What skills do I need to qualify for a specific job?
Specific skills are listed under each posting.
Am I required to take an Instructor's Course to work for OB?
No, you are not. Depending on your skill set and experience, it may actually be a great option for you, but it is not necessary. These courses are wonderful for folks looking to break in to the industry but who possess few skills to do so. You will gain a great baseline of skills and experience that will help you find work in many entry level positions in the outdoor education industry.
Is there work available in the fall, winter and spring?
The majority of our field staff work in the summer months for our Wilderness Expeditions programs. Those staff are given priority for any Wilderness work in the fall, winter and spring if it is available. We rarely, if ever, hire staff new to OB to work in these programs during that time. At Risk Programs operate all year and hire staff accordingly (see When to Apply below). Urban Programs operate throughout the year and often hire in the fall and early spring. Please look at the specific postings to see if something is available.
If hired as an intern, am I guaranteed to eventually be hired as an instructor?
No, you are not. Our internship program is a stand alone development opportunity. While many interns continue to work for Outward Bound, it is not a guarantee of continued employment. We are committed to staff development, so if you are not offered a position, you will be told what you need to improve in order to be considered again.
What should I do if I don't think I qualify now, but eventually want to work for OB?
This is a tricky one as there isn't a singular path to become an Outward Bound instructor. To work in the field right away as an instructor, you need several qualities:
Required technical skills for your desired program area
WFR (Wilderness First Responder)
Good judgment
Flexibility, good sense of humor, humility, etc
Experience working in a leadership role in the wilderness is a bonus!
Above all, you need the desire to work with students (youth in particular) and to help provide them with life changing experiences
Consider an internship.
Consider a logistics position.
Consider working in one of our offices as a seasonal staff.
Take a course to improve your technical skills.
Seek employment elsewhere in order to build your skill set and then reapply.
Do I need a WFR to apply for a field job?
No, you don't. It is a job requirement and it catches our eye if folks already have it, but there are often opportunities prior to training for obtaining a WFR at a reduced rate with OB.
When should I apply for a position?
Most job postings for administrative positions will have an application deadline. Look on the specific posting of the due date. For field positions - we accept applications at any time, but here are the best times to apply for field positions:
Summer seasonal positions for Wilderness Expeditions positions:November through March for New Staff Training in May
At Risk positions:
Sept thru Nov for New Staff Training in January
Jan thru Feb for New Staff Training in March
May thru July for New Staff Training in August/September
Urban Centers:
Baltimore and Philadelphia: Dec thru Jan for New Staff Training in March
Denver: Check specific listings as we grow!
San Francisco: Check for specific listings as we grow!
LA: Check for specific listings!
You never know what is happening (staff get hurt, etc). We may need people at any time, so feel free to apply!
What kinds of students does Outward Bound serve?
Outward Bound is proud to serve a wide variety of students. Folks of all ages attend courses with us. We serve Adjudicated and At Risk students in our programs in FL and AL. In our Urban Centers, we serve the students through local schools and community groups. In our Wilderness Expeditions, our primary audience is teens. Although we do work with adults and college age students, the primary students that new staff serve are 14 - 18. We are looking for staff who are interested in serving youth.
Can I choose the location where I work?
You should definitely tell us your preferences, but staff will be offered positions based on the following criteria:
There is a need.
You have the skills necessary to work there (e.g. If you can't sea kayak and/or mountaineer, then you can't work in AK as an instructor).
You may want to be clear about your priorities so that we can help find the best placement for you. For example, your heart may be in the mountains but you REALLY want full time work. All things being equal (you have the skills, etc), you may have to choose seasonal mountain position vs. year round work available in another program (such as At Risk). Try to be clear on what your priorities are so that we can help serve you best.
Once I get hired, I can move all over Outward Bound, right?
Well, not exactly. It takes quite a bit of energy on OB's part to help folks become Lead Instructors - the staff that are ultimately responsible for the student experience and for training/mentoring the newer staff. We ask that staff stay in one place until they reach this level and have helped OB by training a couple of new instructors. This helps us keep things staffed and to avoid a "revolving door" where all we do is train staff who are moving around the system. We try to offer other incentives for development such as Staff Expeditions, Advanced Trainings, etc so that field staff can get some of their developmental needs met prior to changing locations.
If staff only work seasonally, what do they do the remainder of the year?
There are some opportunities for year round work with Outward Bound. Options to work in Urban Centers, with our At Risk Programming or in our Wilderness Expeditions that occur in the spring and fall exist in some locations. Staff are solicited for interest in other work in during the summer months.
Many staff work in opposite seasonal positions such as working at a ski mountain or in a school setting. Outward Bound helps provides job postings and announcements to staff to let them know of opportunities that arise as well.
Is there room and board available?
Yes, most programs have some type of room and board. It varies from place to place (electricity vs. open air) but most often there is a place to lay your head and keep your stuff while you are on trail.
What happens on time off?
In our shorter seasonal programs, there actually isn't a lot of time off! During our busy summer months, staff will spend most of their time in the field with students. While not on course, staff go off to play or rest and relax before the next course. If housing is available at the base, staff are asked to do nominal service in exchange for room and board.
In our programs where field staff work full time (such as At Risk), staff often have longer chunks of time off. In these cases, staff do not usually live at a base and are free to do as they please!
