Winter Intern

POSITION SUMMARY 

This is a seasonal position running from late November through the end of February.

The Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS) maintains a freighting-style dog yard with approximately 60 sled dogs. Our yard supports expedition-based programming for young adults and adults, with approximately 20 winter courses each season ranging from 4 to 30 days in length.

The essential duties of the job include supporting the day-to-day operations of the Homeplace basecamp, assisting Winter courses in whatever way necessary, helping to maintain a clean and healthy dog yard through daily and weekly chores, and contributing to a positive and collaborative working and community environment. 

We cannot guarantee that the winternship will include fieldwork with students. However, priority consideration is given for at least 10 days of course work in March following the internship. Winter interns are expected to work the following Ely summer season. 

We ask all interns to commit to returning for two additional winter seasons after their internship, contingent upon a successful performance assessment and demonstration of essential competencies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Winter Program Support

• Various duties to support the winter courses, including but not limited to: cooking banquets, cleaning, driving to and from the airport, shoveling, chopping wood, stoking fires, sanding walkways, gear packout, food packout, course start and course end duties. 
• Learning mushing, skiing, winter camping and ice reading skills.
• Daily and weekly dog chores and yard maintenance.
• Perform maintenance on structures and equipment such as dog sleds. 

Basecamp Operations

• Daily and weekly chores to support the Homeplace basecamp (like shovelling, firewood, cleaning etc.).

Safety Management

• Participate as needed to support the basecamp’s on-call field response system. This could include skiing or mushing to evacuate an injured student from the wilderness, answering the emergency field line, and preparing food and gear for evacuation teams.
• Adhere to local operating procedures, safety policies and emergency procedures as outlined in the field staff manual, the employee handbook and in our community guidelines.

Other Duties Assigned

KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

• Flexibility & Adaptability - Respond effectively to changing circumstances, new information and shifting priorities.
• Innovation & Problem Solving - Develops creative solutions using limited resources, identifies opportunities for improvement.
• Accountability - Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely and cost effective results.
• Proactivity - Anticipates needs and takes initiative to address challenges and opportunities.
• Customer Service - Experienced in, and committed to, the delivery of exceptional, student centered customer service, with the ability to establish rapport quickly with youth and adults.
• Animal Husbandry Skills - Previous dog handling or other animal experience is helpful but not required.
• Basic Carpentry Skills - Helpful but not required.

SKILLS

• Communication—The ability to clearly convey ideas, facts, and information in a variety of settings (1:1, small groups, large groups) using different mediums (written vs. verbal) effectively taking into account the makeup of the audience while encouraging the open expression of a diversity of ideas and opinions.
• Collaboration - The ability to work with people from different backgrounds, communities, lived experiences, and cultures to effectively build relationships to meet shared objectives.
• Self Management - The ability to set well-defined and realistic personal goals, take on and complete assignments in a timely manner, and complete work with minimal supervision.
• Judgement & Decision Making - ability to synthesize information to make sound, goal-aligned decisions.
• Time management & Organization - Prioritizes tasks effectively; maintains attention to detail and manages workload efficiently, often under stress and/or tight timelines.

WORK CONDITIONS 

• On feet most days – sometimes for up to 10+ hours a day, or possibly more in the case of an emergency. 
• Consistently works in outdoor weather conditions, often during poor weather and cold conditions.

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.
• Must be able to participate in all job activities and maintain ample energy, strength and focus, with or without reasonable accommodations. 
• Ability to move dogs or equipment weighing up to 50+ pounds.
• Ability to participate in vigorous to moderate physical activity including clearing the yard, building dog houses, performing dog yard infrastructure upgrades, etc. 
• Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform essential functions. If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• 21 years of age as of start of the position.
• 1+ year/season of prior Outward Bound or similar.
• Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience working/camping in cold, winter conditions.
• Clean driving record.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

• Per Diem rate of $60 per day.
• Shared housing is provided (likely in the Fort, expect to have a roommate).
• Food is provided when on trainings and when on course.
• Basic food staples are provided for staff to cook and eat when on base 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.