Director of Programs & Enrichment
Your Role The Director of Programs and Enrichment leads the teams responsible for delivering Trackers Earth’s programs. This role emphasizes field leadership, maintaining a direct presence to ensure alignment with Trackers' values, policies, and procedures. You mentor staff and participants, fostering a culture of creativity, resilience, and excellence while championing the epic challenges and adventurous learning that define Trackers.
Compensation
- Salary: $85,100 - $95,300 annually
- Benefits: Comprehensive medical benefits
- Location: Portland, Oregon
Director of Programs & Enrichment
Your Role
The Director of Programs and Enrichment oversees the leadership teams responsible for implementing Trackers Earth’s programs. This role emphasizes leading from the field, maintaining a direct and strong presence in programs. You ensures alignment with Trackers' policies, procedures, and values. You provide mentorship and guidance to staff and participants, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, and resilience while upholding the epic challenge and adventurous learning for which Trackers is known.
As Director of Programs and Enrichment, you act as a key ambassador for the Trackers skills and mission, modeling safety, efficiency, stewardship, and team connection in all interactions with staff, participants, and families. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires a balance of in-field engagement, strategic vision, and operational and outdoor education excellence.
What Trackers Shares
Trackers teaches old-school outdoor and nature awareness skills. We offer award-winning youth and adult programs in wilderness survival, archery, fishing, homesteading, blacksmithing, and more. Our camps and classes are available as single-day sessions, week-long experiences, or 9-month mentoring programs. We are ambassadors for a way of learning that connects us to community, multiple generations, and the natural world.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $95,300 annually
- FTE: Full-Time, Exempt
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Benefits: Comprehensive medical benefits package included
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Engagement
- Inspire staff to embrace Trackers’ core values, fostering curiosity and creativity in programs.
- Lead by example, coaching and role-modeling in the field to uphold safety, operations, connection, and curriculum standards.
- Continuously assess and enhance programs to align with Trackers’ vision of challenge, depth, and nature connection.
- Provide field-based coaching and feedback to ensure consistent application of Trackers policies.
Safety & Risk Management
- Implement and oversee safety policies and procedures across all programs.
- Conduct regular field audits to ensure adherence to safety standards.
- Provide comprehensive safety training for staff.
- Lead proactive risk management, problem-solving, and incident response to maintain safety for participants and staff.
Participant & Family Engagement
- Foster strong relationships with families through open and transparent communication.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for program-related questions and concerns.
- Coach staff to connect with families and engage guardians for higher-level needs.
- Reinforce Trackers Earth’s mission and policies in all family interactions.
Operations & Administration
- Collaborate with Directors for seamless program execution.
- Manage budgets, staffing, and resources to achieve organizational goals.
- Ensure programs align with Trackers Earth’s mission, prioritizing safety, quality, and engagement.
- Enhance curriculum and project scope through staff collaboration and active program involvement.
Content Development & Contribution
- Collaborate with the content team to create and refine staff training materials and youth instructional guides.
- Ensure all materials align with Trackers’ core values, engaging participants while supporting clarity and safety.
- Provide subject-matter expertise in wilderness skills and outdoor education to enhance content quality and relevance.
- Contribute drafts and insights to larger content initiatives, integrating with overall programming goals.
Adult Programming Development
- Develop and uplift adult programs to inspire and train future wilderness educators.
- Build a dedicated adult education team to design and grow programs aligned with Trackers’ mission.
- Leverage resources to foster a network of wilderness educators, benefiting Trackers and the broader community.
- Align adult programs with Trackers’ values of resilience, leadership, and connection to nature.
Culture & Values
- Instill Trackers’ values and lore into staff training and operations, fostering a cohesive and inspired team.
- Cultivate a culture of creativity, adaptability, and excellence within program teams.
- Uphold core values of resilience, service, and connection to nature in all programs and interactions.
- Emphasize Trackers’ principles of curiosity, stewardship, teamwork, and generational knowledge-sharing to deepen community and nature connection.
Qualifications
Experience
- 10+ years in program leadership, preferably in camp director or related roles.
- Capacity to manage budgets and resource allocation effectively.
- Proven track record in coaching and managing teams to deliver high-quality programs.
- Demonstrated success in curriculum development and driving program innovation.
Skills & Competencies
- Proven ability to lead by example and inspire teams to meet and exceed expectations.
- Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills.
- Highly adaptable and capable of thriving in a dynamic, field-based environment.
- Strong sense of responsibility and expertise in working with children of all ages.
- Working knowledge of and proficiency in many skills taught in Trackers programs, enabling effective coaching and mentoring of staff.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, program management, environmental sciences, or a related field, or equivalent related experience.
Personal Attributes
- Embodies Trackers Earth’s core values: safety, grit, connection to nature, and team leadership.
- Humble and approachable, inspiring trust and respect among staff and participants.
- Collaborative and adaptable, fostering positive relationships and thriving in team environments.
- Demonstrates strong self-awareness and the ability to motivate and uplift others.
About Trackers
At Trackers, we help children feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: tired, muddy, wet, independent, and happy from being out in the woods and exploring creeks. We are acutely aware of the real hazards of the outdoors, so we work to keep kids safe but not encapsulated from, nor phobic of nature. We believe children need to develop independence and competency in the wild—not only for their own connection, but also to contribute to their families, future generations, and the more-than-human world.
We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. This builds empathy and care for the gifts of life, fostering true adventure and genuine accomplishment. We also believe it is critical for children to feel supported and cared for as they explore their passion for service and responsibility. Through a healthy life found in nature, they can test their limits and discover the great potential of the often untapped physical grit and emotional resilience they possess.
