Trips and Leadership Educator (Level 3)

Job Overview:

Are you passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders and creating unforgettable experiences while exploring the wonders of Maine? As a Trip Leader and Leadership Educator, you will lead immersive and engaging outdoor programs for teenagers, guiding them through 3-6 day trips, including camping, hiking, and canoeing adventures. You will participate in a comprehensive two-week training to hone your practical skills, after which you’ll co-lead multiple-week sessions focused on essential leadership skills such as communication, team-building, and outdoor safety. Be the mentor so many teens crave and need! Join the Tanglewood team as a Trip Leader and Leadership Educator! 

  • Position Title: Trip Leader and Leadership Educator
  • Department: Cooperative Extension 
  • Location: Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center
  • Your Direct Supervisor:  Tanglewood Director, Jessica Decke
  • Position Type: Full-Time, Temporary (June 8  to August 15 or August 29) 
  • Level: Three
  • Salary Range: $4500-$6600  for 10 to 12 weeks
  • We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.

Your Work Schedule: 

4 hikers stand on a mountain topYou’ll work from June 8 to August 15 or August 29 (depending on if you stay to lead the UMO Bridge week programs). You will reside on-site with campers throughout the season, with structured time off each week. This position includes weekend work while out on trips. 

Responsibilities:

  • You will attend and actively participate in a two-week-long paid staff training, where you will practice, review, and test your practical skills to feel comfortable leading and teaching campers.
  • You will co-lead outdoor leadership programs for teenagers, each lasting 1, 2, or 3 weeks, which include exciting 3-8 day camping, hiking, and canoeing trips (note that some weekend work will be required during the program sessions).
  • You will plan lessons and schedules, implementing a leadership curriculum that covers a variety of skills such as listening, communication, team-building, low-impact camping, conflict resolution, canoe safety, canoeing skills, map and compass navigation, general ecology, personal health and safety, and knot-tying.
  • You will prepare food for trips and coordinate logistical support, including food and equipment deliveries and emergency assistance.
  • You will supervise and ensure the safety of campers at all times, facilitating the resolution of group conflicts while encouraging problem-solving and decision-making, and you will live in and supervise a cabin of up to 6 program participants.
  • You will model healthy living, positive energy, clear communication, and good stewardship of the environment.
  • You will actively engage with campers during lessons, recreation, and mealtimes to foster a supportive community.
  • You will drive 12-passenger vans, sometimes towing a canoe trailer, to program sites alongside participants and other staff members.
  • You will regularly evaluate the program with the Program Leader and Director to enhance the overall camp experience.

Potential Trips

  • Circle Loop Trail along the Appalachian Trail
  • Exploring Downeast Maine and farm life
  • Hiking and exploring the Camden Hills State Park
  • Seaside Camping and ocean paddling
  • Canoe trips to High Island in Tenants Harbor, on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, or on Flagstaff Lake
  • Long-hiking on the last 40 miles of the Appalachian Trail, culminating with a 3-night stay at Baxter State Park including a summit of Mt. Katahdin

Knowledge and Skill Qualifications:

Level Three Required: 

  • You need a High School diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)
  • You need a minimum of 3 years related experience working with teenagers and teaching in the outdoors or equivalent

AND/OR

  • You need to hold an additional certification that is value-added to keep our campers safe like: 
    • Lifeguard certification
    • Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification
  • You have experience leading camping/backpacking/canoeing trips 

Preferred: 

  • You are 21 years of age or older
  • You hold a higher additional certification that is specific to the outdoors like: 
    • Wilderness First Responder Certification
    • Small Craft Water Safety Certification
  • With or without accommodation, you can lead groups outdoors over various terrains with 35+ lbs. packs for extended days and the ability to assist in carrying canoes (85 lb.) with others
  • You can demonstrate responsible and safe decision-making skills in all aspects of outdoor camp programming.
  • You have a genuine motivation to work with children in a vibrant, high-energy outdoor setting where every day is an adventure.
  • You demonstrate responsible and safe decision-making skills, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for all campers during outdoor programming

Benefits:

  • Rustic and Shared Housing
  • Equipment for trips
  • Meals 
  • Internet Access
  • Potential for certification in: wilderness first aid, lifeguarding, or 4-H shooting Sports (archery)

Who We Are:

The 4-H Camp and Learning Centers provide environmentally focused programs for Maine youth and families in Lincolnville. Our mission is to teach youth and adults to be effective and caring citizens of the earth through affordable environmental education and fun nature-based experiences. Tucked into a parcel of Camden Hills State Park, campers and counselors join together to form a creative community fostering a supportive and fun environment for all — and drawing people back year after year! While having fun and experiencing the joys of being a part of the natural world, we emphasize community living, respect for all, and healthy relationships. Summer at Tanglewood is filled with the wonderful energy of young people living and playing together outdoors. Our camps encourage everyone to be themselves, learn from those around them, and make good decisions. Tanglewood’s summer offerings include overnight camps for 8 to 14-year-olds, day camps for 5 to 11-year-olds, hunter safety camps in conjunction with Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, discovery trips featuring canoeing and backpacking, and multi-week leadership programs for teens 14-17. Behind our programs is a dedicated team of program leaders and support staff who are trained in working with young people in the outdoors.

To Apply:

To apply for the Trip Leader (Level 3 Overnight Camp Counselor) position, please submit the following to jessica.decke@maine.edu or use our online application.

  • A resume
  • A cover letter describing why you’d be a great fit for the learning center
  • If your application moves forward you will be required to submit a name, email, and phone number for three references.
  • Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the final review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
  • These materials are reviewed on a weekly basis. The final date to apply for the summer of 2025 is June 1, 2025, at 4:30 PM
  • For questions about the search, please contact Jessica Decke, at jessica.decke@maine.edu 
  • The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.