Wilderness Activity Specialist
Summer staff position as Activity Specialist in an outdoor setting. The program is designed to work with Learning Disabled and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder students ranging from 8-18 years of age.
Responsibilities: Work with groups of 7-8 students with 2 instructors to facilitate a safe and successful experience during the adventure activity portions of 10 to 26 day courses.
NC & WY:
- set rock climb sites and act as site manager.
- facilitate and manage high ropes course activities.
- support whitewater rafting days.
- support caving activities.
- potentially lead mountain biking activities.
- provide relief to instructor's in the field.
- work with youth in-between courses.
- WY only – support flat-water canoeing and riflery
FL & CA:
- facilitate use of ocean water craft such as motor boats or jet skis (FL only).
- facilitate water-based activities such as sea kayaking and snorkeling.
- manage logistics for groups during and between courses including managing, repairing, and transporting group gear and purchasing of food during course.
- provide relief to instructor's in the field.
Qualifications: Minimum 20 years of age (21 and older preferred). Minimum of 2 years college experience, preferable in Recreation Therapy, Outdoor Recreation, Education, or Psychology. First Aid and CPR required (minimum WFA required for NC and WY staff). Lifeguard certification required for FL and CA staff. Strong experience required in technical skills such as rock site facilitation and management, ropes course facilitation, white water rafting, caving, mountain biking, or ocean/water activities (FL & CA only). Patience, energy, enthusiasm, flexibility, maturity, and integrity required. Use of personal vehicle required for NC & WY (vehicle stipend provided).
Expectations for the position include: Compliance with all policies and regulations of SOAR; understanding the personal needs of instructors are secondary to the emotional and physical well being of our clients; utilizing behavior management techniques consistent with the program philosophy at SOAR; acting in a professional manner at all times to promote SOAR and the profession; developing an appropriate setting in which the student may learn from example; and understanding the care of students in a 24 hour setting.
TO APPLY: Apply on-line at:
https://secure.thriva.com/Reg/Form.aspx?IDTD=807615&IDRPH=1209095
or send letter of interest, resume, and references to:
Laura Pate
Directors of North Carolina Programs
SOAR
P.O. Box 388
Balsam, NC 28707
(828) 456-3435
E-Mail: pate-moore@soarnc.org.
Staff Application
To fill out the Staff application, please click here:
Staff
Application
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Philosophy: SOAR believes all individuals identified with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit disorder (AD/HD) possess inherent talents and gifts. These abilities can mean incredible success in adulthood once these students negotiate the challenging obstacles of childhood, adolescence, and a traditional education system, usually unable to respond to individual learning styles.
Therefore, the SOAR model is based on two fundamental principles. First, youth with LD and AD/HD flourish when they are encouraged to focus on their strengths in an experiential setting. The second principle acknowledges that success can be generalized by encouraging our students to develop and utilize strategies, enabling them to compensate for those challenging characteristics of LD and AD/HD. To this end, SOAR staff strive to ensure success for each student across a wide range of experiences. Such success, in turn, builds essential self-esteem and self-confidence.
Based on these two foundations, SOAR participants develop problem solving skills, effective communication strategies, increased self-awareness, and social skills. Program activities include a broad base of wilderness adventure experiences that empower students to make healthy choices, learn more about themselves, overcome challenges, and establish relevance from these experiences to other aspects of their life.
SOAR's Specialty Courses are open to SOAR alumni and students with the maturity and experience level to be successful on the course. Acceptance is conditional on the approval of the course director. Most specialty courses are led by one of SOAR's year-round staff including Jonathan Jones, John Willson and Jon Terry.
SOAR’s programs are designed to allow students the opportunity to increase their independence while away from home. Independence is gained through self-motivation and life skills instruction. With this in mind, we involve our students in many decision making processes, such as setting individual goals, developing group guidelines, as well as trip and meal planning. This also comes into consideration when developing SOAR’s communication policy, detailed in our Parent Handbook.
SOAR is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit disorder (AD/HD) and is proud to be the finest: