Job Description

Full-time, salaried position

Updated December 2024

Aspen Country Day School employs a full-time outdoor educator . This PreK-Eighth Grade school is known for its intentional approach to challenging and nurturing children as they build confidence, resilience, and joy in learning. Vibrant academic, arts, and outdoor programs led by dedicated teachers give students a solid foundation for lives of meaning and purpose. The school welcomes approximately 300 students from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. It is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. 

The school’s landmark outdoor program is one of the few in the country to take children in elementary as well as middle school grades into the wilderness for immersion in nature, development of hard skills, and character education. With nearly 30 trips in the field throughout the school year, the program demands excellence in management and execution. The outdoor education team seeks to create safe and inspiring learning experiences that deepen students’ understanding of the school’s core values: character, respect, responsibility, community, and perseverance. 

This professional collaborates with the school’s leadership, faculty, and community to ensure that the Outdoor Education program offers thoughtfully sequenced trips that are developmentally appropriate for each grade. This person embraces working with students and faculty in a supportive and collaborative Kindergarten to Eighth Grade environment, assisting teachers to make a lasting and meaningful impact on each student. The position works closely with the Outdoor Education team and in consultation with the Director of Operations. 

Performance characteristics

• Understanding of Aspen Country Day School’s mission, culture, and graduate outcomes, and the centrality of the Outdoor Ed program to the school’s identity and organizational success
• Passion for organization, detail, and high-functioning operations to ensure the success of the program
• Commitment to high performance and continuous improvement; strong work ethic
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written
• Ability to model and foster expedition behavior: self-awareness and efficacy, selflessness, commitment to group goals, tolerance, flexibility, consideration, trust, communication, humility, teamwork, sense of humor
• Commitment to building a fun, friendly learning atmosphere that involves students in hands-on activities and encourages them to take responsibility for their own learning
• Commitment to own professional growth and renewal
• An awareness and attention to all relationships that influence the outdoor experience

Responsibilities regarding safety

• Actively promote program safety policies and a safety-first attitude
• Be aware of and manage potential risks of the outdoor environment
• Know and understand emergency and evacuation procedures for each trip
• Adhere to the school’s risk management policies and procedures

Responsibilities for trip execution

• Provide effective and efficient support to ensure the success of the Outdoor Education program 
• Help to prepare each trip for departure with all necessary gear, food, and vehicles
• Participate in pre-trip pack checks and orientation sessions for student s
• Coordinate and integrate training and preparation for trips with with PE classes or classroom teachers
• Expect to spend approximately 35 nights in the field with students
• Participate in post-trip staff debriefs
• Assure all gear is returned, inspected, clean and ready for  future trips
• Contribute to oversight and development of risk management policies and procedures
• Work with the Outdoor Education team to purchase, inventory, and maintain equipment
• Drive students as needed to destinations and fill in periodically for local bus routes and ski days
• Assist with the identification and exploration of new locations for courses
• Respond to field emergencies as needed, including providing or arranging for emergency transportation, communications, supply delivery, or field supervision

Collaborations

• Partner with the Outdoor Education team to execute the program throughout the year
• Work with heads of Lower and Middle School to establish staffing for trips
• Assist PE department with organizing and executing student ski days throughout the winter
• Support academic classrooms during the off season and slower times of the year 
• Manage trip communications to parents, faculty, staff, students in coordination with communications office
• Arrange trip transportation in coordination with operations office
• Collaborate with school nurse on medical supplies, training, and medicine administration procedures

Certification requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Professional trip-leading experience, preferably in the educational field
• Current certification in Wilderness First Responder, CPR,  medication administration, and Leave No Trace 
• Current commercial driving license or willingness to obtain 

Physical demands and work environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions for the job. The employee must have the physical abilities to perform all tasks associated with outdoor educatio n (e.g. lifting gear up to 40 pounds, hiking with a 40-pound backpack, skiing and pulling a sled, uphill skinning, rock climbing and belaying). T he work environment may be outdoors with weather conditions including heat, sun exposure, wind, rain, and snow. While on campus, the employee is required to sit in on meetings and work on a computer for periods of time. The employee is required to walk, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, talk, and hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The wage rate for this position will include a salary in the range of $45,000-$65,000 health, dental, disability insurance,  and retirement plan benefits. Housing support is a possibility.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to hr@aspencountryday.net and complete this brief assessment . 

Aspen Country Day School provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees without regard to age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law. The school’s statement of diversity, equity, and inclusion is here .

About Aspen Country Day School

Aspen Country Day School, through its commitment to rigorous academics, creative arts, and outdoor education, ignites curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking. In an inspiring mountain setting, our nurturing community encourages students to strive for individual excellence and instills in them a lifelong love of learning, sense of purpose, and responsible citizenship.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs