Summer Day Camp Lead Guide

 

East Bay Wildflowers Lead Guide

July 5-9 Herbal Medicine Camp (Grades 4-6)

July 12-16 and July 26-30 Wildflower Day Camps (Grades 2-5) 

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Gaia Passages is a Bay Area based 510(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that offers multicultural nature-based programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

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To apply, please fill out this application, and send a resume and cover letter to hiring@gaiapassages.org

 

Gaia Passages connects youth to the natural world, builds confidence, voice, and leadership, supporting them through the changes from childhood to their teenage years through nature-based after school and summer programs for grades K-8. Gaia Passages is seeking passionate and dedicated youth mentors (guides) to join our growing team. Our goal is to create a diverse, highly skilled and passionate team of guides for our mentor pool to lead groups.

All of the skills below are important, but above all you must deeply love working with youth, have a strong work ethic, be committed to racial and economic justice, and have a personal connection to the natural world and that which we are teaching. Please read through our website so that you have a thorough understanding of what we are up to, and apply if you feel that your passion and skills match well with what we are offering! www.gaiapassages.org

 

To apply to be a Youth Mentor aka “Guide” for Gaia Passages you must…

• Have a passion around empowering and supporting youth
• Have interest in creating long term relationships with the participants you serve
• Know how to have fun with youth
• Have a mature relationship with your inner world
• Be a lifelong learner and filled with curiosity
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Know how to create an inclusive space where all feel welcomed
• Be able to comfortably lead and facilitate a group of youth on your own
• Enjoy being a part of a team
• Have the ability to take space and make space as necessary
• Be able to bring creativity and focus to the tasks or curriculum at hand
• Be reliable and follow through with your commitments
• Have current CPR+first aid certification, and TB test
• Do livescan/fingerprinting before your first day of work
• Ability to drive or access independent transport, and access to vehicle to transport program supplies. 
• Ability to stand, walk, jog or run or has use of assistive device to move easefully with ambulatory children and guides
• Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds preferred
• Cross Cultural skills in relating with adults and children of diverse heritages and class backgrounds

 

In addition, we are looking for mentors with a proficiency in several of the following skills and/or a desire to learn (the more the better but we recognize that this is a diverse set of competencies). 

• A deep connection to, knowledge and love of the natural world
• Knowledge of plant lore and herbal medicine
• Knowledge and proficiency in several ancestral skills or crafts such as fire making, basket weaving, carving, natural dyes, shelter building, and experience teaching them
• Knowledge and skills in nature based mentoring and/or specifically the 8 shields model of cultural mentoring
• Ability to lead groups of children and/or teens, read group energy, stick to a plan while responding to what is happening
• Being a masterful conductor from stillness to play to focus and back again based on what is needed in the moment
• Competency or interest in modeling and teaching skills of social and emotional intelligence
• Experience, education and/or passion in Rites of Passage for girl identified and gender expansive youth
• Competency or experience in facilitating dialogue about identity, class and race
• Experience in organizing and/or engaging in civic, environmental, or social activism
• Play an instrument and/or have ability to lead songs

 

Professional experience in at least one of the following areas is preferred:

• Working with youth in 3rd– 8th grades
• Working with girl-identified and gender expansive youth, specifically in 3rd-8th grades
• Working in nature-based settings
• Working for an 8 shields organization
• Teaching skills of social and emotional intelligence
• Experience working with teams

 

Details of the position:

• Hired as an employee for Gaia Passages
• Be part of the guide/mentor pool open to leading other groups if it aligns with your schedule (school year programs the following year etc)
• Orientation to Gaia Passages
• Plan and lead all camp days with co-lead guide for the trip (supported by Gaia operations staff) details below

 

Summer Day Camp Details:

• Groups are 12 students with two lead instructors (split into two groups of 6 with 1 guide each as needed for covid safety)
• Pre-planning with other lead guide and GP operations staff for curriculum and logistics
• Pre-camp zoom call with families
• Dates (ideally available for all 3 weeks) more info here
  • July 5-9th – Herbal Medicine camp, grades 4-6
  • July 12-16 and July 26-30 – Wildflower day camps, grades 2-5

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Gaia Passages is committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace collective, where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, economic status, sexual orientation or identity, education or ability, feel valued and respected.  

We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach to hiring and workplace culture. We provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our departments, programs, and worksites. We welcome diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure all voices are heard and supported. We strive to offer belonging and sanctuary where difference, authenticity, personal and shared power are encouraged. We practice transparency, consent, and shared decision making throughout our organization. We encourage applications from African heritage people, Latinx people, Indigenous heritage people, Immigrants, LGBTQIA folx, Elders, and Young Adults. Non-traditional work and learning histories are welcomed with no formal academic requirements.