Jobs

Because our number one goal is to be the best job you’ve ever had.  From discounted staff weekend trips to afternoon climbs and happy hours, we want you to have a great time.  Check out our Staff Culture Book to see what past & current staff say about us.    Other  bonuses:  Avid4 will reimburse 1^st year staff whenever they use the bus for work, pay 50% of your health insurance if you join one of our plans while you are working full-time, have a pro deal program for basically any gear you want, and offer a performance-based bonus to eligible staff.  New in 2013: we are reimbursing returning staff up to $100 per year for certifications related to biking, climbing, kayaking or LNT; Avid4 is reimbursing staff up to $50 for any race, event or fundraiser involving our core sports; and we will be awarding one lucky staff member a flight to anywhere in the world (that United flies) with a $500 travel stipend for a dream adventure.

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 and do 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.

 

Frequently Asked Questions from Applicants

What certifications do I need to work with Avid4?

All staff must have the following certs by the start of summer camp:  Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, OR EMT is mandatory.  Wilderness First Aid is offered by WMI, Solo, WMA or the American Red Cross (cheaper, but not as quality in our experience).  CPR by a nationally reputable provider (NO 100% online courses) is also required.  If you want to take CPR with Avid staff, please let me know.    In addition, for any staff interested in a Medicine Administration certification, we will offer that at a greatly subsidized cost.  During training, you will also have the opportunity to receive American Red Cross Small Craft safety certifications in canoeing and kayaking and defensive van certification from Avid4 if you do not already have them.  If you want to register for the Avid4 Wilderness 1st Aid, please email Sarah@Avid4.com

How can I get my Wilderness First Aid certification?  CPR?

Avid4 Adventure will be hosting a Wilderness Medical Institute (WMI) WFA course, dates 5/29-5/30/13.  The cost of the course will be $200; courses are typically $225 (this course is subsidized by the instructor as a favor to Avid4 staff).  The majority of new Avid4 staff will be taking this class together, so it would be great to register for this one.  If you cannot make those dates, then please refer to Wilderness Medical Institute, Wilderness Medical Associates, or SOLO for other courses this Spring.  Staff must have a WFA, WFR, or EMT before working with Avid4 Adventure.

CPR will be offered for Avid4 staff in Boulder, date 5/31/13; the cost will be $45.  Avid4 Adventure will also offer a Medicine Administration Course to interested staff for the greatly subsidized cost of  $15 on 5/31/13

Is my gas reimbursed?

If you are driving a personal car, you are responsible to cover your expenses to your first point of work and home from that point.  However, if we ever ask you to drive a personal vehicle from your point of work to another work location (rare), then we will happily reimburse you at the government rate per mile for that distance and back to that point, assuming it is farther away from your home.  For example, many climbing instructors have the opportunity to directly go to a climbing site in the morning as opposed to report to camp.  If that is the case, it means your day is a bit shorter… you are not compensated for gas to drive directly to that site.  However, if we then ask you to attend a staff meeting after camp, then we would reimburse your mileage from the crag to the camp location and back to the site, assuming that was your way home.

How am I compensated?

There are different rates set up depending on the program; these rates will be further detailed in your offer letter if you are offered a job.  However, here is the general rundown: school programs are paid hourly, day camps are paid as a day rate, events are either paid hourly or a pre-determined flat sum, and Windy Peak Resident Camp and family trips are paid with a contract rate.  Training days are paid at a flat rate based on minimum wage unless you are receiving a certification required to be employed by Avid4 (paddling and driving days), in which case Avid4 covers the cost of the certification but not your time.

Are there opportunities for growth with Avid4 Adventure?

Yes, we are growing bigger each year!  We are always on the lookout for next summer’s directors, activity supervisors and specialists.

How do I learn more about Avid4 Adventure?

Any time I get a general question more than once, I put the answer on our staff page.  Also, you’ll find lots of information regarding pro deals, payroll, medical insurance, staff roster, etc. on our staff page (you’ll be sent the link once you are hired).  If there is anything you would like to see posted or ideas you have to make it better, please let me know.

Do you provide housing?

Unfortunately, not for our day camp staff.  However, we are more than happy to connect you with other staff that are looking for rentals.  If you are looking to get to Colorado for just the summer, consider applying for our Colorado Mountain Camp.  Room & board is included in the 5 week contract.

