Nature Camp Counselor (Summer 2026)

Job Overview

Nature Camp Counselor in Call of the Wild Camps

Inspire Active Learning, LLC has outdoor educator openings for full time employment in summer day camps in Oakland, Berkeley, Cupertino, Los Altos, and Los Gatos, California.

Current Openings:

• Nature Camp Counselor for East Bay summer camps: Oakland and Berkeley, June 1-July 17
• Nature Camp Counselor for South Bay summer camps: Cupertino, Los Altos, and Los Gatos, July 20-August 14

Do you love teaching children? Are you an avid hiker with a love of nature & the outdoors? Are you vegan for animals or the environment? How about combining your passions into one fun summer job? Join us in implementing educational programs outdoors, leading the next generation of environmental stewards. Nature Camp Counselors teach & lead children in outdoor nature camps for K-5th graders to connect with nature, hike, read, write, explore, learn, & play in nature sites of the Bay Area.

You may be the ideal camp counselor for this job if:

• You are a dependable team player, communicative, creative, fun, adaptable, friendly, playful, outgoing, energetic, & eager to inspire & engage children in learning by doing
• You care about science, the scientific method, facts, empiricism, reason, critical thinking, & objective reality
• You have experience in nature education, science education, early childhood education, elementary school education, outdoor education, environmental education, literacy education, outdoor recreation, & related fields
• You are vegan: “Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.” – The Vegan Society

WHO WE ARE: Inspire Active Learning, LLC believes that to inspire learning is to inspire action. We believe in experiential education and lifelong learning. Outdoor educators in Call of the Wild Camps provide a fun, safe alternative to screen addiction; inspire nature connection and curiosity; and foster healthy, positive relationships with flora and fauna in our natural environments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Complete training online & outdoors onsite at Call of the Wild Camps nature sites
• Punctually & reliably attend scheduled work hours, rain or shine, including training, staff meetings, & camp session dates
• Safely lead hikes in parks up to approx. 6 mi. per day for K-5th graders in small groups
• Maintain a 4:1 or 5:1 student: staff ratio or ratio approved by the camp supervisor
• Implement age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, K-5 level nature-themed science, outdoor education, language arts, art, & motor activities for Call of the Wild Camps
• For summer camps, implement activities for theme weeks such as Enchanted Forest Art, Enchanted Forest Stories, Enchanted Vegan, & Trailblazers
• Supervise and engage children on occasional science museum & science center visits
• Teach & facilitate fun & positive nature education curriculum on vegan topics such as animal rights, speciesism, health, food, clothing, & the environment
• Teach & lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature & wilderness themes, including circle time with story time & singing, literary show-&-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, & authoring & illustrating books
• Teach & facilitate science activities on topics in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, stewardship, conservation, preservation, etc., integrating naturalistic observation, group discussion, games, children’s books, & writing activities
• Teach & engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation & education, such as nature-themed field games, forest “I Spy” games, & scavenger hunts
• Teach & facilitate nature-themed arts & crafts
• Engage children with a fun teaching style & high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, & positivity
• Supervise & facilitate children’s rest breaks, snack & lunch breaks, & physical play breaks
• Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities
• Implement teaching & behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, & contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences & choices
• Facilitate emergent curriculum & child-centered, student-centered, experiential, incidental, & play-based teaching & learning opportunities
• Create both structured & incidental learning opportunities
• Keep work materials neat, organized, & in good working condition
• Record accurate, objective incident reports
• Drive by personal vehicle during the work shift for emergency or safety-related situations or to access reception as needed under supervisor direction
• Follow the three camp rules: (1) be kind, (2) be safe, and (3) leave no trace, & make sure campers follow them
• Follow all health & safety requirements, & make sure campers follow them
• Follow all seven leave no trace principles, & make sure campers follow them
• Actively contribute & participate in staff training & meetings
• Proactively communicate camp questions & concerns with the camp director & supervisor
• Follow directions & implement feedback from supervisors
• Interact with students & staff in a kind, caring, respectful, positive, & professional manner
• Represent Call of the Wild Camps in a positive & professional manner with customers, staff, & park visitors
• Mentor & support Counselors in Training (CITs)
• Meet all physical requirements for the job, including standing, bending, sitting, squatting, walking, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., hiking up to approx. 6 miles per day on varied terrain in varied weather with a backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight, visual acuity for reading books, maps, interpretive panels, & signs
• Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• High school diploma
• Academic transcripts (unofficial permitted) with minimum 3.5 GPA. If your school does not provide grades, you do not qualify for this position.
• Declared major in a relevant discipline or completion of one or more relevant courses, such as biology, environmental science, or education

Certification & Safety Requirements:

• Must already have CPR & First Aid certification unexpired through all camp dates you’re applying to work. The only accepted CPR and First Aid certification involves passing a live skills assessment with an instructor. Entirely in person or hybrid in-person/online courses are the only acceptable courses. Entirely online courses are not acceptable.
• Proof of current COVID-19 vaccination obtained within 12 months of hire before hire or obtain an exemption for medical or sincerely held religious belief reasons.
• Pass a DOJ & FBI background check

