Posted on 5/18/26 for the 2026-2027 school year
Join us this coming school year as a Nature Instructor at our Weekly and Monthly Programs! This fun, down-to-earth, all-ages nature school is looking for Youth Program Instructors to join our team. We have Year-Round (24+ hours/week, ongoing employment with benefits) and Seasonal (9-23 hours/week; Sept-May) positions available. Our ideal candidates are creative, inspirational, and professional mentors with experience in Coyote Mentoring and outdoor education.
Our Teaching Philosophy
Coyote Mentoring utilizes a number of teaching styles that mimic how children naturally learn. The end result is an experience in which kids ignite their natural curiosity while learning through fun and play. We also believe that learning should honor the cycles of the natural world (what we refer to as the 8-shields philosophy) – acknowledging the flows of the days, of the seasons, and of lifetimes. These philosophies – coupled with hands-on curriculum teaching wilderness skills related to animals, plants, survival, scouting, and more – provides the context for students to connect with nature, their community, and themselves.
Youth Programs and Instructor Role Overview
School year programs serve over 300 children (ages 3-18) in our Weekly and Monthly programs; Summer Camps serve ~2000 children every year. Weekly programs are held at our beautiful forested 60-acre campus in Duvall, WA. Monthly programs are held in various locations throughout King County.
Year-Round instructors (24+ hours/week) typically work a combination of Weekly and Monthly programs, as well as summer programs. We also hire Seasonal (Sept-May) instructors (9-23 hours/week) that may work only 1-2 Weekly or Monthly programs.
Instructors plan and deliver nature education experiences that build students’ capacity in both physical and emotional skills. This can include class days on survival skills, naturalist training, birding, wildlife tracking, etc. Woven into these days are lessons of emotional intelligence, resilience, working in a group, etc. Our programs are multi-age, typically having at least a 3-year age span (Ex: 7-9, 10-12, etc.). Instructors work within a small instructional team to craft class content, manage and mitigate risks, track student development, tend to group dynamics, foster healthy relationships with parents, and more.
Qualifications and Expectations
- Creativity and passion for mentoring youth in nature – fostering opportunities for them to grow “hard skills” (fire building, wildlife tracking, plant identification, survival skills, etc.) and “soft skills” (resilience, conflict resolution, etc.)
- Able to supervise up to 10 kids at a time with minimal support or supervision
- Current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications (or able to acquire before working).
- Able to pass a background check
- Shows empathy and compassion
- Welcoming and excited to work with populations of diverse backgrounds
- Must demonstrate good judgment and risk assessment
- Strong ability to work as a contributing member of a team – able to bring your unique voice, gifts, and contributions to a relational work setting
- Operate professionally with integrity and accountability
- Willing to participate in a healthy feedback culture
- This is a physically demanding job and instructors must be able to be on their feet for 6+ hours at a time, carry a 20 lb. pack, walk long distances, move over uneven terrain, and be out in the elements all day
- Able to answer emails in a timely manner and communicate effectively with our administrative team, co-instructors, and parents
- Uphold Wilderness Awareness School’s mission and policies
Other requirements:
Year-round Instructors (24+ hours/week):
- Support WAS mission, school-wide events, and bigger picture strategy work
- Attend training and debrief meetings, program planning meetings on Tuesdays, all-staff meetings, and other miscellaneous events throughout the year (graduation, meet-and-greets, etc.).
Seasonal Instructors (9-23 hours/week):
- Attend planning meetings the Tuesday (usually) before each class day.
- Work with their instructional team to prepare supplies and gear needed for each class day.
- For Monthly Program instructors, able to drive to various camp locations in King County many of which aren’t accessible by public transportation
Potential openings for new hires:
Wednesday Village 7-13 year olds
Thursday Roots and Wings 3-6 year olds
Thursday Foxes/Coyotes 7-13 year olds
Friday Community School 13-18 year olds
Wild Within Teen Expedition Program (14-16 and 16-18 year olds)
Friday and Saturday Monthly Programs:
– Jays 4-6 year olds
– Crows 6-13 year olds
– Ravens 10-13 year olds
Preference will be given to applicants who have:
- Experience as a naturalist instructor working with youth ages 3-18 outside
- Experience with the 8-Shields and Coyote Mentoring philosophies, including facilitation through stories, songs, games, observation, and sensory awareness activities
- Knowledge of Pacific Northwest hazards, wildlife, tracking, edible/medicinal plants, navigation without map/compass, field ecology, trees, survival techniques, birds/birdsong, and awareness of local Indigenous Nations and right relations
- Experience working with diverse populations from various social and economic backgrounds
- Completed one or more Wilderness Awareness School programs
Locations
Weekly Programs take place at our 60-acre campus in Duvall, WA on traditional Snoqualmie territories. Monthly programs take place in beautiful state and local parks in King County on Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Skykomish, and Duwamish traditional territories: Tolt-MacDonald Park (Carnation), Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland (Issaquah), Seward Park (Seattle), and Saint Edward State Park (Kenmore).
Compensation and Benefits
- $22 per hour to start
- Connective, community-minded workplace
- Discounted Wilderness Awareness programs
Additional Benefits for Year-Round Instructors who work 24+ hours/week:
- 5 weeks paid time off
- 3% salary retirement plan match
- Monthly stipend to purchase health insurance
- Discounted or free Wilderness Awareness programs and professional training
How to apply
Email ([email protected]) a complete application packet including:
2. Resume/CV
3. Cover letter addressed to Program Manager Shivani Gogna
Please include in your cover letter:
- Why you are an excellent candidate for this position
- What relevant experience you have with outdoor education, nature connection, working with youth, and education in general
- If you are applying for a Year-Round or Seasonal Instructor role, and if you have any preferences to work specific programs (not guaranteed).
First round of applications due by June 15, 2026. After that, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Interviews take place the week in the last two weeks of June.
The start date for year-round instructors is August 31st, 2026. The start date for seasonal Instructors is September 2026, exact day contingent on program start date.
Questions?
Contact: [email protected] or call 425-788-1301
Wilderness Awareness School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.