Many of our Instructors have a Teaching Assistant join them on their program.  

Lead Instructors hire Teaching Assistants to help support the program. The Lead Instructor will often contact a previous student or Teaching Assistant applicant directly for an interview. Our office will conduct a second interview before an offer is made.

TEACHING ASSISTANT POSITION INFORMATION

Teaching Assistants are college graduates, typically Wildlands Studies program alumni, who have demonstrated strong academic ability, leadership, logistical and organizational skill, and excellent communication. We define the Teaching Assistant as the person responsible for assisting the instructor(s) with the logistics, academic program, and day-to-day on-site concerns on a specific program. Duties include daily support for the general program and participants while on the program; daily guidance on activities; assistance with risk management; any and all logistics needed or additional assistance as requested by instructor. In addition, this position may be asked to provide academic support where knowledge and expertise is appropriate, and under the authority of the instructor(s).

PRIMARY WORK LOCATION

Site specific.  Teaching Assistant position takes place on-site of the program location. 

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong interest or background in environmental education. BA/BS degree required. Must have undergraduate degree in hand. Preference given to alumni.

• First Aid and CPR certified. Preference given to Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certifications. Comfortable and confident in your ability to manage an emergency situation, including minor injuries with a trip to the doctor or major emergency such as helicopter evacuation in a foreign country. Your ability, experience and qualification to manage an emergency is paramount in this position.

• Excellent people and communication skills; able to establish professional rapport and build relations with instructors and students; Willing to provide logistical and academic support where needed and appropriate on the program.

• Easy going, approachable personality, flexible, willing to take on any task, able to use humor and diplomacy when working with others.

• Must be self-led, able to work independently, and take on increasing independent responsibility. Able to maintain confidences.

• Good logistical planner willing and able to make own travel arrangements including air travel to/from program.

• Background checks, including a request for fingerprints, will be required for contracted program staff

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT

The Teaching Assistant position usually follows the same approximate dates of the program, arriving on-site the day prior to the program start date and departing the last day of the program. This is determined directly with the Instructor.

REMUNERATION

This position is Expenses Paid.  “Expenses Paid” is defined as flight or transportation costs to and from the program, food costs while assisting the program, and other defined reimbursable program-related costs. This position also earns a small stipend which will be discussed upon hiring.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Teaching Assistant applications are accepted in an on-going basis for programs. Submit a staff application including a cover letter and resume using our online application system. The link can be found at the top of this webpage. Please be sure to review our website and programs before responding. Applicants will be reviewed as they come in and qualified applicants will be contacted. If we feel you are well suited for one of our Teaching Assistant positions, we will forward your application to our instructors, who will contact and interview you. Once approved by the instructor, our main office will interview you and will be the one to make a position offer.