Employment FAQ

New staff should plan on attending a two week field-based introductory training beginning in early May. New Staff Training is designed to simulate the student experience, providing new instructors with a clear picture of our course curriculum and the expectations of how to run an NCOBS course. Two weeks of All Staff training follow, focusing on Local Operating Procedures, emergency call-out protocol, techniques for program delivery, building community and diversity training. Training days are not paid, however staff accrue field credits for their participation, assisting them in moving up the pay scale.

We encourage as many staff as possible to be WFR certified, including Interns and Support Staff. Nationally recognized certification providers include:

SOLO (www.soloschool.com)
Landmark Learning (www.landmarklearning.org)
Wilderness Medical Associates (www.wildmed.com)
Wilderness Medical Institute (wmi.nols.edu)

All Outward Bound staff, including Interns, must be 21 years of age or older.

Some applicants will be considered for our summer Internship program. The Internship is designed to provide a greater understanding of Outward Bound philosophy and operations, as well as an opportunity to develop technical and group facilitation skills. The Internship begins in early May with a 14-day group expedition, facilitated by senior staff trainers. Interns then participate in seasonal training along with the rest of our field staff, followed by a week of in-base training specifically focused on the technical and risk management skills needed to support Outward Bound crews in the field. Interns are then involved in a variety of course support roles including rock climbing, ropes course, service projects, driving, logistics and general base camp maintenance throughout June and July. Additional training and skill development days occur intermittently to support individual development. Room and board are provided for the duration of the internship. Interns receive a stipend of $400/month for their w ork in June and July. Depending upon the level of commitment and performance, internships may lead to a position as an Assistant Instructor or Support Staff.

Other applicants may be considered to begin working for the school as Support Staff; coordinating and executing the behind-the-scenes logistical needs to support students and staff in the field. Come join our vibrant working community at one of our beautiful NC mountain base camps and begin gaining skills toward becoming a field instructor. Please send a resume and cover letter to be considered for a Support Staff position.

Many folks looking to transition into a career in experiential education participate in our Outdoor Leader Course. This 45-day course is designed for people who are interested in getting into the field of outdoor education and would like to develop technical, leadership and teaching skills. We offer this course in the spring, summer and fall. Alumni from this course are often hired as Assistant Instructors after one season of trip leading experience at another organization.

Go outside! Explore remote wilderness areas to hone your navigation and outdoor living skills. Spend more time rock climbing and paddling to increase your technical competency. Take a Wilderness First Responder course to gain the medical certification required of most outdoor education programs. Gain teaching experience with adolescents through volunteer programs and other work opportunities. Spend a season leading wilderness trips for a summer camp to gain experience managing groups and facilitating outdoor adventure experiences.

During the summer, the majority of work we do at North Carolina Outward Bound School is with youth aged 14 to 17. We are always looking for talented folks who are interested and excited about working with adolescents. We also offer 4 and 8 day adult courses year round, as well as international semester courses and Outdoor Leader courses for students over 18.

Room and board at one of our base camp communities
Professional Equipment Purchase Program
Worker’s Compensation, year-round Accident Insurance ($100 cost) and Health Insurance Reimbursement Program for staff with personal coverage (average reimbursement $600)
Instructor Development Fund – Available twice annually to support training opportunities and professional development outside of NCOBS.
Instructor Expedition Fund – Available twice annually to support personal expeditions that inspire and challenge staff while building skills and judgment.
Wilderness First Responder Reimbursement- Available to staff after their initial hire into the school.

The top of our instructional pay scale is $128/day; starting salary for Assistant Instructors is $60/day. Starting salary for Support Staff is $50/day.

Staff working in technical specialist positions support our 3-day climbing and whitewater progressions on multi-element courses. Criteria for becoming a Climbing Specialist include: climbing log listing 30+ climbs led on traditionally protected multi-pitch routes, 10 of which are rated at 5.8 or higher. Criteria for becoming a River Specialist include ACA instructor certification in tandem open boat canoe and Swiftwater Rescue certification. Hiring for specialist positions includes a field based assessment. Staff hired into the school as technical specialists also work as field instructors.

NCOBS provides in-house opportunities for ongoing professional skill development. Additional Instructor Development Funds can be utilized to support non-NCOBS training to assist instructional staff in gaining the skills to work as technical specialists.

The role of the Assistant Instructor has been designed to allow individuals who are new to our school an opportunity to become oriented to the expectations of the job, and to demonstrate the skills required to take on the full responsibility for the emotional and physical safety of our students and the overall quality of NCOBS courses.

The amount of time it takes to move from Assistant Instructor to Lead Instructor varies widely from individual to individual and depends mainly on how much experience one has in similar leadership roles prior to starting at NCOBS. Folks commonly move up during their second summer season of work. Individuals with significant prior experience may progress more quickly.