What’s next?

Thank you for reading this far down in the FAQs.  Please continue reading the camp specific questions below.  Hopefully by now, you have also watched the video.  In the next week you will hear from us.  If we call you, it means we have some follow-up questions from your application that we would like to review.  About ½ of you will be selected for an interview to take place in the next week or two.  Interviews are about 45 minutes and will give you an opportunity to interact with David, Avid4 owner, Sarah, field director, Kyle, Operations Director, and Paul, Resident Camp Director.  Interview questions range from technical skills (show me a J-stroke) to behavior management responses (How would you handle the following situation…).  From there, we will fully reference you and be in touch asap if we have a job for you.

How does transportation and carpooling work?

When there are 4 or more people going to the same place, we absolutely do our best to provide an Avid4 vehicle in order to reduce our carbon footprint.  Generally the carpool vans leave from a location in Boulder, however a stop or two can be made en route if it is convenient for staff to hop on at a point down the road.

How many hours should I expect to work?

School program staff average about 37.5 hours per week in the Spring and Fall Monday-Friday.  School program hours each day/week fluctuate as a result of the differences in school schedules in different districts; additionally, at times staff are requested to work in the evening in order to set up at the next school.  In the summer, wages are paid as a day rate and you work Monday-Friday.  Occasionally, school staff and climbing or biking instructors will be asked to take a day off.  Typical summer hours are 7:00-3:15 on Mondays (early for registration), 7:45-3:15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 7:45-4:15 on Wednesdays (staff meeting).  In addition, there are numerous weekend opportunities to pick up extra hours.

Will I be working with a variety of children in a variety of different activities?

Yes, the majority of staff hired will be working with children 5-12 years old and have the opportunity to work our Mulit-Sport Day Camp, where the campers spend one full day one each of our core activities (climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking).   Highly technical new staff will have the opportunity to work our single-sport camps, where children spend a full five to ten days on one activity (climbing, biking, paddle sports, primitive skills).  Finally, certain instructors will focus on working with our youngest campers, ages 3-6.

When will my seasonal contract end?

Summer contracts end the middle of August, however there is generally an opportunity to extend your summer season by about 6 weeks to work some off-campus school programs.  In addition, Spring school program staff have first dibs on the Fall season that runs until the end of October assuming they performed well in the Spring and Summer.  Any available Fall jobs will be made available to all staff midway through the summer.

 Do I get any time off during the summer?

Mandatory training is May 18th- May 22nd & then either 6/1 OR 6/1, 2013.  Camp is from June 3^rd to August 16^th.  Staff can expect to take 1-2 weeks off during the summer.  Partial week requests are not given due to the nature of our activities and consistency we want to establish with children and families.  Depending on site and registrations, rock climbing and mountain biking instructors may have a day off during the week periodically.

How many hours should I expect to work?

Resident Camp staff are hired for a 5-week contract.  The first week of work is a mandatory staff training during which we will meet 8:00-5:00 each day with an occasional evening session.  The remaining 4 weeks of your contract will be running camp.  While camp is in session during these 4 weeks, you will have 3 or 4 days off.  The rest of your days will be very full.  Typically, you will be working with campers from 8:00am to 8:00pm every day, but you are “on call” throughout the evenings in the case of special needs.

Will I be working with a variety of children in a variety of different activities?

Yes, the majority of staff hired will have the opportunity to work at of the activities offered at Camp – kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing hiking, and biking. Highly technical staff will have the opportunity to work and manage certain sports.

When will my seasonal contract end?

Summer contracts are 5 weeks long and begin June 23rd and run through July 28th.  However there may be an opportunity to extend your summer season to work some day camps and then off-campus school programs.  Any available Fall jobs will be made available to all staff midway through the summer.

Do I get paid more for working at Resident Camp?

Yes… and no.  The Resident Camp wage is higher than the Summer Day Camp wage.  However, you are expected to work more hours at Resident Camp compared to Day Camp.  Specific contract amounts will be based on past personal experience and tenure with Avid4.  The rate of pay at Resident Camp is significantly higher than contracts at similar organizations, including NOLS, Outward Bound, and other overnight programs.