Lead Mentor — Wilderness Youth Program

Seeking two lead mentors to facilitate self-directed wilderness programming for youth. Full time, year round employment. $17-22/hour, commensurate with experience. Apply today!

White Ash Learning Cooperative is based in the homelands of the Wabanaki people in the Penobscot river watershed, also known as mid coast Maine.

White Ash Learning Cooperative aims to offer young people the opportunity to derive their education from self-chosen activities and experiences. Using a sliding scale tuition model to increase the accessibility of alternative education models, we offer year-round nature immersion programming. This includes our outdoor semester program offering self-directed, project-based learning in wilderness skills, literacy, math, science, history, and Spanish for ages 2-15.

Our mission is to invite young people to take a leadership role in directing their education while cultivating a deeper relationship with the more than human world.

Successful mentoring requires, among other skills, a deep appreciation for informal, spontaneous, and emergent learning processes. A commitment to self directed learning is essential for those interested in applying.

We are seeking enthusiastic, experienced facilitators who can follow the curiosity of the group and support participants' interests. Programming is outdoors, so a high level of comfort working year round outside in varied conditions is necessary. A deep love of empowering young people and prioritizing their autonomy is crucial to success as a mentor for this program, as is skilled communication and playfulness. 
 

Requirements:

• Passion for supporting self directed learning.
• Naturalist knowledge and wilderness skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to independently lead crafts and diverse types of projects.
• Active engagement in relationship with the more than human world.
• Commitment to equity, regenerative culture and decolonization.
• Experience in conflict resolution with youth.
• Strong desire for personal and professional growth.
• Complete a one hour online mandated reporter certification process.
• Consent to a background check.

Preferred experience and qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience leading wilderness programs with youth or equivalent experience leading youth programs in other settings
• Exposure to self directed learning environments.
• Experience with nature connection mentoring (8 Shields or alternative models preferred)
• WFR (Wilderness First Responder) and infant CPR or willingness to become certified
• Working knowledge of English and familiarity with Spanish, French, ASL, or another language.

Key Responsibilities:

Semester and summer session program days run 8:20am - 4:20pm, which includes staff meetings. Mentors are responsible for early drop off and extended day on a rotating schedule during the semester. Summer programs begin in June and include 5-6 weeks of day programming and 2-4 sessions of overnight programming.

• Arrive prior to the morning meeting  prepared for the day.
• Facilitate staff meetings.
• Greet parents,  and follow up when necessary at pick up and drop off.
• Prepare and offer at least one project for each program day, drawing on diverse skills sets to create engaging activities based on the unique interests of participants.
• Gather the group to circle with song.
• Oral storytelling.
• Facilitate fire starting with matches or friction fire techniques in all weather conditions.
• Share local naturalist knowledge during Bird of the Day and Animal of the Day.
• Prepare and lead participatory activities/games for math circles.
• Introduce a variety of games, and adapt games to group needs and desires.
• Teach and model knife safety, supervise carving and use of other blade tools.
• Maintain awareness of the group while closely observing participants you are supervising.
• Communicate with other program staff via two way radios.
• Facilitate conflict resolution processes with participants.
• Track time and program schedule throughout the day.
• Know and integrate personal ancestry and history of the land into programming.
• Expand mentoring skills through development of new projects, self-reflection, and professional development workshops.
• Assist with equipment and grounds maintenance, gathering of craft supplies, and preparation of program materials.

Compensation and benefits:

• Lead mentors start at $17 - $22/hour based on current certifications and experience.
• Full time positions range between 32-40 hours per week.
• Assistance for out of state applicants to relocate and find affordable housing in the area.
• Free or significantly reduced cost to attend in person skill building workshops with White Ash Learning and webinars with the Nature Connection Network.
• Subsidized WFR recert or certification.
• Preparation for Maine Guide test.
• Option to join an unlimited phone plan at a discounted rate.
• Subsidized professional development opportunities with Maine Master Naturalist Program, Animas Valley Institute, Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, and more.

Hiring Bonuses:

$75 bonus for each of the following items, after completion of 3 month review.

1. Registered Maine Guide
2. Active WFR
3. Certified Maine Teacher
4. 1 year of experience on a search and rescue team
5. 1 year experience working full time in a Waldorf, Montessori, SDE, or 8 Shields program.
6. Able to consistently model successful friction fire (any method)
7. Track & Sign I or Kamana One certificate

$150 bonus for each of the following items, after completion of 3 month review.

1. 2+ years experience working full time in a Waldorf or Montessori program
2. 2+ years experience working full time in an 8 Shields (or similar Forest School) program
3. 2+ years of experience working full time in a SDE learning center
4. Fluent in ASL, Spanish, or language other than English

Programming is influenced by Animas Valley Institute and the work of Bill Plotkin, 8 Shields, and Joanna Macy's The Work that Reconnects. Learn more on the website about the models that have shaped our programs. We subsidize continuing education and professional development opportunities related to programming; interest in and commitment to pursuing these opportunities is expected of long term staff. Apply on the website.

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How to apply:

 Apply on the website.