Instructor - Dog Sled & Cross Country Ski

Instructor - Dog Sled & Cross Country Ski

Field Staff · Ely, MN

Why work for the Voyageur Outward Bound School Ely Base?

Spend your winter on the edge of the Boundary Waters—America’s most visited wilderness area and one of the few places like it in the world. As a member of our team, you’ll help deliver wilderness courses that challenge and inspire students to:

• Work and communicate effectively with their peers
• Build resilience through shared challenges and successes
• Develop self-awareness, honing their strengths and leadership roles
• Reflect and apply learning from their course to life back home
• Have fun while creating lifelong connections

This is more than a job; it’s a chance to grow personally and professionally while making a lasting impact on the lives of young people. If you’re passionate about the outdoors, eager to create unforgettable experiences, and ready to be part of something bigger, we’d love to have you on our team.

POSITION SUMMARY 

This is a seasonal position running from November to Mid March, working primarily in the field. Candidates are required to attend a pre-employment training before the season begins that includes a portion of fall dog training, wilderness travel training, winter staff orientation, technical skills training, musher training, and all staff travel training. These trainings are intended to provide familiarity with VOBS policies, procedures, educational approach, as well as knowledge of the local course area (the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness).

On-the-job training continues when the Instructor (IN) begins working in the field under the supervision of the Winter Program Director/Winter Program Manager and a Lead Instructor (LI). Working as part of an instructional team, Instructors are expected to observe, learn, and practice the art of facilitating educationally effective programs and teaching students the skills necessary to thrive on a winter wilderness expedition with sled dogs. They are also expected to learn and follow VOBS safety policies and procedures meant to mitigate the risks inherent to remote travel. 

VOBS serves a wide range of student populations. During the winter season, the majority of work will be with older teenagers (16-18) and adults (18-65+). We have "classic" 8 day courses in our standard expedition format, as well as courses with specially designed curriculum such as our 30 day Pathfinder program. VOBS also works with intact groups, creating the opportunity to work a variety of programs throughout the winter. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Program Delivery & Implementation 

• Under supervision of the Winter Program Director/Winter Program Manager and Lead Instructor, collaborate to design and implement experiential wilderness expeditions that are in line with Outward Bound mission and educational philosophy and are tailored to the particular student population they are working with.
• Willingness to role model the values Outward Bound seeks to teach to students, including compassion, courage, inclusion and integrity. 
• Work with the Lead Instructor to plan the expedition including development of educational and technical curricula, route planning, and food/equipment planning and pack-out. 

Supervision & Safety

• Assist in managing student behaviors, group dynamics, and facilitating group processes
• Cooperate in identifying, assessing and managing environmental, physical, social and emotional risk during all course activities for students, staff, and dogs.
• Adhere to local operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures as outlined in the field staff manual and winter manual.
• Manage student emotional and physical safety in times of duress, such as field emergencies.
• Manage the emotional and physical safety of dogs in times of duress, such as field emergencies.
• Participate as needed to support the basecamp’s on-call field response system. This could include driving, skiing, or mushing to evacuate an injured student or dog from the wilderness, answering the emergency field line, and preparing food and gear for evacuation teams.

Community Development 

• Committed to actively participating in building a community where all students and staff feel a sense of belonging.
• Provides clear, effective and timely communication with co-instructor, Course Director and other staff.
• Able to give and receive timely, effective oral and written feedback.
• Contributes to living in a small community in a wilderness base camp. Participating in the daily upkeep and maintenance of public space. (daily and weekly chores, dog care, shoveling, firewood, cleaning etc.)

Other Duties as Assigned 

KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

• Collaboration - Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds to effectively meet shared objectives, while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions. 
• Communication - Ability to clearly convey ideas, facts and information in a variety of settings using different mediums, while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions. 
• Conflict Management - Ability to manage and resolve conflict productively and with minimal negative impact by integrating a diversity of viewpoints, addressing harm, and fostering understanding and empathy.
• Continual Learning -The ability to assess and recognize one's own strengths and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement through formal and informal channels including feedback, training, and goal setting. An interest in and commitment to knowing oneself and others.
• Cultural Competence -The ability to recognize and appreciate patterns of cultural differences and commonalities and to shift cultural perspective and change behavior in culturally appropriate and authentic ways. 
• Decision Making - The ability to make sound and timely decisions that accomplish goals, even in the face of uncertainty or high-pressure situations.
• Instills Trust - The ability to gain the confidence and trust of people from varying backgrounds and lived experiences through honesty, integrity, authenticity, and consistency between words and actions. 

