Intern

Field Staff · Ely, MN

Who are we?

At Voyageur Outward Bound School, we believe in the potential of every individual. We facilitate life changing experiences and provide people with the opportunity to adventure outdoors. We believe that through embracing challenge and positive risk-taking, practicing living in community with others, and making memories in the outdoors, our students and staff alike learn that there is more in them than they know. We hope this empowers them to make positive changes in their lives and communities.

When you join us, you are joining a growth minded community that actively engages in creating a more inclusive organizational culture.  To foster a more welcoming outdoor community for all, we are working to address barriers related to race, culture, socioeconomics, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation and mental health. See our Equity Statement here.

Voyageur Outward Bound School is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks staff as diverse as the communities it serves. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Outward Bound has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect. Protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority.

We know that women and people of color may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We would encourage any interested applicant to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed.

Why work for the Voyageur Outward Bound School Ely Base?

Spend your summer on the edge of the Boundary Waters—America’s premier canoeing wilderness area and one of the few places like it in the world. As a member of our team, you’ll help deliver wilderness courses that challenge and inspire students to:

Work and communicate effectively with their peers
Build resilience through shared challenges and successes
Develop self-awareness, honing their strengths and leadership roles
Reflect and apply learning from their course to life back home
Have fun while creating lifelong connections
This is more than a job; it’s a chance to grow personally and professionally while making a lasting impact on the lives of young people. If you’re passionate about the outdoors, eager to create unforgettable experiences, and ready to be part of something bigger, we’d love to have you on our team.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Internship is an immersive seasonal position that offers on-the-job training  for the logistics, community, and student facing aspects of our organization. This program serves as an on-ramp for people interested in becoming an instructor but without significant experience in the field. Depending on skill level, experience, scheduling, and availability, some interns will be promoted to instructor the same season.  Most will complete the internship and will be eligible for re-hire as a field instructor the following season.  Internships begin with a 2-day base camp orientation and introduction to the intern crew. This is followed by an 8-day wilderness expedition training, where you will see how VOBS runs our programs from the student perspective. After completion of the wilderness portion of training, interns will return to base for another 7+ days of training in a variety of areas, including driver training, student management skills, technical skills, further orientation into how VOBS operates, and other training as needed. Interns arrive in May or June and stay through August.

Following the initial training phase, interns will perform a wide variety of duties on any given day or week ranging from supporting a rock-climbing day for students, driving to the airport to greet a new student group, packing food/gear for courses, supporting students on our ropes course, dropping groups off to start their expedition, or assisting with facilities maintenance on our 40-acre wilderness basecamp.

The intention is for the interns to have a diversity of work that will deepen their understanding of our logistics, basecamp, students, job responsibilities and prepare them for the demands of facilitating life changing experiences as an instructor.  The internship is designed to be an educational experience with approximately 40% of the intern’s time spent in student contact and approximately 60% will be spent supporting courses, course delivery, and the base camp community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Trainee

Participate in a wilderness training expedition  that is modeled on an Outward Bound student experience and thus, has elements of challenge and adventure, living in intentional community, and skill development.
Willingness to learn about VOBS organizational mission and a desire to learn more about mission delivery in a basecamp and field setting.
Technical Skills: Flatwater paddling, rock climbing, top rope anchor building, campcraft, and navigation.
Facilitation Skills: Group dynamic and student management skills, conflict resolution skills, expeditionary leadership, and decision-making skills.
Program Function and Logistics: Gain awareness and skills pertaining to how a large program runs ‘behind the scenes’.
Passion for, youth development, backcountry travel and community living.

Student Program Support

Greet, supervise, and connect with students at the airport on arrival days.
Driving during student transport including to/from the airport, to/from trailheads, and to/from technical sites using passenger vans and equipment trailers.
Assist with gear issue on student arrival days or gear switches when (i.e. canoeing to backpacking).
Assist at technical sites including rock climbing, whitewater kayaking or canoeing, and high ropes..
Supervise students who leave the field due to illness, injury, or behavioral incidents.
Support instructors and students in the Intercept program during their final week at VOBS where they are working to transition home and preparing to reunite with their families.

Basecamp Support

Assist field instructors during course preparation including packing food and gear,  and setting up camp before student arrival.
Assist VOBS Facilities Manager in maintaining the basecamp.  This includes a variety of tasks that help the basecamp run smoothly and run efficiently.  This could include staining a building, cleaning, grounds work, yard work, kitchen work, etc.

