Outdoor Leadership Guide

Posted by Natural Leaders on 04/02/2025

Job Basics

Industry Sector: Outdoor

Job Categories: Outdoor Education

Company Type: Recreation

State: VA

City: Fairfax

Country: United States

Required Experience: 1 - 3 years

Job Type: Contract

Salary: starting at $175-$225/day

Required to Relocate:

Required to Travel:

Employee May Telecommute: No

Job Seeker Must Live Within: 25 miles

Job Description & Requirements

We are seeking a great guide to help youth have outdoor adventures, develop character and wilderness survival skills, and grow into leaders. 

Each week (M-F) you will be leading a new group of up to 9 kids (usually 8 - 11 years old) on daily adventures from 9 am - 4 pm at one of our local parks.  

Each day’s activities will include: a group game or two, some hiking, play in the creek, some journaling, and wilderness survival skill-building time.

You should feel at home being out in nature in all summer weather, and comfortable allowing kids a sense of freedom in nature, while also setting appropriate boundaries to maintain a positive, respectful culture and to prevent injuries.  

Join us for paid training starting on June 9th, and our season ends Aug 22nd.  We may be able to offer you some weeks off too, if desired.  

Compensation starts $175 - $225/day, depending on experience/qualifications.  

Staff housing may be a possibility.

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience with primitive skills, tracking, wilderness awareness, and wilderness survival programs

• Experience as a lifeguard, or facilitating adventure sports like whitewater/river, rock-climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, backpacking.

• Have a passion for sharing nature with children.

• Appreciate the importance of character development and personal growth, for yourself and your students.

• Reliable transportation and flexibility about commuting (20 to 45 mins each way is typical).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Humble, curious, open, and excited to learn and grow.

• Good energy levels, physical fitness.

• First Aid certification is good; WFA better, WFR+ ideal.

• Studied at the Tracker School, WAS, BOSS, Outward Bound, NOLS, or similar program.

• Background with Waldorf Education, Montessori, Acton, experiential outdoor education, or other teaching experience.

Join us for a summer of adventure and personal growth for students in the woods!

About Natural Leaders

We specialize in offering 100% outdoor adventure day progams for small co-ed school-aged groups, offering nature discovery, group games, leadership and bushcraft skill-building.