SKILLS

• Risk Management - Ability to lead self and others in anticipating, mitigating, and engaging in healthy risks to meet goals.
•      Demonstrated ability to assess students’ ability and backcountry hazards and use that information to mitigate the risk of participating in expeditions-style travel in a natural environment.
• Self Management - The ability to set well-defined and realistic personal goals, take on and complete tasks in a timely manner, and complete work with an appropriate level of supervision.
• Situational Adaptability - The ability to modify approach and demeanor in real time to align with the shifting demands of different situations. The ability to "read the room" and adjust accordingly.
• Teaching Others - The ability to help others learn through formal and informal methods, identify training needs, provide constructive feedback, and coach others on how to successfully perform tasks.
• Outdoor Technical Skills - Demonstrated competency in the following:
•      Cross country skiing
•      Ice reading
•      Mushing and dog management
•      Campcraft
•      Map and compass navigation
•      Expedition logistics and decision-making. (Demonstrated experience teaching the above skills to students. Demonstrated      experience leading others.) 

WORK CONDITIONS 

• Must be able to participate in all site and course activities and maintain ample energy, strength and focus to aid students, dogs, and instructors, with or without reasonable accommodations. 
• On feet most days – sometimes for up to 16+ hours a day, or possibly more in the case of an emergency. 
• Work is performed outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, snow, ice, wind, and uneven terrain.
• Ability to lift up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to lift, crawl, bend, carry and pull. Work is sometimes done in confined spaces.
• Ability to work a varied and flexible schedule including weekends.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Mental resilience sufficient to endure occasional physically and/or emotionally difficult situations, including but not limited to: working with staff, students, partners, chaperones or parents in emotionally charged circumstances.
• Safely handle, manage, and care for sled dogs in a variety of weather and environmental conditions.
• Frequently lift, carry, push, pull, and move dogs, equipment, and supplies (including sleds, firewood, and dog food) weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Perform physically demanding outdoor work, including trail maintenance, snow removal, dog care, kennel maintenance, and facility or dog yard improvement projects.
• Work outdoors for extended periods in winter conditions, including exposure to cold temperatures, snow, ice, wind, and uneven terrain.
• Frequently walk, hike, bend, kneel, squat, climb, and stand for extended periods while performing program and dog yard responsibilities.
• Ability to safely navigate and work on uneven, icy, or snow-covered terrain.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• 21 years of age as of start date of employment.
• Valid Driver's License (held for 3 years) that passes Outward Bound USA screening criteria (Strongly Preferred).
• The following certifications (or the ability to obtain them after hiring) are required:
•      Wilderness First Responder and CPR.
•      Wilderness Water Safety or Active Lifeguard Certification (Water Safety class provided to staff at a reduced cost during summer staff training cycle).
• Professional expeditionary experience (NOLS, Outward Bound or similar organization) with a minimum of 40 days in the field; some of which should be on extended wilderness expeditions.
• Teaching and/or group leadership experience.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

• This is a seasonal, exempt position.
• Instructors are paid starting at $110-$120 per day, depending on experience.
• You may also be asked to do support work for the program when you are not instructing, which is paid at $95/day.
• Shared housing is provided (expect to have a roommate).
• Food is provided during training and when on course; basic food staples are provided for staff to cook and eat at other times, using shared kitchen facilities.
• Pro deals (the opportunity to purchase outdoor gear at discounted rates).
• Paid sick time (accrued at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked).
• Participation in 403b with 2% company match
• Access to an Employee Assistance Plan. 
• VOBS offers a variety of unique staff benefits, which may include access to organizational equipment, outdoor recreation opportunities, and optional post-season backcountry trips. Housing and meals provided throughout the summer.

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PLUS 

• A supportive, values-driven community where staff live the same principles we teach on course.
• A chance to grow personally and professionally. 
• Opportunities to enjoy your downtime: swim at our dock, paddleboard on the lake, sauna next to the river, or head out with friends to run the rapids by our base.
• Professional development opportunities in the form of wilderness staff travels.
• A vibrant staff culture—many team members form lifelong friendships here.

DATES AND TIMELINE

• This position will start mid November 2026; exact date to be determined with the Winter Program Director.
• Applications should be submitted online at Careers - Voyageur Outward Bound School
• Hiring happens on a rolling basis and positions will remain open until filled.
• All field staff schedules are dependent on student enrollment.  As a result, Instructors will receive their specific work assignments after training. Instructors must maintain flexibility during the peak season (December-March); opportunities for year-round work may be available.