The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education

 

UPDATES: Now Hiring Field Instructors: Guide Backpacking and Canoe Trips!

 

Hiring:

 
 
 

Wilderness Field Instructor


To Apply: Candidates may apply by sending a cover letter, resume, and trip log to hr@ncoae.org

 

The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) has immediate openings for Field Instructors, to guide individually contracted canoeing and backpacking trips for the 2025 season (Jan/Feb, May-Oct).

Instructors manage the safety of trip participants while co-facilitating multi-day adventure education courses in the field, including backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and more. Instructors manage risks and assure effective courses while serving as an educator and role model.

Candidates must be able to teach and facilitate NCOAE’s curriculum to teens and adults, complete documentation in an accurate and timely fashion, and participate in pre-trip and post-trip briefs. Additional duties include facilitating a meaningful group process and setting an emotionally and physically safe, fun and engaging tone for instructors and students to follow. NCOAE is proud to be an AEE (Association for Experiential Education) accredited organization.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Prior experience working with wilderness programs, outdoor education, residential summer camps, or related field

  • Strong Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

  • Current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification (preferred), or willingness to obtain

  • Ability to work independently and as a team

  • Competency in risk management skills

  • Prior to hiring: Satisfactory completion of an NCOAE staff training

Preferred:

  • 2+ prior seasons leading domestic, international outdoor education programs, or residential summer camp 

  • Current WFR or Wilderness EMT certification

  • Leave No Trace Master Educator

  • Master’s, Bachelor’s or Associate degree in adventure education, outdoor education, recreation, wilderness leadership or related degree

Employee Perks Include:

  • Room/board for seasonal staff

  • Industry-leading pay

  • Training

  • Uniform shirt

  • Industry discounts on professional memberships, clothing, gear, and equipment

  • A dedicated administrative team to support your in-field efforts

  • Live just a few miles from the beach in between courses!

 

Additional Information About The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education

Adventure First. Education Always.

The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education’s mission is to design and deliver handcrafted outdoor and adventure education experiences that promote personal growth, professional development, and stewardship in our communities and the natural environment.

Our vision is a world supported by people and institutions who are naturally inclined to serve one another while protecting the natural environment. We believe in creating empowering experiences. Our core curriculum goes beyond wilderness skills — it teaches our students critical thinking, navigating interpersonal relationships, and compassion for and duty to the environment.

Every team member plays a critical role in contributing to our success! Our field staff is the key to our future growth and our student and participant success. If you have a deep passion for education and the outdoors, and if you take immense pride in your work and have the ability to positively impact the lives of others, embrace change, and believe that mountains, rivers and surf are simply opportunities — then we invite you to apply to become an NCOAE instructor.

About the organization

From North Carolina to Alaska to the high Andes to Ecuador, NCOAE is a values-based outdoor and adventure education provider for teens and adults interested in personal growth and professional development. NCOAE develops and facilitates professionally guided outdoor experiences to foster an engaged educational community, through personal growth and the acquisition of technical and academic skills.

NCOAE was founded in 2009 offering courses and trainings that vary in length from three days to three months. Courses focus on a variety of outdoor and wilderness skills including mountaineering, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, backpacking, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, and remote backcountry travel and camping. Trainings and certifications courses offered include: the NCOAE ‘Intensive’ Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and Leave No Trace.