Job Description

Reports To: Outdoor Education Coordinator, High School Chair 

About SFWHS: 

At the heart of the school is an innovative education, a constantly renewing, 100-year-old, humanistic approach to learning that is taught at more than 1,100 schools worldwide. Waldorf Education prepares students to enter into adulthood with the gifts of independence, self-knowledge, a mastery of analytical and critical faculties, and a reverence for the world's beauty and wonder. Our faculty and staff share the vision that education is transformative, and full of love, curiosity, and kindness. Through our highly-intentional, well-rounded curriculum and meaningful relationships, we strive to imbue students with confidence, perseverance, resiliency, and self-knowledge with which to lead lives of purpose and direction.

About the Outdoor Education Program at SFWHS: 

We believe deeply in outdoor education’s ability to transform student engagement and the class social life. San Francisco Waldorf School's Outdoor Education Trip Program brings our classroom curriculum alive through yearly grade-level outdoor adventure camping trips. These trips are integral to our students’ growth and development over their four years of high school. Students learn resilience from encountering appropriate risk and uncertainty in the outdoor classroom.

About the interview and hiring process:

Candidates are encouraged to apply at any time throughout the year for the position of trip assistant. Our school’s outdoor education program hosts 6-8 trips a year and we are continually hiring for trips. Once you apply and are selected to move forward, the outdoor education coordinator will reach out for an interview. If offered the position, we will keep you on our email listserv to receive notifications about all future outdoor education trip assistant roles. Typically we run 2-3 trips in the fall, 3-4 in the spring and 1 in the summer. 

Trip Opportunities, Spring 2025: 

• Senior Solo #1: February 17th-21st. 

• Senior Solo #2: April 14th-18th

• 9th Grade Geology Camping Trip: April 28th-May 2nd

Responsibilities Include:

• Work with Outdoor Education Coordinator and other SFWHS trip faculty to create an inclusive, risk-aware trip environment where all students can experience growth outside their comfort zones
• Assist the Outdoor Education Coordinator with 1-3 preparation days for the trip
• Serve as an excellent model of camping skills for students. 
• Teach leadership and outdoor camping skills, as needed
• Oversee students in the campground: provide supervision, serve as a coach with cooking, camp organization and cleanliness
• Be available for students and faculty at all times on the trip: student concerns can arise quickly and we need all faculty and staff present to help assist. 
• We do our best to provide breaks and solo time each day but it is not always possible during emergent situations
• Participate in most daily group activities, with the exception of pre-communicated “off” activities
• Uphold the school’s risk management policies and follow our emergency response procedures
• As a chaperone, you must follow all school rules outlined in our faculty handbook

Pay: 

• Trip Assistant rate is $270 per day
• $40/hour for training and pre-trip meetings

San Francisco Waldorf School is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or any protected class. We recognize  that the range of ethnicities, nationalities, languages, socio-economic backgrounds,  sexual orientation, learning differences, and life experiences within our community enhance the school’s learning environment, and we are committed to fostering equity and inclusion."

To apply please send resume and cover letter to jobs@sfwaldorf.org

Necessary Qualifications

• All candidates must undergo a Livescan Fingerprinting check and TB Assessment as part of the hiring process. 
• Valid Class C driver's license and ability to pass a DMV certification.
• Comfort and experience driving a 9-passenger van, or desire to be trained.
• Current CPR/AED certification
• Prior experience teaching or leading high school students in an outdoor education setting
• Ability to communicate personal needs to faculty group
• Excellent self-care strategies and support for a high-demand, active work environment
• Prior experience in leading overnight student trips
• Enthusiasm for working with teenagers 

Preferred Qualifications

• Mental Health First Aid 
• Current Wilderness First Aid or Responder (necessary for backpacking programs) 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Be able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs.
• Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including heat and cold.
• Regularly sitting or standing for 3 or more hours.
• Ability to hike and carry equipment for extended periods in outdoor settings.  
• Comfort in variable weather conditions and rugged outdoor terrain.  
• Work is primarily outdoors, where conditions can vary.

About San Francisco Waldorf School

San Francisco Waldorf School (SFWS) is an independent, co-educational, non-sectarian school providing education from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The school is fully accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools (WASC) and by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). SFWS was established in 1979 with the purpose of bringing the 100-year old international Waldorf school movement to San Francisco. SFWS now has over 400 students in grades K though 12 on two campuses including its new “green” high school campus (LEED Gold certification pending). In addition, the school supports a nursery program and early childhood classes for parents and children.

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