Are you interested in joining the Avid4 Adventure Staff?

Please download and fill out an electronic application. 

 

 WE WILL BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS BEGINNING IN JANUARY, 2010.

To:       Prospective Staff
From: David Secunda, Program Director
Re:       Staff Positions Available

 

(Full Time & Part Time starting mid-April or end of May AND ending beginning of September or end of October)

 

I started Avid4 Adventure to engage kids in active outdoor pursuits in a safety-oriented, environmentally responsible manner.  To this end, Avid4 provides age-appropriate outdoor activities that encourage learning, develop self-esteem and build friendships. Given that outdoor activities can be dangerous, we focus on promoting safety through participant awareness and high quality staff. We are hiring for several programs (check out our website for more detailed information):

School Intensive:
This unique program travels to elementary schools and middle schools providing outdoor education on their campus or at a local park or reservoir.  We bring 4 portable “outdoor education stations”: a mobile climbing wall, a portable pool for kayaking, a portable mountain bike skills course, & an outdoor “Leave No Trace” classroom. Students rotate through the 4 stations receiving an introduction to each activity and learning relevant academic curriculum extensions to the activities.

Day Camps:
The day camp program offers 5-12 year olds (grouped by age) one-week day camp sessions (M-F 8:45-2:30) in which kids have a safety focused opportunity to sample a different outdoor pursuit each day. All activities are age appropriate and include such options as rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and canoeing. We also offer one week “Intensives” that focus on one activity for a full week and 2-week Advanced Camps that offer incremental learning in canoeing, outdoor education, biking, and rock climbing.

Camp Eden Resident Camp:

Camp Eden offers a classlic sleepsway experience for children ages 7 to 14. Located in the mountains west of Golden, Camp Eden is a beautiful lodge and camp with on-site rock climbing, paddling, biking, zip lining, etc. Older campers get to leave camp and go on a multi-day adventure, which will be backpacking in 2010. All staff will be expected to work at Camp Eden.

Events:
Avid4 runs numerous events during the summer with our portable elements: a mobile climbing wall, a portable pool for kayaking, and a portable mountain bike skills course. These include such festivals as the Teva Games, Boulder Creek Festival, etc. All staff have opportunities to work events throughout the seasons.

Family Trips:
Family Trips make camping simple for families by taking care of all of the logistics, so families can focus on enjoying the environment and each other. On all of our trips, parents have time to recreate together while Avid4 Adventure staff provides outdoor instruction for all the kids (climbing, hiking, rafting, canyoneering, etc.). Staff takes the lead in meal preparation with assistance from participants. 
 
Over my last 20+ years in the outdoor industry, I’ve run a number of programs, but I’ve never been as excited about anything as much as Avid4 Adventure. 

This is an opportunity to help build an entirely new type of outdoor education program for kids, with the goal of inspiring life-long active outdoor lifestyles. This program is all about kids, so if you don’t have a passion for working with youth, you need not apply.

Below you can find all the details that we think you will need, but please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. Avid4 is all about working with great staff that is aligned with the program’s goals, and I’m happy to have a conversation to help see if this opportunity fits for you. This year, I’m happy to provide some great benefits to our staff including 50% health insurance contribution on our selected policies, pro deals on all types of gear, cost-offset biking, climbing, and paddling staff trips, Red Cross Canoe/Kayak Instructor Certification, and Avid4 Van Defensive Driving Certification.

Thanks for your interest in Avid4 Adventure. I look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Adventure,

 

David Secunda
720-249-2412
david@Avid4.com

 

Avid4 Adventure

PROSPECTIVE STAFF INFO

Our Goals:

 

• Provide activities that develop students’ judgment, personal responsibility, self-esteem and confidence.
• Create a group setting that provides teambuilding and new opportunities for social development.
• Enhance environmental understanding and stewardship.
• Increase physical and outdoor skills.
• Introduce students to non-competitive active outdoor lifestyle pursuits.

Our Curriculum:

Avid4 offers different outdoor pursuits with an emphasis on developing friendships, understanding risks, and learning. All activities are age appropriate, including Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Kayaking, Canoeing, etc.

Our program is about learning and having fun, not about competition or ability. Groups are formed by age and can accommodate a spectrum of experience, from “never-ever” to “proficient.” We believe that by introducing kids to a variety of fun outdoor activities at an early age, we can instill a love for play in the outdoors that will last a lifetime. We precede all activities with an age appropriate talk about potential risks and how to avoid them, thus encouraging participants to develop understanding and judgment. Here are a few examples:

• Rock Climbing- Kids will learn about techniques, precautions, equipment and history of the sport. Top-roped climbing will take place in an area that provides climbs for every ability level.
• Canoeing & Kayaking- Our flatwater instruction program gives kids a chance to learn about techniques, precautions, equipment and history of the sport. Our teaching progression emphasizes incrementally developing comfort with equipment and the environment in order to facilitate success experiences. This summer, we will also be running a few river kayaking programs on Class I-II rivers.
• Mountain Biking- Avid4’s fleet of mountain bikes can accommodate any size participant. We can work with all ability levels, from those that can’t ride without hands-on assistance, to proficient riders. Riders will not only learn technique, precautions, equipment and history of the sport, but also some basics of bicycle maintenance.
• Leave No Trace- Learning Leave No Trace (LNT) outdoor ethics is integrated into all of our activities. Avid4 is an Official Partner of LNT, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. LNT builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands.

