Are you passionate about youth, mental health, and the land?
Take a Hike Foundation is seeking a Land Based Learning (LBL) Specialist with an expertise in mental health, and a passion for the land, education and supporting vulnerable youth and families, to become part of our Programs Team either on Vancouver Island or in the Lower Mainland area.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Two to five years’ experience in outdoor education
• Wilderness first aid (minimum 40 hour)
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle (Clean divers abstract for purposes of car rental potential).
• Able to travel to other regions on occasion

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Outdoor guiding certifications
• Teaching certification
• Experience working with vulnerable youth
• Experience working in the school system

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Appropriate clothing & footwear for all seasons
• Appropriate gear for multi-day backpacking trips (large backpack, tent, sleep system etc.)

ROLE SUMMARY:

Land-Based Learning is a key part of every Take a Hike program; through taking youth outside, we aim to build belonging, community, and connection with the land. As a mental health foundation, we understand that there is a connection between time spent in nature, and our wellbeing. We honour Indigenous knowledge and wisdom in our connection to the land and combine this with aspects of place-based learning and adventure-based learning. Youth go outside at least once a week on ‘out days’ and 1-2 multi-day trips every year.
Land-Based Learning Specialists are primarily in service to program teams, to support them in providing Land-Based Learning opportunities for their students. Some aspects of the role will be directly in service and relationship to the youth, as needed and in response to need from program teams (e.g. leading out days). The LBL team will collaborate to create centralized resources and communications for all programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:Support weekly out days:

• Proactively work with program teams to plan out days that address the learning, healing, and growth goals of the youth.
• Schedule meetings with program teams to plan out days. Support teams in making plans that are coordinated, appropriately delegated, manageable and sustainable, while aligning with TAH goals.
• Connect staff teams to learning plans, curricular links and other resources that integrate land-based learning with Ministry of Education core competencies and academic goals. Additionally, provide learning plans that support social and emotional learning and therapeutic goals.
• Identify and support opportunities to program teams that focus land-based learning activities on local and sustainable offerings that align with program budgets and existing workloads.
• Attend up to 2 out-days per week and model and promote TAH land-based learning practices.
• In collaboration with staff teams, manage logistics, bookings and purchasing, transportation, and approval processes for programs.
• Support in documenting LBL success with photos, videos, youth quotes, etc.
• Create, maintain and manage inventories of out days and ideas that program teams can pull from. Some suggestions may be specific to a region (e.g. hiking locations), while others (e.g. activity ideas) can be applicable to teams in any region