Safety Management

Participate as needed to support the basecamp’s on-call field response system.  This could include paddling or hiking to evacuate an injured student from the wilderness, answering the emergency field line, and preparing food and gear for evacuation teams.
Adhere to local operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures as outlined in the field staff manual.
Driving – Able to drive defensively and safely in alignment with VOBS Policies and Procedures . Often in 15 passenger vans with trailers.

Other Duties as Assigned

KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Collaboration – Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds to effectively meet shared objectives, while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions.
Communication – Ability to clearly convey ideas, facts and information in a variety of settings using different mediums, while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions.
Conflict Management – Ability to manage and resolve conflict productively and with minimal negative impact by integrating a diversity of viewpoints, addressing harm, and fostering understanding and empathy.
Continual Learning -The ability to assess and recognize one’s own strengths and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement through formal and informal channels including feedback, training, and goal setting. An interest in and commitment to knowing oneself and others.
Cultural Competence -The ability to recognize and appreciate patterns of cultural differences and commonalities and to shift cultural perspective and change behavior in culturally appropriate and authentic ways.
Decision Making – The ability to make sound and timely decisions that accomplish goals, even in the face of uncertainty or high-pressure situations.
Instills Trust – The ability to gain the confidence and trust of people from varying backgrounds and lived experiences through honesty, integrity, authenticity, and consistency between words and actions.

SKILLS

Risk Management – Ability to lead self and others in anticipating, mitigating, and engaging in healthy risks to meet goals.
Self Management – The ability to set well-defined and realistic personal goals, take on and complete tasks in a timely manner, and complete work with an appropriate level of supervision.
Situational Adaptability – The ability to modify approach and demeanor in real time to align with the shifting demands of different situations. The ability to “read the room” and adjust accordingly.

WORK CONDITIONS

Willingness to live in rustic conditions at Homeplace, VOBS wilderness basecamp, with a common dining hall and shared washhouse.
On feet most days – sometimes for up to 16+ hours a day, or possibly more in the case of an emergency.
Constantly works in outdoor weather conditions, often during poor weather.
Able to work a varied and flexible schedule, including weekends.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Mental resilience sufficient to endure occasional physically and/or emotionally difficult situations, including but not limited to: working with staff, students, partners, chaperones or parents in emotionally charged circumstances.
Occasionally must carry equipment weighing up to 75 pounds.
Must be able to participate in all site and course activities and maintain  ability to support students and instructors.
Ability to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including but not limited to backpacking, paddling, portaging, running, carrying canoes overland, swimming, rock climbing, kayaking.
Ability to lift, crawl, bend, carry and pull.
Work is sometimes done in confined spaces and at height.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

21 years of age by start date of employment.
Valid driver’s license; Acceptable driving record per Outward Bound MVR grading standard.
The following are required for Session 1 Interns only:
Wilderness First Responder and CPR (WFR course is available to staff on site at a reduced cost in late April).
Wilderness Water Safety or Active Lifeguard Certification. (Available during all staff training for Session 1 Interns).
The following are requirements for Session 2 Interns:
Basic First Aid and CPR courses (at least 50% in person)
The American Red Cross holds courses frequently in many locations where both certifications can be obtained simultaneously.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This is a seasonal, exempt position.
Per Diem Intern pay is $50/day for each day trained/worked during the first 8 weeks of the internship.
After the first 8 weeks, Interns will promote to support staff and receive $95/day for the remainder of their contract.
If promoted to Instructor during or after the internship, instructing work starts at $100/day.
Room and board provided while on contract and/or stipend at our Wilderness Basecamp on the edge of the 1.1-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Eligible for a 403b retirement plan with an  employer match up to 2% of total earnings.
Pro deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates).
Paid sick time (accrued at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked).
Access to VOBS Employee Assistance Program.

DATES AND TIMELINE

Position start date varies—there are two sessions of interns, start dates below:
Session 1: May 11th – August 14th (Course work possible but not guaranteed)
Session 2: June 9th – August 14th (Course work possible but unlikely)
Potential to extend contract through September 20th
Applications should be submitted online at www.vobs.org/jobs
Hiring happens on a rolling basis and positions will remain open until filled
All field staff schedules are dependent on student enrollment.  As a result, Interns will receive their specific work assignments after training. Interns must maintain flexibility during the peak season (May-August)
Some opportunities for year-round work may be available.