Many of our instructional staff work in the field year round, alternating between work at our various base camps depending upon the time of year. The majority of field employment is offered seasonally, with instructional staff receiving work agreements arranged specifically course by course, while support staff and specialists are offered seasonal work with a start and end date. North Carolina programs run March – November, Florida and Bahamas programs run November – March and Patagonia programs run late October to mid-March. Annually we hire about a dozen of our instructional staff to fill the position of Salaried Instructors. They deliver a variety of programs, working 130+ days in the field throughout the year.

Unfortunately, due to the extended time spent in the field by our new staff, we cannot accommodate their pets.

Group Education Programs (GEP) are courses typically 4 to 8 days in length and serve already intact groups. We partner with schools, colleges and organizations to offer powerful learning experiences focused on the educational objectives and developmental needs of a specific population. The shorter length course requires really crafting the experience as an educator to reach our clients’ desired outcomes, while maintaining the mission and philosophy of North Carolina Outward Bound School.

Our Open Enrollment courses draw a diverse range of people from across the country and abroad. Students participate in programs that range from 4 to 78 days in length, where we use the wilderness as the classroom for building technical outdoor skills, inspiring personal growth, developing leadership and teamwork. Expeditions run year-round in North Carolina, Florida, Bahamas and Patagonia. The majority of our summer programming takes place in western North Carolina, where students age 14 -17 participate in multi-element programs 8, 14 and 21 days in length.

The Unity Project’s goal is to empower communities of young people to initiate compassionate social change. The Unity Project is a collaboration between North Carolina Outward Bound School and high schools across the Southeast. In a high school, twelve students representing the diversity in their student body are brought together. They embark on a rigorous 9-day wilderness expedition. During this time, students develop personal qualities needed to be leaders of compassionate social change. They also build a learning community in which issues of diversity and social justice can be positively addressed. This community of twelve offers a model from which students can analyze their community back home and imagine a more inclusive and equitable future. Upon returning to their high school, students organize and participate in community projects that apply their new skills and initiate relevant social change.

In 2002, there were 5 Outward Bound wilderness schools, all united under the umbrella of Outward Bound USA. In 2003, Colorado Outward Bound School and Pacific Crest Outward Bound School merged to become Outward Bound West. In 2005, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School and Voyageur Outward Bound School joined Outward Bound West and became Outward Bound Wilderness.

At this time, North Carolina Outward Bound decided to remain an independent school. We have not merged with OBWilderness; however we often work collaboratively as sister schools. We (NCOBS staff and Board of Directors) collectively decided we could best serve our students and staff by maintaining control of our destiny as a smaller educational community. One of our goals in remaining an independent Outward Bound school is to focus on what we do best and deliver that with excellence.

Outward Bound Atlanta was established in 1990 as an integral part of North Carolina Outward Bound School, focused on serving the youth of Atlanta and surrounding areas. It delivers experiential education programs to both public and private school students at critical junctures in their academic careers, providing them with the tools and skills needed to succeed in and, ultimately graduate from high school. Programs include high and low ropes course elements, team and character building initiatives, and our Atlanta Public School Transitions program. Transitions combines a North Carolina wilderness expedition with service projects throughout the school year focused on compassion, diversity awareness and appreciation, and taking responsibility for one’s immediate surroundings.

Our North Carolina mountain base camps are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the southern Appalachians. Surrounded by mountains, steep gorges, granite outcroppings and a multitude of rivers; they are in prime locations for both Outward Bound work and play. Cedar Rock and Table Rock base camps provide staff with shared cabin housing, a staff bath house, community space and a central kitchen with a phenomenal cook. There is an internet connection and multiple computers for staff use. Phones are available for use outside of business hours. Cell phone service is patchy at best.

Table Rock is located just south of Boone, North Carolina, perched on the edge of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. Cedar Rock is located just outside of Brevard, North Carolina and south of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area, in Pisgah National Forest. Both base camps house roughly 60 staff at the peak of the summer season.

Outer Banks courses take place just outside of Harkers Island, North Carolina. This small mobile sea kayaking program runs out of a small coastal house rented during the season, situated in the unique barrier islands ecosystem. Instructors share kitchen and living space. There is good cell phone service and wireless internet connection is available.

Sunset Island is a quick paddle or ferry ride across the mouth of the Barren River from Everglades City, Florida. Once an active fishing lodge in the 1940s, the base camp now houses about 20 staff members who run GEP canoe expeditions in 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Parks throughout the winter. Shared housing, community space and kitchen are provided. Several computers are available for staff use; there is a wireless connection and decent cell phone service.

Our South American base camp is located outside of the city of Puerto Varas in southern Chile, on the shores of lake Llanquihue in the heart of the lake district of Patagonia. The base camp houses up to 8 staff, with community space and a modest kitchen. Wireless internet is provided and public transportation is just a minute’s walk away. In addition to supporting our programming, the Llanquihue base serves as a great jumping off point for instructor adventures.