Why Join Trackers Earth?
This is more than a job—it’s a calling to inspire connection, resilience, and purpose in the next generation. As Director of Programs and Enrichment, you shape the future of outdoor education while immersing yourself in an organization rooted in community, nature, and epic challenges. At Trackers Earth, we don’t just teach skills—we teach people to build their connection to community, many generations, and the natural world.
Bushcraft Supervisor & Educator
Your Role The Buschract Supervisor leads Trackers Earth’s programs in wilderness survival, tracking, and stealth. This hands-on role emphasizes field leadership, ensuring alignment with Trackers' values, policies, and safety standards. You mentor staff to deliver exceptional, skill-based experiences while fostering a culture of creativity, resilience, and excellence, championing the adventure based education Trackers is known for.
Compensation
- Salary: $48,880 - $68,200 annually
- Benefits: Comprehensive medical benefits
- Location: Portland, Oregon
Bushcraft Supervisor & Educator
Your Role
The Rangers Program Supervisor & Educator leads high-quality, nature-connected learning experiences rooted in the core Rangers skills of tracking, stealth, wilderness survival, archery, and bushcraft. Reporting to the VP of Programming, this role emphasizes in-field leadership, teaching, team development, and operational planning. The Supervisor oversees program delivery, mentors educators, and ensures all Rangers programming aligns with Trackers Earth’s mission, values, and rigorous safety standards. During the school year, this role focuses on training staff and preparing for summer programming to ensure a seamless seasonal transition.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $48,880 - $68,200 annually
- FTE: Full-Time, Exempt
- Benefits: Comprehensive medical benefits package
- Location: Portland, Oregon
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Engagement
- Inspire educators and participants to embrace Trackers’ values of curiosity, resilience, and nature connection.
- Lead by example in delivering hands-on instruction for tracking, stealth, wilderness survival, archery, and bushcraft.
- Provide in-field coaching and mentorship to staff, ensuring alignment with Trackers’ policies, procedures, and curriculum.
Educational Delivery & Teaching (School Year)
- Teach immersive skill-building lessons, incorporating hands-on activities like animal tracking, camouflage, and primitive firecraft to youth and adults.
- Model innovative and effective teaching techniques to foster participant curiosity and teamwork.
- Deliver programs emphasizing creativity, resilience, and leadership development.
- Integrate staff training into school-year operations, enhancing educators' skills in delivering Rangers programs.
Program Planning & Preparation (School Year)
- Collaborate with leadership to design and implement bushcraft summer programs.
- Help organize and lead staff training initiatives during the school year, preparing educators for specialized skills and safety protocols required in summer programs.
- Plan and coordinate program logistics, including resource management for wilderness tools, archery equipment, and materials to ensure readiness.
Team Management & Leadership (Summer Season)
- Supervise educator teams during summer programs, offering mentorship and skill development.
- Provide real-time feedback to staff, ensuring consistency with Trackers’ mission and safety standards.
- Oversee summer operations, proactively addressing challenges and fostering a positive participant experience.
Safety & Risk Management
- Implement and enforce safety protocols, particularly for tool use (bows, knives, fire implements) in wilderness settings.
- Conduct risk assessments and develop proactive strategies to address safety concerns.
- Respond to incidents with professionalism, emphasizing resolution and improvement.
Participant & Family Engagement
- Build trust and rapport with participants and their families as a primary point of contact for questions and concerns.
- Resolve conflicts with care and professionalism, reinforcing Trackers’ mission and values.
Qualifications
Experience
- Minimum 5 years in bushcraft education, teaching, and program management.
- Extensive experience teaching or practicing what we call Rangers skills: tracking, stealth, wilderness survival, archery, and bushcraft.
- Proven success managing teams in educational or camp settings.
- Demonstrated success in curriculum development and driving program innovation.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Effective communication and conflict-resolution abilities.
- Ability to thrive in dynamic, outdoor environments.
- Proficiency in core Rangers skills:
- Tracking: Identifying animal signs, interpreting movement patterns.
- Stealth: Camouflage, silent movement, situational awareness.
- Wilderness Survival: Primitive shelters, fire-starting, wild edibles.
- Archery: Safe equipment use, accuracy, proper form.
- Bushcraft: Tool crafting, carving, sustainable harvesting.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental sciences, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Personal Attributes
- Passion for nature connection and outdoor education.
- Enthusiasm for bushcraft and old-school outdoor skills.
- Commitment to Trackers Earth’s values of safety, grit, and stewardship.
- Collaborative and adaptable, fostering positive relationships and team culture.
About Trackers
At Trackers, we help children feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: tired, muddy, wet, independent, and happy from being out in the woods and exploring creeks. We are acutely aware of the real hazards of the outdoors, so we work to keep kids safe but not encapsulated from, nor phobic of nature. We believe children need to develop independence and competency in the wild—not only for their own connection, but also to contribute to their families, future generations, and the more-than-human world.
We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. This builds empathy and care for the gifts of life, fostering true adventure and genuine accomplishment. We also believe it is critical for children to feel supported and cared for as they explore their passion for service and responsibility. Through a healthy life found in nature, they can test their limits and discover the great potential of the often untapped physical grit and emotional resilience they possess.
Why Join Trackers Earth?
This is more than a job—it’s a calling to inspire connection, resilience, and purpose in the next generation. As Director of Programs and Enrichment, you shape the future of outdoor education while immersing yourself in an organization rooted in community, nature, and epic challenges. At Trackers Earth, we don’t just teach skills—we teach people to build their connection to community, many generations, and the natural world.
