How To Apply...

NOTE: as of July 23rd, we've stopped accepting applications for our 2010/11 school year (beginning in mid September 2010 and running through the end of May 2011). We will start accepting applications for the January through May season starting on October 1st. However, things may change. So, if you're really interested, it doesn't hurt to check in with us....

QUALIFICATIONS

• You need to have a college degree! If you don't have a degree but still think you would like to work with us, check out our Internship Program.  
• You need to have experience working with children. The more the better.
• You need to have First Aid and CPR certifications, or be willing to take the necessary classes once you get to High Trails.
• You must have the ability to pass a criminal background check. 
• You must be open minded, tolerant, patient, loving, caring, giving, and determined.
• Most importantly, you must have a non-stop positive attitude.

We believe firmly that anyone can be a great teacher at High Trails, as long as they are willing to learn.
Because of this we look more closely at your personality characteristics than your resume.

WARNING!!!

We think working here is pretty cool, but High Trails is not an easy job. Teaching sixth graders every day is an exhausting experience, and you must have the energy and determination to keep up with them. Being an Instructor does not mean all you do is teach. You are a full staff member, and that means lots of program equipment maintenance and facility upkeep. If you shy away from honest, hard work, whether it is scrubbing toilets everyday or moving bunks from cabin to cabin, you should look for an experience elsewhere. Before you even think of applying, please take the time to explore this entire website (especially the FAQ) and email us with any questions you may have.

YOUR APPLICATION

1: Get that Resume out. Update and fine tune it. This is your black and white, nuts and bolts, "where I've been and what I've done" piece.

2: Write a Cover Letter. This is your style piece; introduce yourself, tell us why you want the position and are perfect for it, how you love kids, the environment, and cleaning toilets. Or just talk about whatever you want.

3: Fill out the online Tough Questions Sheet. This is your character piece; let us know how you think and feel about camp relevant issues. Here is the Tough Question Sheet.

4: References! You need three (3) of these; they can either be a written letter from a reference or you can take advantage of our Online Reference Form; just enter the name and email address of three references. We'll take this information and contact your references, giving them a link to an online form they can fill out to tell us all about you. If you choose to use a Letter of Reference that someone has already written for you, please include this when you submit your Resume and Cover Letter. Friends and family are decent references, but work related references are key. We can review your application and even interview you, but we cannot offer you a position until we have all three references. PLEASE NOTE: Out of your entire application, what we weigh most heavily are your references. References are also the most common item to hold up an application; we'll send out online forms to your references, but you may have to get in touch with them as well to ask for their assistance in the process.

5: Get everything to us! Please email a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment to us at work@thehightrailsway.com. If you prefer, you can also send or fax information to us at:

High Trails Outdoor Science School
PO Box 2640
Big Bear City, CA 92314
email work@thehightrailsway.com
fax 1 800 428-1851

OUR RESPONSE

Once you have taken the time to apply with us, we owe it to you to be on top of things. Don't expect anything less from anyone else. Here's what you can expect from us:

1: We will respond to your application within 48 hours. We'll email you to let you know we received it and let you know if we need anything else from you. Occasionally, especially during the summer months, we may be out of the office on a vacation for a bit; in this case our email will be automatically set up with auto responders to let you know this.

2: If your application is complete, we will try to schedule a phone interview with you. We'll ask what your schedule is and do our best to find a time that fits. Interviews last 45-90 minutes; your job is to ask a lot of questions, and our job is to convince you that we're a good place and you should come work with us. After the interview, we will do some thinking, as should you. If your application is complete but we don't believe we would be a good match for you, we will do you the courtesy of letting you know why.

3: We will be in touch within 48 hours after an interview. Positions are generally offered on the 1st and 15th of each month. We take all of our applications, compare and contrast, and offer positions to the strongest half. This means that if we have 10 people applying, we'll offer 5 folks positions come the 1st or 15th of the month. If you're not selected in one round, we'll give you the choice of jumping into the next round and keeping your application alive. If we don't think you'd be a good fit at High Trails, we'll give you a good explanation to help you out in future job hunts. Bear in mind that we can't offer you a position until we have all of your references.

4: Once a position is offered, we will give you a concrete date by which you may accept the position. If you choose to accept, please make certain that you are willing to commit; nothing is worse than turning down lots of great people and then finding out at the last minute that a new instructor is not taking the job after all.

5: If you accept the position, we will email you a staff hiring packet. This will contain a contract, a schedule and other assorted information. We will be ready to answer questions from you as they arise. Then comes...staff training!

METHODS OF COMMUNICATION

We prefer email, because we are in and out of the office so much and the mountains don't always lend themselves to consistent phone service. If you need to speak on the phone, though, please give us a call. We will respond to you via email unless you ask us otherwise. Please email or call us with questions. We're ready for you!

Staff hiring email: work@thehightrailsway.com
Telephone / Fax: 1 800 428-1851

WHAT ABOUT A POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON?

We run program at several sites, and have more than 9,000 students a year. Because we can't do this alone, we need LOTS of help...close to 50 people work with us every year. We are always on the lookout for good staff, no matter what time of the year, so if you are interested please get your information on over to us and we'll talk.

Traditionally, contracts are available for our full season, which runs mid-September through late May. We also have more students in the spring, so we have additional contracts available early January through late May. We generally start interviewing and hiring for the fall positions in the preceding spring, and for spring positions in the preceding summer and fall.

Some years positions fill early, and some years we are hiring up until the beginning of staff training. Some years all of our staff stay the entire year, and other years we have mid-season openings. If you are reading this halfway through September or at the beginning of January, there may be hope and we may be able to help each other out; get in touch with us. 

WHAT ABOUT AN INTERNSHIP?

Qualifications: If you are in college or headed to college shortly, you are qualified. Although internships are traditionally arranged through colleges, our internships happen when people want it, with your school's involvement or without it.

When do you offer Internships? We offer flexible paid internship opportunities that may be just what you are looking for. Most positions run seasonally, September through December and January through May, but we may have shorter sessions available.

Why do we offer internships? The majority of our staff have their college degrees. However, we wish to offer those up and coming a chance to experience the benefits of "learning by doing". We believe strongly in Experiential Education and the benefits this type of education can afford. It may be that you wish to "test the waters" in several areas of your field or that you're looking for a break away from the everyday grind of classes. Whatever the reason, an internship in a great opportunity to learn and grow.

Internship Goals

• To provide you, the student, with significant work experience, which contributes to your understanding of and expertise in the field of Outdoor/Environmental Education.
• We will provide an on-site supervisor, who is available at all times for questions, concerns, and assistance in helping you develop into a productive employee and making sure you're happy with what is going on around you.
• To provide accurate, detailed, written feedback of your on the job performance, including suggestions for improvement.
• We will provide an on-site supervisor who will (if needed by your college) be liaison between you and your College/University. This supervisor will assist a student in meeting their academic and administrative requirements and deadlines.

How is an Internship different than a normal Instructor position? The Internship Goals are what differentiate our internship program from our normal staff positions. Other than this, you will have the same job and responsibilities as all of the other Instructors. We will expect you to act like a normal Instructor; because of this you will enjoy the same pay and benefits as a normal Instructor.