Benefits:
401(k) matching
Company car
Company parties
Competitive salary
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Opportunity for advancement
Vision insurance
Program Assistant
Wayfinders Program
POSITION DETAILS
Salary Range: $56,000 - $62,000 a year
Hours: Full Time - 40 hours per week
Expected Start Date: January, 6th 2025
Reports to: Wayfinders Program Director
Created in 2015 by Women of Color, ELSO, Inc. provides culturally relevant education and leadership development opportunities that invite Youth of Color to Experience Life Science Outdoors (ELSO). Our mission is to teach and frame science and nature-based education through a lens that centers and elevates the stories, ways of knowing, individual needs, and lived experiences of Black and Brown communities. ELSO seeks to reduce the achievement gap in STEAMED (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Environment, Design) education and professions while creating a sense of belonging for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPoC) in the natural and built environments. ELSO uses a multi-cultural approach to STEAMED education that is rooted in environmental justice and cultural history. We are demonstrating a model for STEAMED education led by People of Color.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Wayfinders Summer Program is a nature based summer day camp that focuses on STEAM outdoor education for Black and Brown youth K-8th grade. The Wayfinders Program Assistant job role is to assist the Program Director with creating the Wayfinders Summer Experience such as supporting programming and curriculum development, camp logistics/operation, training and the Tappin Roots Internship Program.
Tappin Roots is a Black/Brown Oregonian collaborative year long paid internship for high school aged youth (15-19). Tappin Roots offers weekend symposiums teaching topics on professional development and the green sector. Tappin Roots Internship and Wayfinders Summer Program are connected. Selected youth from the internship work as camp guides in the summer. The Wayfinders Program Assistant will support the PD with planning and attending weekend symposiums.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Wayfinders Programming Development and Curriculum - 35%
Work with the Wayfinders Program Director to develop summer/spring programming.
Assist with curriculum development including themes, learning outcomes and activities
Assist with the development of culturally relevant curriculum
Work collaboratively with the Camp Educator to create the Wayfinders Camp Journal for spring break/summer camp
Serve as member on the Wayfinders Curriculum Team
Tappin Roots Internship- 15%
Serve as an Wayfinders Support Staff Member for Tappin Roots Internship
Assist with symposium development/trainings for Interns
Attend bi - weekend Saturday symposiums when needed
Serve as a point of contact for interns and TR partners
Camp Planning, Logistics Safety and Health - 35%
Support the Program Director with Camp Operations
Offer daily support to camp staff (van drivers, chef and camp guides)
Conduct site visits and partner check ins during camp season
Assist with communication with camp families and serve as a point of contact for families/camp guides/partners
Ensure safety of all camp participants and staff by assisting with camp safety protocols
Facilitate staff meetings, morning huddles, and check-ins during camp season.
Create and facilitate post camp surveys to Wayfinders families, Camp Staff and Partners
Supervise Wayfinders Summer Interns (PGE & PIE) and Camp Chef
Recruiting, Hiring, Training - 15%
Assist with recruiting, hiring and training of camp staff
Assist with recruiting by working closely with the PD and ELSOs Storytelling staff to conduct Job Fairs
Assist with Hiring of camp staff by working with the PD to conduct interviews
Assist with Training of camp staff with the PD and Camp Educator to conduct a week and half long in person training. Provide support with trainings such as implicit bias, child development, trauma informed care and CPR
It is the responsibility of ALL ELSO staff to:
Work towards the mission of ELSO while supporting and demonstrating the values and frame of view. Incorporate the beliefs and definitions of ELSO in all approaches and instructions.
Teamwork
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, participating in professional societies, etc.
Support maintenance of ELSO branding, supplies, office space, and administrative systems by understanding and following policies, processes, and procedures for supply organization, file storage and naming conventions, branding guidelines, communications logs, departmental budgets, purchase and reimbursement requests, etc.
Be friendly, accessible, and responsive to the public in all aspects of job duties, including communicating professionally and knowledgeably about ELSO Inc.’s mission, fundraising efforts, and programming.
Commit to following ELSO, Inc.’s approach to problem-solving both internally as well as with partners, contractors, volunteers, program participants, funders, donors, and the general public.
Other duties as assigned
Relationships
Wayfinders Program Director - work alongside the PD and provide support with curriculum/ program development, camp logistics and trainings
Camp Staff - Work closely with Wayfinders Summer Staff (van drivers, chef, camp guides and inters) to provide support during the summer and training.
Tappin Roots Interns - Work closely with Tappin Roots Interns over the course of their year long internship to provide support when needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
25+ High School Graduate, or GED complete with STEAM Outdoor experience
Must be able to pass a background check as required by the Oregon Department of Education for positions that work directly with youth (Oregon State Department of Education Disqualifying Crimes 342.143) and have clean driving record for 1 year prior to application
Proficiency with, or willingness to learn, Zoom, Canva and Google applications such as gmail, drive, docs, sheets, slides, forms, etc.
Experience working with BIPOC youth/families/communities
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
3+ years of Outdoor Education Experience or Educational Experience
Experience working with children K - 8th grade
Multi/Bi - Lingual
Multicultural
Great communication and public speaking skills
Flexible work from home options available.