Description
Science Adventure School is a 4-day, 3-night outdoor science school serving West Virginia’s youth. At SAS, sixth graders try outdoor adventure sports while learning through hands-on, engaging lessons in physical and environmental science. Students become more confident, make new friends, and gain valuable skills they need to succeed in middle school and beyond.
STEM Instructors deliver lessons from our innovative Science Behind the Sport program, which helps students explore the engineering, physics, and math behind exciting outdoor sports. Students might learn how they can use projectile motion to improve their aim at archery, or how their center of gravity helps them balance on a rock climbing wall. Because students get to immediately put the fundamental principles of STEM into practice, they discover the best possible answers to the question, “How will we actually use this stuff in real life?”
STEM Instructors will:
- Teach Science Behind the Sport lessons and hands-on activities, placing special emphasis on the practical applications of STEM.
- Cultivate a fun, energetic, positive atmosphere where students learn by doing.
- Manage a class of up to 16 students, plus two field staff and a teacher chaperone.
- Maintain and organize science displays, demos, and activity materials.
- Engage students in outdoor activities, which may include rock climbing, cycling, archery, zip lining, and paddling. STEM Instructors may monitor student safety, coach and encourage students, and help other trained staff run these activities. All relevant training will be provided.
- Collaborate with Outdoor Education Guides to orient students and run teambuilding activities.
- Maintain a positive attitude, willingness to take initiative, and professional language, appearance, and behavior.
- Assist field staff and teachers with other camp duties as needed, to ensure success of the program as a whole.
Time Commitment: Science Adventure School will begin staff training on August 13th. We expect that you will be available to work with us through and including November 7th with minimal time off throughout, except for a mandatory five days off near the middle of the programming season. Additional unpaid days off can be accommodated, if requested in advance.
Staff will be expected to work Monday-Friday with weekends off. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be “on-duty” nights where staff are expected to remain on-site at camp to assist with evening programming. Although sufficient breaks will be scheduled throughout the week, expect to be working long days with students Tuesday morning through Friday afternoon. Hours vary, but while students are on-site, days frequently start around 7:00 AM and end around 10:00 PM.
We have a small number of “limited hour” positions available, where staff would only be expected to work Wednesday and Thursday. Please ask in your interview if this is of interest.
Compensation and Benefits:
- Competitive pay, starting at $100/day and up to $160/day. Additional pay will be allotted according to education, experience, and relevant certifications.
- Shared lodging in the form of sturdy tents, cabins, and/or yurts will be provided for the duration of contract, including weekends and days off.
- All meals will be provided Monday-Friday. Space and kitchen equipment will be available for food preparation on the weekends.
- Showers, laundry, and internet will be available on site at no charge.
- All training will be paid and provided for free.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications and Requirements:
- Post-secondary education and/or equivalent knowledge in STEM.
- Friendly personality with the ability to connect and communicate effectively with youth.
- Willingness to live and work in an outdoor setting that requires moderate physical activity.
- Attention to organization, time management, and risk management.
- Excellent organizational skills, time-management skills, and risk management skills.
- Passion for science, education, and creative thinking.
- Ability to pass a federal background check.
Well qualified applicants can expect to hear back from our team within seven days of application submission. For more information about SAS, visit our website at ScienceAdventureSchool.wvu.edu, especially the Staff FAQ page at ScienceAdventureSchool.wvu.edu/get-involved/staff-faq. If you have questions, please feel welcome to email SAS@mail.wvu.edu.
At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia’s land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.
From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley – the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.
Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you’re a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.
Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU’s academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.
To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu. View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu.
West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.