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The instructors plan and facilitate lessons, and work together with the whole staff team to incorporate safe and inclusive learning. Instructors who work at one of the camps are also stewards of the sites; they help take care of OMSI teaching equipment and the facility.
Outdoor Science Instructors start February for staff training then work programming through the end of October. Some short-season instructors are hired too; check the current job listings to see if there and any single-season positions open. Housing is offered at Hancock Field Station and Camp Gray.
Instructors are truly the lifeblood of our program. They create more than just an educational experience for students and campers, they create life-changing experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
Housing (and Food!)
Housing (and Food!)
Housing is provided for the duration of employment. Food is also provided when groups are onsite and we're serving food to our guests. Visit the Camp Gray or the Hancock Field Station pages for more details.
Certifications
Certifications
All of the full-season instructors need a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification and a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL). Since we require them for the health and safety of our participants, we offer opportunities to acquire them, as well as room and board during them. Some associated CDL/DMV fees are reimbursed.
Also, we need:
Emergency Glucagon - (No cost) This in case of diabetic emergencies. This takes a couple of hours and is provided by a nurse and we squeeze it in somewhere during Spring Training.
Oregon Food Handler Card - ($10) Everyone gets to obtain one of these online. It's a requirement in Oregon to work around food, and only takes 30 minutes or so.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Hancock Field Station hosts the coveted WFR course taught by NOLS Wilderness Medicine. OMSI teammates receive a steep discount, at the at-cost price of $645. Lodging and hot meals are included!
This 10-day, 80-hour course covers first aid skills in emergency situations that occur more than an hour away from advanced medical care.
Certification is valid for two years.
Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL)
During the summer, we rent buses and use them to charter our students from Portland to the Summer Science Camp program locations.
There are multiple steps to completing the CDL license and each has an associated fee. Total approximate cost is $500, which is reimbursable upon successful completion of the process.
What's a typical day like?
What's a typical day like?
A typical day for an instructor depends on the season, the site, and the program.
In general, we might do something like this...
A short hike before breakfast
Breakfast
Make and pack a lunch
Field Study (with lunch integrated)
Rest Time
Interest Groups
Recreation Time
Dinner
Evening Program
Bedtime
In addition to Outdoor School and Summer Camp, Instructors will take turns working weekend Rental Groups. Holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day may also have family or rental programs.
The days can be long, and quite rewarding. We try to work in time off throughout the day, as well as set up and clean up time.
Lessons
Lessons
For Spring and Fall Outdoor School, teachers or school administrators will sign up to bring their classes out to one of the sites. They can choose from a menu of classes that we offer; about 25-30 different ones. In general, we teach 3 different kinds of lessons.
Field Study - typically 2.5 - 5 hours; a broad subject like Geology/Paleontology, or Coastal Ecology
Interest Group - typically 1.5 hours; a more specialized subject like Reptiles and Amphibians, or Squid Dissection
Evening Program - typically 45 minutes to 1 hour or so; fun or educational programs like Campfire, or Night Hike
Instructors do not need to have a background in all of the subjects, however an understanding of basic concepts in ecology and biology is quite helpful. We distribute our extensive curricula, and there is room for creativity if instructors want to add their own flair. (You only need 10 pieces.)
Site Support
Site Support
Everyone helps take care of our camps, and the Instructors rotate through a position we like to call the "ELF". It stands for Educator on Logistics and Facilities.
It's a chance for the Instructors to take a break from teaching, and help with things like dishes and cleaning bathrooms.
Additionally, when we run weekend or other rental groups, one instructor is usually scheduled to ELF for the program.
Summer Programs
Summer Programs
In the summer, campers sign up individually for themed weeks of summer science camp. Most typically run Monday through Friday, and we meet in Portland at OMSI, then drive to the camps.
Instructors dispense camper medications and provide first aid as needed, as we do not have nurses onsite.
Summer camp is usually 9 or 10 weeks long, and Instructors will usually get 1-2 weeks off.
The lessons are the same, but different. We still have the classics:
Field Study - typically 2.5 - 5 hours; a broad subject like Geology/Paleontology, or Coastal Ecology
Interest Group - typically 1.5 hours; a more specialized subject like Reptiles and Amphibians, or Squid Dissection
Evening Program - typically 45 minutes to 1 hour or so; fun or educational programs like Campfire, or Night Hike
We travel around by bus or van, and can explore the subjects more in depth. For example, Camp Gray might go on a Marine Discovery Tour (whale watching!), or Hancock will visit the John Day Fossil Beds Thomas Condon Center (fossils!) for the day. Overnight camping off site is common, sleeping under the stars is magical, and ten weeks of s'mores...well, you fill in the rest!
Some themes of summer camp might be Astronomy, Survival, Art, Documentary Filmmaking, Whitewater Rafting, backpacking, or general Adventure camp.
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