Organization: Trails Youth Initiatives
Location: Newmarket, Ontario
Application Deadline: August 1st 2011
Start Date: September 12th, 2011
24 hours a week Sept-June
40 hours a week, July-Sept
Immediate Supervisor: Executive Director
Salary: TBD
Trails is a 4-year adventure based community-living program that serves vulnerable youth from high risk demographic and low income neighbourhoods in Toronto, Ontario. Our unique and evidence-based longitudinal model endeavours to support each youth and help them thrive in spite of their challenging beginnings.
Each year Trails welcomes 20 new vulnerable youth to embark on their 4 year journey (10 boys & 10 girls). In addition, a select group of our graduating youth continue on to complete a 5th year of Leaders in Training (LIT) program. The LIT program is designed to refine leadership competencies, through mentorship opportunities with younger youth. Thus a total of 88 youth participate in Trails in any given year.
We offer in-class curriculum, experiential based learning, journaling, one-to-one check-ins, conflict resolution and indoor as well as outdoor activities as the external landscape for the development of internal awareness. Sample activities include canoe trips, high ropes, yoga and mindfulness, social activities, volunteering opportunities (within our local community and on-site) and community presentations from a variety of speakers and facilitators.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Works closely with 24 part-time staff to ensure the high quality delivery of the Trails curriculum, working two weekends a month: Friday-Sunday, and follow up weeks, Wed-Friday.
2. Assist in the administration of pre and post weekend, write weekend reports, manage participant data base
3. Facilitate meetings and follow up with parents as per weekend session, coordinated with Program Director
4. Develop and nurture ongoing relationships with participants and parents to maximize the impact of our programme
5. Facilitate July-August Summer Program including pre-post meetings, reports, and follow as per the need.
6. Communicate curricular outcomes, and details to Trails Staff
7. Able to disseminate trails tools of intervention, to staff, and participant to ensure consistency within participants in all groups
8. Communicate and work with parents and participants one to one, inside and outside of Trails
9. Develop and nurture ongoing relationships with participants, parents and schools to maximize the impact of our programme
10. Plan, deliver and evaluate March Break Program and Holiday Event
11. Assist Programme Director in design and implementation of Parent Workshops
12. Ensure the overall safety of participants through implementation of Trails Risk Management Protocols
13. Assist in program design, delivery and evaluation of Trails experiences to partnership groups
Critical Skills and Core Competencies
• University Degree in related field
• Commitment to working with youth who are hard deemed, hard to service
• Excel at a facilitating group dynamics in outdoor setting
• Experience in a leadership position supervising staff teams
• Understanding of the Trails Methodology, Mission and Philosophy
• In-depth knowledge of experiential education and alternative approaches to education
• Committed to working within a residential educational setting, which includes two weekends a month, weekly follow up, and summer sessions
• Excellent verbal presentation and communication skills
• Ability to provide timely and appropriate feedback
• Displays creativity understanding of problem solving methodology and critical thinking
• Excellent organization, abilities of prioritization and time management
• Competencies, experience, and knowledge in wide range of outdoor skills (canoeing, kayaking, hiking, wilderness tripping, ropes course)
• F Class License & Advanced Wilderness First Responder
How to apply:
Please submit a cover letter & resume to:
Julia Morch, Executive Director
Trails Youth Initiatives * 15599 Warden Avenue * Newmarket, ON * L3Y 4W1
Phone: (905) 836-0100 * Fax: (905) 898-0741
julia@trails.ca
Visit our webpage at http://www.trails.ca
We thank all those who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
