Now Hiring: Outdoor Adventures Trip Staff

General Statement of Duties

• • Responsible for delivering clinics, half day trips, and day trips; program staff are involved in all phases of the outdoor recreation activity including pre-trip, trip, and post-trip duties. They may serve a supporting or assisting role or take lead depending on the program, their skills, and the team they work with.

Typical Responsibilities

• • Responsible for the safety and well-being of the group
  • Make judgments commensurate with your ability, skill, and scope of training.
  • Work collaboratively with co-leaders to ensure proper risk management and quality program delivery
  • Provide sequential, progressive and effective skill instruction
  • Ensure that every participant has the opportunity throughout the activity to become more proficient at all program elements
  • Model the behaviors expected of the group
  • Initiate and facilitate group participation
  • Ensure that the rationale behind all guidelines, expectations, and decisions are understood by the group
  • Facilitate quality customer service through well managed and positive interactions with trip participants, program partners and co-leaders.
  • Utilize each leadership experience as a learning lab to gain interpersonal, technical, and educational skills. Learn from your peer leaders.
  • Promote clinic or trip and recruit participants utilizing all appropriate avenues, in conjunction with other OA Staff.
  • Gather and prepare required documents for risk management and program effectiveness.

Experience and Abilities

• • Proficiency speaking and writing fluently in professional English
  • Proficiency with computer programs
  • Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word
  • Web browsers
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management and reservations
  • Utilize written and verbal directions to complete tasks independently
  • Demonstrated ability to work with little to no supervision and with only basic guidance in preparation. Leading and instructing groups of 4-16 people
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills (preferred)
  • Ability to work with a variety of participant skill or experience levels, backgrounds, and interests.
  • Effective organizational ability (preferred)
  • Developing the skill in peer communication, provide clear and productive feedback to peers and other staff.
  • Presenting information to groups in classroom and activity settings to promote Outdoor Adventures and further the organization’s mission.
  • Demonstrated ability to design and implement a plan for a lesson or activity, including preparation and follow-up.
  • Previous personal experience and foundational technical training in the activity scheduled, including but not limited to hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, lead climbing, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, river kayaking, kayak rolls, and bike maintenance.
  • At a minimum, Trip Staff 1 will hold a current CPR and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer.
  • Conservation ethic for the outdoors (preferred)
  • Genuine enjoyment of the outdoors (preferred)
  • Lift and carry heavy and awkward items occasionally

Training

• • Responsible for knowledge of Trip Leader Handbook and general expectations for quality of programs offered through Outdoor Adventures
  • Attend appropriate staff workshops and staff meetings
  • Complete and maintain job-related training required by Texas A&M University System and the Department of Recreational Sports.
  • Complete and maintain Outdoor Adventures required trainings including Child Protection Training, Slow Moving Vehicle, Large Capacity Van, Biosafety and Occupational Health Bloodborne Pathogens as well as current First Aid, CPR and AED for the Professional Rescuer certifications.
  • Complete and maintain trainings or certifications specific to the activity trip leader is leading, including but not limited to climbing site management, paddling site management, or attend more advanced skill development courses like OLP.
  • Complete trainings as assigned by the Outdoor Adventures Coordinator and/or Director.

Environmental Conditions

• • The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in variable weather conditions including heat and cold, wet and dry, humid and arid, in areas of loud noise and near hazardous materials. Employees must frequently move between typing, reading, sitting, standing, kneeling, crouching, stooping, grasping, reaching, pulling, pushing, lifting, and carrying. Employees talk frequently and must see and hear to assess and communicate with participants. Employees are occasionally required to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to hazardous conditions. Outdoor Adventures Trip Staff 1 will be required to work days, evenings and weekends in shifts and other work hours not to exceed an average of 27.5 hours per week.
  • Will be subject to working at heights of up to 45 feet
  • May be exposed to falling and falling objects
  • May be required to lift or transport light to heavy equipment items
  • May be exposed to blood and body fluids while giving First Aid/CPR or while cleaning equipment
  • May be required to work with various cleaning products in the maintenance of the climbing facility in the rental shop, and at other Outdoor Adventures program areas.
  • Any employee exposed to hazardous materials will be educated on the proper handling and emergency procedures for each item
  • May work in less than favorable / variable or possibly extreme outdoor environmental conditions
  • May be required to lift or transport light to heavy equipment items
  • May work with stoves and lanterns containing fuel

Pay Scale

• • In accordance with the Department of Recreational Sports part-time worker pay scale, Trip Staff 1 will be paid $11 per hour for time worked toward any program preparation, delivery, leadership, and post program tasks. Working hours are defined differently if you are the driver on the trip, a rider in the van, and what duties are performed during the trip.

Learning Outcomes:

• • These learning outcomes will be measured annually through an employee review, utilizing a rubric that captures multiple dimensions for each of the outcomes.
  • Outdoor Adventures Trip Staff will demonstrate professionalism through positive and fair interactions with trip participants, park personnel and other trip leaders as well as through timely and thorough trip preparations.
  • Outdoor Adventures Trip Staff will demonstrate communication skills by conducting trip leader check-in’s on trips and by completing trip debrief and reporting forms.
  • Outdoor Adventures Trip Staff will demonstrate critical thinking skills through effectively assessing risk using the PREFF model and will demonstrate the ability to effectively mitigate risks while on trips.
  • Outdoor Adventures Trip Staff will demonstrate the ability to work in teams and in groups by serving as a participating member of a trip leadership team, and satisfying pre-trip, trip and post trip duties accordingly.

OTHER:

Why join our crew?

• • Gain leadership experience and professional development
  • Work alongside a team that values growth, connection, and adventure.

    Important Dates:

  • Applications submitted after 9/16 will not be considered
  • Hiring and onboarding will occur in mid-late October. Training will occur in October and November-December in preparation for working regular shifts well before the end of the fall semester semester.

Applications will only be accepted through the following link: https://forms.fillout.com/t/sqok53Xx6jus [tx.ag/ApplyOA]

If you have any issues using the submission form, please reach out to Todd Grier at tgrier@rec.tamu.edu All applicants must complete an interview prior to being offered a job. Hiring will be contingent upon passing a criminal background check. The application process will remain open until all positions are filled.

The Outdoor Adventures Staff position offers a flexible schedule that works around class schedules.

Outdoor Adventures Staff weekly workload may vary from 4 to 29.75 hours.

Outdoor Adventure Staff are required to work weekly as well as occasional weekends, holidays, and breaks. The position requires a minimum of 12 hours of availability throughout the week.

• • Todd Grier,  Program Diretor for Outdoor Adventures,  tgrier@tamu.edu