Summer 2019 Assistant Trip Leader, Bellingham, WA

Job Description: Reconnect Earth seeks an assistant trip leader to facilitate outdoor educational experiences for college-age young adults in a backcountry setting. This position will work with the Reconnect Earth Director on logistics, packing, and planning for two eight-day backpacking trips; help implement a curriculum focused on environmental and social justice, natural history, and grassroots activism skills; and assist with backcountry risk management.

This seasonal, temporary position involves 26 days of work divided into two main blocks of dates this summer, including a total of 16 days in the backcountry. It is a stipend position that pays $112 per day of work. For the right candidate, an additional stipend to cover wilderness first aid training may also be available. Meals are provided every day spent in the backcountry.

Reconnect Earth is an organization established in 2018 which works for a socially and ecologically just future by fostering and growing a network of empowered young leaders to sustain grassroots social movements for years to come. We work with emerging organizers who want to deepen their connection to ecosystems and communities and take action to create a better world. During the Summer 2019 season we will be leading two eight-day backpacking trips in Washington’s North Cascades for college-age young adults focused on exploring topics like Indigenous sovereignty, colonialism, resource extraction, climate change, and grassroots social change. Reconnect Earth seeks to challenge dominant narratives in environmental education (EE), and to create a new EE paradigm that is inclusive, multicultural, and action-oriented.

Because Reconnect Earth is a new organization trying to change the way EE is done, the Assistant Trip Leader will have the rare opportunity to be involved in shaping an organization in the process of doing something different and a bit radical. The Assistant Trip Leader may have the opportunity to help develop curriculum for Reconnect Earth’s first season of summer trips. This is an ideal position for an educator with a strong interest in social justice and activism who wants to help change what mainstream environmental education looks like.

Required skills and qualifications. The successful candidate will be:

• Dependable, self-motivated, and well-organized
• Able to be flexible and maintain equanimity in a sometimes unpredictable environment
• Have a strong interest in environmental and social justice issues
• Enthusiastic about working with college-age young adults
• Comfortable hiking for long periods and spending time outdoors in various types of summer weather
• Wilderness First Responder (prefered) or Wilderness First Aid certified, or able to get this certification prior to June 24^th (a stipend to help cover the cost of training may be available)
• Available to be in the field (backcountry) during the following dates:
  • June 24^th – July 1^st
  • August 19^th – August 26^th
• Available for pre and post-field work in Bellingham, WA on the following dates:
  • June 21^st
  • June 23^rd
  • July 3^rd
  • July 4^th or 5^th (you may take July 4^th off if desired)
  • August 10^th
  • August 18^th
  • August 28^th – 29^th
• Available for two full days of training in June (exact dates flexible and will be determined in consultation with the Reconnect Earth Director)
• Have a bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental education, environmental studies, social justice education or a related field; OR a proven track record of successful work in one of these fields

Desired skills and qualifications. The following will make your application stronger:

• Experience teaching college-age young adults in formal or informal settings
• Experience working on grassroots activist campaigns
• Experience working with communities who are traditionally underrepresented in environmental education programs
• Experience backpacking and spending multiple nights in the backcountry

To apply: Please email a cover letter, resume, and two references to reconnectearth@gmail.com

Application deadline: We will begin reviewing applications on April 15^th, 2019. Applications submitted before that date will receive priority.