Join Trackers Earth as a highly skilled educator and mentor youth through immersive, hands-on learning in specialized skills. This role is perfect for individuals with advanced experience in crafts, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, bushcraft, or other artisan disciplines. Help kids build confidence, resilience, and competence in the outdoors while sharing your passion for mastering these unique skills. This position offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic and supportive environment, fostering growth in both educators and students alike.
Responsibilities
- Mentor youth with enthusiasm and professionalism, cultivating their skills and inspiring growth in grit and resilience.
- Implement engaging camp activities in one or more specialty areas, including:
- Fishing, angling techniques, and water ecology
- Rock climbing and outdoor leadership in vertical environments
- Kayaking and watercraft navigation, safety, and teamwork
- Advanced bushcraft, including shelter building, fire-making, and wilderness survival
- Traditional crafts such as woodworking, ceramics, cold metalworking, or leatherworking
- Forestry and land stewardship, including wild plant identification and homesteading
- Deliver safe, engaging, and educational experiences while maintaining high standards for student well-being.
- Model excellence in safety, operations, and gear care, ensuring all equipment is properly maintained and accounted for.
- Safeguard confidential student and program information, respecting the privacy of all participants.
- Provide consistent communication with Trackers coordinators and team members to ensure the program’s success.
- Adapt to evolving program logistics with creativity and a solutions-focused mindset.
- Other duties as assigned to enhance the overall camp experience.
Qualifications
This role requires a high level of expertise in specialty skills combined with a passion for outdoor education and mentorship. Ideal candidates possess the following:
- Proven high-end work experience or education in specialty skills such as crafts, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, bushcraft, ceramics, woodworking, cold metalworking, or forestry.
- 3+ years of leadership or teaching experience in an outdoor, educational, or related field.
- Ability to work independently in remote and dynamic settings while maintaining professionalism.
- Flexibility and resilience to adapt to shifting schedules and changing program needs.
- Commitment to maintaining safety and inspiring youth in outdoor environments.
- Physical capability to hike, climb, and perform tasks requiring strength, agility, and endurance (e.g., lifting up to 50 lbs, hiking 5+ miles, etc.).
- Trackers Earth completes pre-employment criminal background and reference checks.
Certifications
Educators in this role are required to hold or complete the following certifications before the start of the season:
- CPR/First Aid/Anaphylaxis & Epinephrine Auto-Injector
- Food Handler’s Certificate
- (For educators aged 18+) Certification in Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect (OR & WA)
- State-specific fishing licenses (if guiding fishing programs)
- Optional Pay Add-on: Earn more with a Class C CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) with passenger endorsement. Trackers can assist with this certification.
Location
This position requires flexibility to report to any Trackers Earth program site, including various Portland locations (SE, NE, W, N) and Sandy, OR. Educators must be comfortable with varying worksite locations throughout the season.
2025 Compensation
All required training is paid at the local minimum wage. Once training is complete, educators transition to the regular wage rate:
- First-Year Educators: $20.50 per hour
- Returning Educators: $21.50 per hour
Time Commitments
This is a temporary seasonal position, with mandatory attendance for all training and program dates. Exceptions include an optional week off from June 30 - July 4.
- Training - Year 1: June 7 - 8 or June 9 - 10
- Training - All Staff: June 11 - 13
- Teaching: June 14 - August 22 (Mon - Fri)
Applicants unable to commit to the entire summer should consider applying for the Flexible Substitute role.
Flexible Substitute Role
Can't commit to the entire summer? Choose Flexible Substitute on your application. If hired, you must be able to make one of our substitute trainings either June 7-8 or 9-10, 2025. As a Flexible Substitute, you'll have the opportunity to serve as a Guide Educator based on when, where, and how much you want to work based on available roles.
About Trackers
Trackers Earth is a leading youth organization focused on building real-world skills for resilience, caretaking, grit, and leadership. We seek educators who are independent, passionate, and dedicated to helping youth thrive through immersive outdoor experiences.
