WOLF Kids Nature Connection Mentor for Children Job Vacancy in Canada

0,000 people.

WOLF (acronym for Wilderness Our Learning Foundation) is committed to
providing Deep Nature Connection Mentoring, based on the principles of
the 8 Shields model, the art of mentoring, community building and
cultural restoration, and coyote mentoring (based on the work of Jon
Young and Tom Brown Jr), as a foundational part of a child’s
education. WOLF functions as a non-profit charity with a board, and
the parents and families form an integral part of the organization,
administration, and WOLF community.

The program runs Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for about 7 hours
each day (plus planning and prep), from September to June, with a
6-week break from mid-December to end of January, and two weeks spring
break in mid-March.

Children enroll as a full-year commitment (many have been there for
years) and attend either two or three days per week. The maximum size
of the program is 24 students with at least 3 mentors.

Now moving into its 10th year from its initial beginnings, we believe
WOLF Kids is the longest-standing program of its kind (a depth
mentoring program with children attending as a foundation for their
education) in North America.

Our website is http://www.wolfkids.org – please note that the website
is not up to date with some essential details, but the main philosophy
and flavour is there.

Overview

The position offered is as a primary mentor at WOLF Kids, working
alongside a lead mentor and an intern mentor. We ask at least a one
year commitment (Mon-Wed, Sept 2014-June 2015), with the potential of
a long-term position.

The mentor would be involved with all aspects of WOLF Kids
programming, including collaborating with the lead mentor on design,
planning, preparation, instruction, mentoring children, field trips
and expeditions, debrief, overseeing student progress, interacting
with parents and families, and caretaking the land/facilities.

This position offers the opportunity to mentor children who are deeply
committed to the program and to nature connection over the long-term,
in a supportive stable environment with a community building and
cultural restoration focus. This is very different from running short
high-energy camps.

You must be legally able to work in Canada at this time.

Responsibilities
• Mentor children in deep nature connection through our curriculum of
Wilderness Survival and Primitive Skills, Wildlife Tracking,
Ethnobotany, Regenerative Design, Nature Based Mentoring, Community
Building and Cultural Restoration, Naturalist Training, Bird Language,
Scout Training, Peacemaker Principles, and Inner Tracking.
• Work collaboratively and communicate clearly with the lead mentor,
intern, and occasional guest mentors, as well as with the Board and
the parent group
• Inspire children to find their unique gifts through their connection
with nature
• Ensure the physical and emotional safety of all participants
• Contribute to the program through storytelling, song/music, active
games, nature connection activities and projects
• Practice deep listening, empathy and authentic communication, and
implement Peacemaker Principles
• Serve as a positive role model for all WOLF members through a
personal commitment to deep nature and people connection, and a true
passion for learning and growth
• Seek out mentors and anchors for your own journey
• Guide interns in the mentoring journey
• Support the caretaking and cleanup of program gear, the land,
buildings and facilities
• Coordinate program logistics, including field trips and end-of-year
expedition (with support from the executive director and the parent
group)
• Attend and positively contribute towards high quality planning and
debrief sessions
• Attend occasional parent meetings
• Communicate regularly with and maintain a positive working
relationship with the executive director
• Ask for help and support when needed, and be open to receiving as
well as giving feedback

Qualifications
• Must have at least three years professional experience (or
equivalent) mentoring children in most or all of our curriculum areas:
Wilderness Survival and Primitive Skills, Tracking, Ethnobotany,
Regenerative Design (permaculture), Nature Based Mentoring, Cultural
Restoration, Naturalist Training, Bird Language, Scout Training,
Peacemaker Principles and Inner Tracking
• Must have personally developed and be continuing to develop skills
in many or most of the above areas
• Must be on a journey to develop the “8 Attributes”. In other words,
must be committed to learning about the 8 Shields and engaged in a
personal journey of growth, mentoring, and finding one’s place in the
community.
• Proficiency and experience as a storyteller, and song/music leader
• Must have a basic “toolkit” of games, activities, projects, stories
and songs and a willingness to develop this
• Ability for self-direction and leadership as well as collaboration,
co-creation and cooperation
• Good naturalist knowledge and curiosity to learn
• Excellent physical fitness and health
• Happy and able to work year-round in the outdoors in all weather (west coast)
• Safety and hazard awareness competency
• Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude and resiliency in face of
challenge
• Commitment to peace, positive communication, inclusiveness,
appreciation, integrity, unity, and love
• Commitment to your own ongoing inner tracking
• Creative and fun loving
• Ability and interest in being mentored, in mentoring, and in
receiving and responding to, as well as giving, feedback
• Must agree to a Criminal Record Check
• Certification in Wilderness First Aid would be an asset.
• A driver’s license and a personal vehicle would be an asset.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:
• Graduated from a nature connection mentoring program with a school
based on the 8 Shields, such as a Depth Mentoring Apprenticeship, the
Wilderness Awareness School Anake Program, Kamana Naturalist Program,
or equivalent

Benefits and Compensation

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a well-established deep
nature mentoring program that has moved through its initial growing
stages and is flourishing within a supportive and engaged community of
parents, in a larger context of the dynamic progressive Salt Spring
community.

Mentoring children over the long term, who are developing the
attributes of deep nature connection as life-learners within a
community context, is a profoundly satisfying and meaningful
experience in realizing the vision of creating a better world and
healing our relationship to the earth.

You will receive training, mentoring, support and feedback for
personal growth and transformation in deep nature connection, depth
mentoring, outdoor leadership, community building and cultural
restoration, and inner tracking.

This position is about 21 hours per week in the field (Mon-Tues-Wed),
sometimes more for the end of year trip or special events, as well as
2-3 hours of weekly planning and prep, and occasional meetings
(approx. 2 hours per month).

Pay is salary (paid monthly) $15000 – $19000 for the Sept-June
commitment (with 6 weeks winter break mid-Dec to beginning of Feb and
2 weeks spring break), depending on experience and enrollment.

To Apply:

Send application to Ingrid Bauer, WOLF Executive Director. Final
applicants will be reviewed by the Executive Director, Lead Mentor and
WOLF Board of Directors.

1) Send an introductory email as soon as possible, informing us of
your intention to apply and including a few details of your
experience, so we are aware of you as we consider other applications.

2) Send a cover letter and resume (including a detailed assessment of
your experience in all of our areas of curriculum). If possible,
include three professional references.

Email is preferred: info@wolfkids.org or instinct@saltspring.com
Phone: 250-653-9122
Mailing address: Ingrid Bauer, 115 Forest Ridge Road, Salt Spring
Island, BC V8K 1W4 Canada