Training & Work Schedule:

There are various seasonal work opportunities available:

• March- We are seeking staff to work our spring break Family Trips; trips run 3/20-3/29. Because of the advanced nature of these trips, interested staff must spend one trip as a "trainee" before they are eligible fro paid family trip work.
  
• April-October- We are looking for staff that are available for full time seasonal work from mid-April through October 31. During the spring and fall, staff will work the School Intensive. During summer months, staff will work Day Camp, Family Trips, Events, or Overnight Trips.
  
• End of May-early September- We are looking for staff that is available for our summer season only. Staff will work Day Camp, Family Trips, Events or Overnight Trips.

Here are the details on each of our programs:

• School Intensive: Staff Training is required 4/22-4/25. The programs run from 4/26-5/28 and 8/30-end of October. School programs run end to end in the spring and fall. Each program is one or two weeks long and takes place along the Front Range. Programs typically run from 8-4, M-F (set-up and take down days can be longer). Staff is responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the program location. Daily carpools from Boulder are typical, but not guaranteed.  School Intensive work is paid hourly.
  
• Day Camps: Staff Training is required 5/30-6/4. Summer programs run from 6/7-8/13 (or 8/20 for some programs). Expect to miss one week of scheduled programs in order to take personal time and stay energized; requests for partial weeks off generally cannot be accommodated during the summer because we try to create consistency for the children during a camp week. Day Camp typical work day runs from 7:45-3:30, but could be longer for Monday morning registration, Wednesday afternoon staff meetings, or other needs.  Day Camps run in Boulder, Golden, Highlands Ranch, and Denver; all staff should be expected to spend 2-3 weeks in non-Boulder programs (even if you live in Boulder).  We will do our best to match you to locations in closest proximity to your home.  There is a carpool van that leaves Boulder for non-Boulder sites daily.  Day Camp work is paid as a day rate.
  
• Camp Eden Resident Camp: Resident camp is from Saturday, 7/17 to Saturday, 7/31. Staff will live with campers at Camp Eden in the mountains between Boulder and Golden. Time off will be granted during the week, but staff are expected to remain at Eden for the duration. Staff are paid an overnight rate for Camp Eden.
  
• Family Trips: Destinations include Arches, Moab, Fruita, Crested Butte, Steamboat, and canoeing the Gunnison. Staff must participate as a "trainee" for a family trip before they can serve as a staff member. We seek your availability for all of these trips (however can accommodate pre-arranged requests); trips are not guaranteed to run (enrollment dependent).  Family Trip work is paid as an overnight rate.
    
• Events: All staff will have numerous opportunities to work events throughout the summer season to supplement their incomes. Staff is responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the program location. Typically these events are at locations along the Front Range. For out of town events, Avid4 provides transportation, lodging and food.  Because events vary greatly, events are either paid hourly or as a day rate.

Hiring Process:

• Complete and submit your application
• Telephone interview
• In-person interview (submit copies of certifications and license)
• Reference check
• Job offer (pending successful field interview)
• Field interview (Half-day opportunity for us to assess your climbing and biking skills. This is part of the interview process and you are not paid for this time. Field interviews are required for all staff that will work summer programs.)
• New Employee Paperwork, Dr. physical & approval, and background check process
• Staff training (you are paid for staff training, but not for your time to acquire required certifications [Red Cross Canoe/Kayak and Avid4 Defensive Van Driving) & activity-specific written and field tests.

Required Current Certifications to work at Avid4 Adventure

For Events, School Programs &/or Summer Programs-

• Wilderness First Aid: This weekend course is required at a minimum for work in all of our programs. We suggest visiting www.nols.edu and clicking on WMI for the most extensive schedule of classes. Wilderness First Responder is required for Course Directors, Family Trip staff, and Travel Camp staff.
• CPR: Required for work in all of our programs.

For Summer Camps-

• Van Defensive Driving (or equivalent): If you do not have a Van Defensive Driving certificate of completion, you can do so at no cost on during all-camp staff training. Avid4 will cover the cost of the certification, but you are not paid hourly for your time. If you have this certification or a similar one (must be approved in advance), you do not need to attend this day of staff training.
• Red Cross Canoe Instructor (or equivalent): If you do not have this certification or equivalent, you can do so at no cost during all-camp staff training. Avid4 will cover the cost of the certification, but you are not paid hourly for your time. If you have this certification (must be approved in advance), you do not need to attend this day of staff training.
• Red Cross Kayak Instructor (or equivalent): If you do not have this certification or equivalent, you can do so at no cost during all-camp staff training. Avid4 will cover the cost of the certification, but you are not paid hourly for your time. If you have this certification (must be approved in advance), you do not need to attend this day of staff training.
• Medication Administration: Required for Course Directors and Travel Camp staff. We will provide this certification during staff training, but you will not be paid for your time.

