• Position: Summer Backpacking Intern
• Location: Opal Creek Wilderness Area, Oregon
• Work year:  Seasonal: June 7 to August 23, 2019
• Responsible to: Program Manager; Program Director
• Compensation: $300/week, plus housing, utilities, and partial board

Who We Are

The Opal Creek watershed is 35,000 acres of protected rainforest, part of the last remaining low-elevation old-growth forest left in the Pacific Northwest. Soaring trees dripping with moss, crystal-clear streams, and a diversity of old-growth-dependent species make Opal Creek a unique gem in Oregon’s crown. At its center is the historic off-grid mining town of Jawbone Flats, our base of operations since the Opal Creek Wilderness was created in 1996.

At Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, all of our work is based around one simple idea: people will protect what they care about, and they will care about what they know. Through our outdoor school, summer camps, and workshop programs, we bring kids and adults face-to-face with the outdoor places that make Oregon great—pristine mountain streams, uncut vistas, and old-growth forests.

Who You Are

• You love being outside and spending time with kids. You are enticed by Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center’s mission and the prospect of connecting our campers and cabin renters to this beautiful place.
• You are excited to spend your summer navigating the peaks and valleys of Oregon’s wilderness areas with youth.
• You enjoy hosting friends and family, and people feel good when they talk with you.
• You are always learning. You are curious and unafraid to ask questions.
• A remote residential living and working environment intrigues you. You look forward to disconnecting from distraction and forming strong bonds with staff, guests, and the wilderness in your backyard.
• You thrive in a collaborative environment, believing we are stronger together.
• Challenges motivate you; you are open to and excited by the unpredictability that comes with working in a 1929 mining town in the woods.
• You have your own unique personality. Perhaps you play a musical instrument or teach yoga or practice bird calls. You enjoy solo time in your cabin just as much as social staff barbecues.

Role Impact and Responsibility

As the Summer Backpacking Intern, you will gain exposure and experience in the field of outdoor education. Co-leading expeditions alongside an Outdoor Science Instructor, you take 10 campers into the wilderness and teach them the ins and outs of backpacking, building their confidence with every step. You also provide excellent customer service to our guests who stay in Jawbone Flats, playing a vital part in making them feel welcome. This is a residential position, and you will live at Jawbone Flats in housing provided by the organization. At the conclusion of this internship, you will find that you are well prepared to begin work in the field of outdoor education. Specific responsibilities of the position are listed below:

Backpacking Expeditions (70%)

• Co-lead backpacking expeditions ranging from 5 to 8 days, for campers 10-18 years old in the Opal Creek, Bull of the Woods, and Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Areas
• Teach observational science and outdoor skills, including Leave No Trace principles, on the trail
• Prepare food and gear for a week-long expedition
• Organize and clean gear for the following expedition

Hospitality (30%)

• Host cabin renters, ensuring their stay is comfortable
• Drive gear shuttles; load and unload cabin rental gear
• Clean cabins to rental standards
• Staff the company store, selling merchandise to participants and the general public
• Engage with the general public as they pass through Jawbone Flats

We have a small staff and everyone is required to help in all aspects of running a remote residential facility with a diversity of programs. This position may be asked to assist the kitchen and facility departments at times.

Requirements of Position

• High School Diploma or GED
• Enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program, having completed at least two semesters. Environmental or outdoor recreation focus preferred.
• 19 years of age or older
• Past teaching experience or experience working with children ages 8-18
• Hiking and backpacking experience
• Previous hospitality experience preferred
• Able to lead youth on hikes up to 9 miles
• Able to lift heavy objects, up to 50 pounds when necessary
• Able to pass a background check
• Able to drive company vehicles
• Current driver’s license and able to qualify for coverage under our insurance
• Wilderness First Aid certification (required by time of employment)

Compensation

• $300/week, with approximately 10 days worked in a two-week period
• Housing in a private room in our main lodge
• Buffet-style meals when we have programs (about 75% of time)