Positions Available: 

Youth Program MENTOR Position
(4-6 year olds & 7-12 year olds)

We’re excited to welcome several new mentors to work in our weekly and monthly programs for 4-6 year olds and 7-12 year olds. There may be opportunities to work additional days as new programs are under development to meet the needs of our community. This part-time position begins in early September. Check out the details below and connect with us!

About the position: Our current weekly programs meet every Friday from late September-early June, and our monthly programs meet one Saturday a month from October – May. These programs are full for the 2021-2022 program year with waitlists. Additional program days are under development.

We’re looking for vibrant, nature lovers to compliment the teaching team. You would co-mentor with other seasoned staff. A deep love of children and a keen understanding of their developmental needs is crucial to your success in our program, as is your compassionate communication and playful spirit which gently guides these earth stewards with joy and fun!

Long-term mentoring is a hallmark of our programs, as many of the children begin at VWP when they are only 4 years old and many of them return year after year. Whether you’re connecting with kids who are already grounded in the 8 Shields model, or those who are new to the world of nature connection, our programs offer you a chance to work and play with a group of engaged and vibrant kids and mentors alike.

Mentors are paid for program facilitation, planning/prep time, field trips, overnights, community-wide seasonal celebrations, and more. More than a job, it’s an incredible opportunity to grow and tend nature-rooted community and culture. 

Responsibilities:

  • Create and implement experiential nature immersion programs for children in the context of nature awareness, naturalist skills, wilderness survival, and community building

  • Role model passion and enthusiasm for engaging with nature

  • Oversee physical and emotional safety and instruction for children during our nature programs.

  • Work with teaching team to develop lesson plans and related program activities.

  • Facilitate group energy and respond to group needs in order to effectively manage and engage each participant in a positive experience.

  • Actively contribute to the leadership team to plan, prepare, deliver, and evaluate each day of programming.

  • Communicate with parents (email, phone calls, in-person, before/after programs) on a weekly/monthly basis.

  • Participate in monthly staff meetings, on-going staff development trainings, promotional events, and other meetings as requested.

  • Participate in our public community events.

  • Provide ongoing feedback for Young Mentors that assist in our programs.

  • Uphold Vashon Wilderness Program’s mission and policies.

Required Skills & Qualifications  

  • Demonstrated interest in youth development and nature-based learning 

  • Experience facilitating groups of children

  • Demonstrated commitment to children’s social and emotional well-being and sensitivity to participants’ life experiences and physical/emotional needs

  • Demonstrated desire to connect youth with self, peers, and nature

  • Skills in nature-based related areas [examples include: wilderness and naturalist skills (i.e., wild edible and medicinal plant knowledge, animal tracking, shelter building, fire-making, bird language), hunting, boat building, farming, music, crafting, storytelling, art, drama, ecological knowledge, cultural knowledge, conservation]

  • Experience in creating physically and emotionally safe learning environments for children

  • Commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students, especially those who may have been excluded from nature-based learning (for example, students with disabilities, BIPOC students, and LGBTQ+ youth)

  • Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of VWP 

  • Demonstrated capacity to effectively work on diverse teams

  • Capacity and commitment to work as a contributing member of a team, able to bring your unique voice, gifts, and contributions to a relational work setting

  • Current First Aid/CPR certifications (or able to acquire before working).

  • Able to move around outdoors, while carrying some program gear, in a variety of weather conditions for hours at a time

  • Able to pass a background check

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Training and or experience in mentoring styles that utilize experiential, play-based, child-centered learning (such as 8-Shields Model or Coyote Mentoring method).

  • Experience as a naturalist instructor working with youth ages 4-17 in the outdoors

  • Knowledge of Pacific Northwest hazards, mammals, tracking, edible/medicinal plants, navigation without map/compass, field ecology, trees, survival techniques, birds/birdsong, or history of local Indigenous Nations and right relations.

  • Knowledge and/or training in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work.

  • Bilingual skills a plus. 

We value: 

  • A Love of children

  • A Love of the WILD

  • Welcoming and Inclusive spaces

  • Equitable and inclusive approaches to student engagement

  • Play and Fun

  • Integrity 

  • Humility & Service-mindedness

  • Creativity & Collaboration

  • Compassionate Communication

  • Personal & Professional Growth

Compensation: 

  • Salaries are offered at the equivalent of $20 per hour and are negotiable.

  • Multiple job openings may be filled by a single qualified candidate to create a generous part-time salary, subject to withholdings. Weekly program contracts range from $6300-$8400 per 10-month contract (depending on the program and your experience) and summer camps range from $555-860 per week (depending on the age group and your experience).

  • Staff are paid for training and development opportunities.

  • Benefits include: 

    • Worker’s Compensation, Paid Sick Leave

    • Ferry costs are reimbursed for mentors commuting from off-island. 

    • Mentors are eligible for meritorious bonuses.

  • Be a part of a community that values earth-based wisdom.

  • Support others in their journey of deep nature connection.

  • Receive support for your own learning and growth.

How to Apply 

Complete the application form below.

Deadline: Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until positions are filled. 

Positions start September 10th.

Anti-discrimination Statement

VWP welcomes all children, families and staff members and works to create an emotionally and physically safe space for each member of our community. We work to dismantle systemic racism and the effects of oppression which exist within all facets of our organization - within our bodies, minds and hearts, in our policies and practices, and in our wider VWP community and beyond. More information on VWP’s Commitment to Justice is found HERE. 

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, including people of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, languages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and ages.