 

Staff Positions & Compensation

Day Camp Activity Instructor

The Activity Instructor is charged with overseeing all aspects of a particular instructional activity, such as top-rope climbing or mountain biking. They have responsibility for safely conducting their activity, being aware of and responding to environmental risk factors, and inspecting and documenting any issues with activity-specific equipment before and after use. Compensation for day camp programs typically starts at $75/day.

Day Camp General Instructor

The General Instructor is charged with safety management and oversight of a group of participants for the entire program, including non-instructional time and transportation. Additionally, they assist the Activity Instructional staff to the extent of their training and ability when their group is participating in an instructional activity. Compensation for day camp programs typically starts at $75/day.

Family Trip Instructor

Working with one or two others, the Family Trip Instructor is charged with: 1) group camp site set-up and take down, 2) overseeing a group of participants during a portion of each day, providing instruction as appropriate (climbing, hiking, canyoneering, biking, etc.), 3) preparing meals in an outdoor camp kitchen with the assistance of staff and/or participants, 4) providing excellent service and communication to parent participants, and 5) overall safety management. Compensation for overnight family programs typically starts at $100/day.

Travel Camp Instructor

Working with one or two others, the Travel Camp Instructor is charged with facilitating all aspects of a multi-day outdoor education program for one group up to 12 participants including: 1) general instruction as it relates to living in the outdoors 2) outdoor activity instruction, 3) meal preparation instruction and oversight, and 4) overall safety management. Compensation for overnight travel camp programs typically starts at $100/day.

School Program & Event Instructors

School Program & Event Instructors are charged with providing instruction, safety management and oversight for a group of participants for while they engage in outdoor education activities on an artificial climbing wall, or in an above ground kayak tank, or on a portable mountain bike course. Additionally, Leave No Trace and other curriculum components are presented. Instructors also provide set-up and take-down of the artificial elements before and after the activity. Compensation for school programs and events typically starts at $10/hour.

Program Supervisors (Kayaking, Biking, Climbing, Event)

Program Supervisors provide staff training in their respective areas; oversee the entire activity delivery involving 50 staff and over 1,000 participants; instruct all of our advanced programs in the discipline; provide field evaluations instructors; and oversee purchase maintenance of equipment.

Staff Minimum Qualifications

	Director or Instructor
Medical Training	Wilderness First Aid & CPR (Wilderness First Responder & CPR for Travel & Family Trips)
Screening	Driving, Background and Reference Check
Age	Minimum Age 21
Dr. Physical Form (within 1 year of 8/09)	Mandatory
Staff Trainings	Mandatory
Van Training	Required for Camp (either Avid4 training or equivalent)
Canoe & Kayak Inst.	Required for Camp (either Avid4 training or equivalent)
Testing	Activity Specific Written & Practical Test
Instructional Experience	See Below
Youth Experience	Documented Youth Experience

All Instructors

• Must be familiar with natural and artificial wall climbing procedures, including safety precautions, equipment inspection, and group management.
• Must be familiar with flatwater kayaking/canoeing techniques, including equipment, paddle strokes, and safety precautions.
• Must be familiar with mountain biking techniques, including safety precautions, equipment inspection and maintenance, and riding techniques.
• Must be proficient in group management and teaching skills.

Climbing Activity Instructor Qualifications (camp)

All climbing staff will be accomplished and experienced in top rope climbing, climbing wall climbing, rappelling, and bouldering. They will also be familiar with instructional principles, skills, laws and regulations associated with each climbing activity.
Staff will be knowledgeable of rope systems including belays, rappels, rescues, prusik, and mechanical ascent techniques.
Staff will be trained in the set-up, takedown and operational procedures for the portable element for school programs.
It is preferred that each staff has AMGA Top Rope certification or other documented climbing instruction experience.

Mountain Biking Activity Instructor Qualifications (camp)

All mountain bike staff will be accomplished and experienced with off road and single track mountain biking. They will also be familiar with instructional principles, skills, laws and regulations associated with each mountain biking activity.
Staff will be knowledgeable of mountain biking equipment including helmets, and mountain bike maintenance techniques.

General Information

Avid4 Adventure is committed to equal employment opportunity in all of its business dealings without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or military status.
Seasonal positions are temporary in nature to not provide vacation time accrual, etc. Seasonal employees working more than one month will be eligible for health benefits.
Any applicant who knowingly or willfully makes a false statement of any material fact or thing in this application is guilty of perjury in the second degree as defined in Section 18-8-503, C.R.S., and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly.

Application Procedure  

Preferably, fill out the electronic version of this application and email it. You may also email a copy of your resume (optional). Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

Email to:          info@avid4.com

Fax to:             303-265-9445

Send to:           Avid4 Adventure, PO Box 287, Boulder, CO 80306

Questions:       720-249-2412

Thanks for your interest in Avid4 Adventure!