Outdoor Adventure: Lead Instructor (Seasonal Contract)

Season: August 20, 2025 through December 19, 2025
Compensation: $16,587 for the season

If you have experience or a strong desire to facilitate youth programs, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and enjoy collaborative work, join us to create unforgettable experiences for young individuals at stunning outdoor locations and vibrant city settings. 

ABOUT NYC OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS

Why can’t school be more like an Outward Bound course? NYC Outward Bound Schools believes that students benefit greatly from tapping into the world beyond their classroom and their immediate community to partake in joyful learning experiences that can prepare them to thrive in community, college, and career. In partnership with the NYC public school system, NYC Outward Bound Schools is a non-profit organization that serves over 28,000 students in almost 80 schools across the five boroughs of New York City. NYC Outward Bound Schools provides opportunities for unique, liberatory, experiential learning for students in their social, emotional, and academic development. The organization supports NYC young people both by leading students in outdoor adventure programming that pushes beyond their traditional school experiences and also by coaching and supporting educators on how to incorporate lessons from these catalytic experiences within the classroom. Ultimately, our diverse and committed staff support NYC young people in unique ways to develop the knowledge and skills to lead with confidence and curiosity, persist in the face of challenges, and live fulfilling lives.

Role Summary:

The Outdoor Adventures: Lead Instructor position at NYC Outward Bound Schools leads students on outdoor adventure courses including hiking, low ropes courses, belaying support on rock climbing walls, and team-building programs at a remote location in Fishkill, NY and various locations across the five boroughs in NYC. Lead Instructors guide outdoor instruction to ensure a safe and exciting learning environment, including overnight programming; plan components of outdoor adventure courses; and adapt activities based on students’ needs.  The Lead Instructor is also responsible for modeling high-quality instruction and providing professional development, coaching, and support to fellow instructors in order to enhance and differentiate instructional strategies and student engagement. This position requires both remote, overnight work on outdoor courses in NY State and urban adventures in NYC as well as work in the NYC Outward Bound Schools’ headquarters office in Long Island City (Queens). This role is expected to work five days a week for the season that runs from August 20, 2025 to December 19, 2025 (dates subject to change but will be confirmed in seasonal contract).

Essential Functions: 

Plan for and Provide High-Quality Direct Instruction and Support to Students on Course

• Participate in course planning, including developing educational and outdoor skill lessons and logistics
• Structure a safe, inclusive, and fun learning environment
• Sequence activities that are appropriate for the group based on assessing group skills
• Recognize any potential risks involved in activities and proactively/continually assess and adjust programming accordingly
• Instruct various experiential education and overnight programs for NYC students, including leading hiking and low ropes courses at our outdoor adventure facility
• Provide belaying support for rock climbers on indoor and/or outdoor climbing walls and structures
• Lead team-building programs in New York City parks and/or schools

• Support students through their outdoor experience by aiding in preparation, ensuring timely meals, supervising sleeping arrangements, and addressing overall needs during overnight programs.
• Instruct students on rock climbing programs in adherence to safety standards and NYC Outward Bound Schools programmatic goals
• Provide clear, effective, and timely communication to students and staff 
• Provide solo instruction to a group of students, when necessary
• Effectively resolve conflict with students, when necessary 
• Ensuring the physical and emotional safety of all students, including those with diverse learning needs.
• Comply with NYC Outward Bound Schools health and safety policies and procedures

Serve as Model Instructor and Mentor

• Model effective instructional strategies that engage students and promote student engagement and learning outcomes in various modalities.
• Plan, design, and facilitate professional development workshops and training sessions to enhance instructional practices and subject-specific knowledge.
• Step into Site Lead & Lead Instructor role, when required.
• Other duties, as required, may be requested.

Previous experience in outdoor adventure courses and/or climbing is not necessary – what is most important is a strong desire to work with the young people of NYC and expand their view of the world. Minimum qualifications for the role include:

• Commitment to educational equity for BIPOC youth and supporting explicit anti-racist work within our organization and partner schools.
• Able to carry, lift, and move a minimum of 50 pounds for up to five miles per day on uneven terrain (backpacking, hiking, moving gear, supporting evacuations in wilderness settings).
• Able to work outdoors in various weather and temperature conditions.
• Capable of physically delivering proficient belaying assistance to climbers by ensuring both physical and emotional safety on a rock climbing wall
• Able to manage multiple priorities in real-time while managing and resolving individual and group behavioral needs with various tools.
• Experience facilitating youth programming in various settings such as overnight multi-day programs with 24 hour supervision of students, preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and the ability to work effectively with a diverse team.
• Able to take initiative, carry out tasks individually, and work cooperatively as a team. Able to work with staff that have different styles and experiences.
• Able to support the physical and emotional needs of students who have never camped before.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Able to successfully obtain and maintain necessary certifications for outdoor adventure, upon start of employment and after completing required training
• Able to obtain clearance through a NYC Department of Education Background Check.​​​​​​​

Benefits:

• Three (3) sick days
• This seasonal contract position is not eligible for medical benefits, personal time off (outside of the holidays provided within the season), or other fringe benefits provided to full-time employees.

Outward Bound has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect. In every case, suspected or actual abuse will be reported according to federal and state laws. As described below, Outward Bound child protection policies and procedures apply to employees, Board members, volunteers, subcontractors, and others who interact with minor students.

NYC Outward Bound Schools is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against and harassment of any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable state or federal law.

NYC Outward Bound Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against, and harassment of, any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, qualified individuals with a disability on the basis of the disability, or any other category which may be protected under applicable state or federal law.