Pathfinding Instructors are responsible for a group of 6-12 campers, grades 9-11, on a four-week wilderness expedition through alpine terrain in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. Responsibilities include being aware of and tending to physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of campers, teaching basic outdoor skills (e.g. low-impact camping, map and compass), preparing trip menus and working with Expedition Coordinators, working with Program Directors to communicate needs and discussing problems that may arise within the group, and facilitating leadership roles and continuously working on group dynamics.

Pathfinding Instructors must be physically capable of leading challenging trips in the wilderness and must be interested in and knowledgeable about outdoor skills such as topographic map reading, outdoor cooking, backpacking techniques, minimum impact camping, etc. Knowledge of the environment and nature’s processes is beneficial. Trip leading and personal wilderness travel experience is essential, as the trip itinerary consists of 25 straight nights in the wilderness with three re-supply drops along the way. Instructors must hold a current driver’s license and have current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certifications through a recognized first aid provider.

Base salary is currently $4,500 in addition to a $500 end-of-summer bonus, $100 travel allowance, and a $300 bonus for active WFR certification. Additional bonuses are provided for advanced wilderness medicine certifications and other professional certifications. Please see our website for more information. Dates of employment are from 5/22/23 to 8/14/23. 

CSC staff are asked to consistently provide positive, creative, and meaningful direction to the young lives with which we entrust them. It is imperative that they be able to support established camp policies and promoted programs. This job is emotionally and physically demanding, as you will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week out in the field. However, the rewards of such an experience for both camper and staff are exceptional. Be prepared to have more fun than you have ever had and to give more of yourself than you could ever imagine!