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Weekend Program Coordinator

Wilderness Kids Alexandria is seeking a

Weekend Program Coordinator.

The Weekend Program Coordinator will work with the guidance of our Program Director to coordinate our quickly expanding Weekend Outing Program. The Coordinator's primary responsibility will be to develop and implement two to three weekend outings per month for the students of Wilderness Kids Alexandria, in pursuit of Wilderness Kids’ mission: to provide life-enriching experiences in nature to Alexandria teens from under-resourced families. Secondarily, the Weekend Program Coordinator will serve as an Outdoor Educator in our After-School Program.

The Weekend Program Coordinator reports to and receives support from the Program Director. The job is full time, primarily operating on a Tuesday to Saturday schedule.

Wilderness Kids is a relatively new organization and, as such, has a start-up feel and culture. We do not yet have an office and, as such, work is from home (when not implementing a program). Applicants should be excited to work in a start-up atmosphere where they can make a significant impact on the future of our programming.

Responsibilities:

The Weekend Program Coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing our Weekend Outing Program, under the guidance of the Program Director. Read more about our Weekend Outings here. Some outings make use of Program Partners (for example, paddling or rock-climbing outfitters) and other outings (e.g. hiking trips) require no such partners.

Specifically, the Coordinator will:

Work with the Program Director to develop a calendar of outings on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the school year.
Liaise as needed with program partners (e.g. rock-climbing partners, paddling outfitters, sailing partners, etc) to devise details of each outing.
Communicate Weekend Outing opportunities to all of our students and their parents/guardians. Such communication is generally done in both English and Spanish so a conversational level of Spanish is strongly preferred, or a familiarity and comfort with translation software such as google translate or bing translate combined with comfort in communicating with others with whom one does not share a common native tongue. As needed, provide waivers to families and collect them from families.
Organize staff and volunteers for each outing and answer all volunteer questions. As Wilderness Kids often asks volunteers to drive students, the Coordinator will be in charge of soliciting background checks from every volunteer as well as driving releases. The Coordinator will also provide volunteers with all the information they need to be a successful volunteer with us.
Liaise with our volunteer bus driver, as needed, to communicate transportation needs for each outing.
Develop and implement curriculum and/or activities, with guidance from the Program Director, that can be carried out on each Outing.
Participate in each Outing, especially taking lead on all logistics (e.g. directions to each site, parking, itinerary for the day, and so on).
Together with the Program Director and Executive Director, ensure the physical and emotional well being of our students, staff, and volunteers on each Outing.
Work to make outings fun for all, opportunities for students to learn new skills, enjoy nature, and connect with peers.
Drive a 15 passenger van with students to activity sites.

In addition, the Coordinator will be an Educator in our After-School Program. As such, the Coordinator will:

Lead a group of 12 to 15 middle school students in outdoor education programming in coordination with another WKA staff member two to four times per week. (Currently, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; soon also perhaps Thursday)
Lead students in activities that may include observing, drawing, writing, playing games, learning about flora and fauna, learning about watersheds and water cycles, learning about camping gear and LNT practices, and so on.
Follow the curriculum provided by Wilderness Kids and/or develop your own lesson plans in coordination with the Wilderness Kids Program Director.
Ensure the physical and emotional safety of children in the program.
Programs run from approximately 3:00 p.m to 5:30 p.m., and you will be expected to be available for at least 15 minutes before and after the start of the program.

Additional Responsibilities:

Given our start-up culture, on any given day, you may be asked to help out in any area. Other responsibilities could include:

Publish social media posts, including Facebook, Instagram, and Linked In.
Develop and edit marketing materials for Wilderness Kids, including the website, an annual report, and other items.
Assist in the development of guidelines, policies, and protocols - including safety and emergency protocols, DEI policy and philosophy, job descriptions, background check policies, behavioral guidelines, and more.
Generally respond to the short-term needs and long-term objectives of a young organization focused on providing life-enriching experiences in nature to Alexandria teens from under-resourced families.
Lead summer programs and/or run logistics for summer programs.

Qualifications:

A good sense of humor and proven experience as a successful team-member. Willing and able both to work collaboratively with the Program Director and the Executive Director, and to work independently to grow and manage our Weekend Outing Program.
2 years working with children - ideally in the outdoors; ideally ages 12 to 18; ideally from under-resourced families, immigrant families, or BIPOC families.
BA in environmental science, outdoor education, or related field.
Excellent logistical skills and attention to detail to make plans for outings that up to two dozen people will be relying on.
Excellent communication skills to work with partners, parents, volunteers and staff. Conversational ability in Spanish, in addition to fluent English, is preferred. You will be asked to call, text, and interact with parents who speak only Spanish. Furthermore, communication skills that allow you to communicate effectively with parents whose English is limited but who may not speak Spanish - e.g. parents who speak primarily Dari with limited English.
Ability to work remotely and in person. We are small and have no physical office and most meetings will be virtual, at a coffee shop, or along a hike.
Skills and experience building a welcoming, inclusive community. Cultural humility, an ability to challenge structural inequalities, and awareness of one's own social identities are all helpful in creating a workspace and program space that honors and welcomes diversity, builds equity, and ensures inclusion.
Ability to manage a budget and keep track of expenses, or the willingness and comfort with spreadsheets to learn.
Ability to prioritize projects when many things are occurring at once.
Comfortable meeting with program partners, volunteers, and students’ families.
Good decision making ability.
First Aid Certification, or a willingness to become certified. Wilderness First Aid preferred.
A temperament that is happy to make a food run to Costco, chase down paperwork, discuss a student’s welfare, map out a driving route, and teach 15 kids in the rain–all in one day.

Strongly Preferred:

A car and a valid driver’s license are strongly preferred as the job will entail a lot of local travel - to purchase food and materials; to attend after-school sessions 3-4 days per week; to travel to weekend outings. Travel to outings will be reimbursed.
Residence within a relatively short commute to George Washington MS, Francis Hammond MS, and Jefferson Houston MS. The Program Director will be going frequently to these places, always about 3 p.m., and it is preferable that they do not take up too much time on a mid-day commute.

Wage:

$38,000 to $40,000, depending on experience.

Start Date:

As soon as possible.

To Apply:

Please complete this form, which takes the place of a cover letter and which will also request you to upload your resume.

We actively seek and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities in areas including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability. We welcome questions and open discussion about this commitment throughout the application process.

Note: Background checks will be required for all staff, to ensure the safety of our young people.

Thank you for applying.