, and relationship with New Mexico lands and wilderness areas

• Spanish, Diné, Zuni, Tiwa, Keres, Towa, Hopi, or Tewa language fluency.

Additional Information About Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

Where is Cottonwood Gulch located:

We have a 540 acre base camp in Thoreau, NM, about 2 hours west of Albuquerque. We are based at basecamp June through mid-August and spend the rest of the year working from our office in the North Valley of Albuquerque.

What are some of the challenges and rewards of the job?

It can be challenging to live in community 24/7. Since we are an unplugged program, communication with friends and family back home can be challenging. We do have an office at our basecamp, but both internet and phone service are very limited. Letter writing remains the best method of communication. Additionally, our basecamp is a very rustic setting with open air cabins, no electricity, and pull string showers, which can be challenging for some. 

It is also a very rewarding job which allows for an outdoor lifestyle with a like-minded group of people. Our staff have the opportunity to explore the Southwest, spending nights out under the stars, and making meaningful connections with people of all different backgrounds.

How long does seasonal employment last?

Staff contracts can last anywhere from ten weeks to twelve months.

What are the top 10 reasons that staff love working at the Gulch?

• Group of coworkers who are interesting, fun to work with, and are part of a passionate community.

• Making meaningful connections with people from many different places and backgrounds.

• Getting to go to some “hidden gems” of the Southwest and doing cool stuff in amazing places.

• Part of your job is facilitating mandatory fun times.

• Learning skills applicable in your own life and gaining resilience.

• Sharing your knowledge and passion with others.

• Being part of a staff team that is committed to sustainable, outdoor living.

• Getting to make a difference in the lives of young people.

• Countless number of desert sunsets, nights spent under the stars, and that smell of rain in the desert.

• Cottonwood Gulch is a different kind of outdoor education organization that isn’t just focused on wilderness adventure and personal development, but instead includes science, nature, art, and culture.

• Click here to learn more!

Equal Employment Opportunity: Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, and national or ethnic origin. The organization's nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. 

DEI Statement: 

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions believes in the learning, growth and healing that cantake place in the outdoors. We also recognize that access to programs likeours—along with access to any green space, clean air and water, and healthyfood—continues to be a privilege rather than a right. CGE recognizes that in outdoor spaces, the voices and work of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, indigenous people, women, and LGBTQ+ folx have been often overlooked and marginalized. We also recognize that these communities must be centered in the work we do as an organization moving forward. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities and of those who are members of other historically marginalized communities.