Experience:

• Minimum 12 months experience as a camp counselor, outdoor educator, recreation leader, teacher, or equivalent experience (babysitting or nannying are not equivalent experience)
• Minimum 12 months experience working in person with GROUPS of children at K-5th grade level, ages 5-10
• Frequent, regular experience hiking or running trails on varied terrain at least 6 miles in a day
• Experience working in person with culturally, linguistically, & developmentally diverse children
• Experience working in person with students with widely diverse abilities, such as giftedness, typically developing children, children with disabilities, & English Language Learners (ELL)
• Experience taking initiative leading groups of children
• Experience leading extracurricular enrichment activities in person for grades K-5, ages 5-10
• Experience implementing effective & appropriate behavior management in person for grades K-5, ages 5-10
• Experience implementing age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities in person for grades K-5, ages 5-10

Skills:

• Ability to model & educate about veganism as more than a diet
• Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly & uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a day each day
• Ability to carry a loaded hiking backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight for the duration of each camp day
• Fun & engaging teaching style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, & positivity
• Kind, caring, compassionate, & patient with learners of all skill levels
• Demonstrate care for children & a desire to help the whole child learn & grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to language arts &/or biology subject-matter competence
• Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, & pragmatics
• Eagerness & openness to continually learn & develop your skill set, no matter how minimal or extensive your experience
• Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple & easy steps
• Excellent time-management & organizational skills
• Outstanding oral & written communication skills
• Ability to work independently & as part of a team
• Punctuality & reliable attendance
• Demonstrable love of nature & the outdoors, eco-conscious, & health-conscious
• You can articulate how veganism benefits animals, health, & the environment
• Demonstrable love of language arts & literacy teaching
• Enthusiastic about making education relevant to children’s lives

Other Requirements:

• You are an adult (age 18+)
• Proof of a valid California driver’s license
• Proof of auto insurance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience hiking in the camp park sites & familiarity with their flora & fauna
• You are vegan, as defined by The Vegan Society & on Inspire’s website at https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/what-is-veganism

PERKS & BENEFITS:

• Have fun teaching kids in the great outdoors!
• Paid training
• Paid rest breaks
• Off-duty meal breaks
• Referral bonus
• Retirement plan
• Supportive & friendly environment with coaching & mentorship
• Successful hires may be invited to return for additional seasonal camps
• Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee’s & student’s happiness & success!

LOCATIONS: Bay Area parks. Check the Call of the Wild Camps web pages for more information on all locations.

• East Bay Summer Camps: Tilden Regional Park and Tilden Nature Area in Berkeley. Joaquin Miller Park, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, and Roberts Regional Recreation Area in Oakland.
• South Bay Summer Camps: Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve in Cupertino and Los Altos. Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos.

SCHEDULE:

• Initial Training: two dates before camps start, first date online and second date onsite
• East Bay Summer Camps: Jun 1-Jul 17, 8:25 AM-4:35 PM, Mon-Fri
• South Bay Summer Camps: Jul 20-Aug 14, 8:25 AM-4:35 PM, Mon-Fri

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt employee, temporary, seasonal, full time for the summer season

COMPENSATION: $21.00-$23/hr DOE

LEARN MORE: Learn more about Inspire Active Learning, LLC and Call of the Wild Camps at www.inspireactivelearning.com

APPLY: Have a relevant, up-to-date, accurate resume, and complete the application from Inspire’s website in the Google Form at https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/apply-nature-camp-counselor-berkeley-oakland-cupertino-vacaville.

We look forward to connecting with you!

NOTE: if you do not meet the requirements for employment, you are welcome to apply for the internship if you’re a current high school student or college/university undergraduate in a relevant major, minor, or course. Learn more: https://www.inspireactivelearning.com/nature-camp-counselor-teen-college-internships.

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Inspire Active Learning, LLC

Inspire Active Learning is an educational company in California that provides experiential learning relevant to the student's life. We believe that to inspire learning is to inspire action by moving individuals to learn in ways that are personally meaningful, motivating, and relevant to their entire lives. We provide academic tutoring, ESL tutoring, and Call of the Wild Camps, nature camps for kids to enjoy, respect, and learn about nature in forests, parks, and nature preserves of the Bay Area. We teach biology, environmental stewardship, leave no trace, and ethical vegan values at camp for kids to connect with nature, flora and fauna and to be kind to every kind. Nature camps are based on the meaning of veganism from The Vegan Society, in which veganism is not limited to diet but rather is a cruelty-free philosophy and way of life that promotes positive alternatives to the exploitation of animals, benefiting animals, people, and our environment.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE:

• We value new ideas and intrapreneurship - a system allowing an employee to act like an entrepreneur within the company.
• We value diversity and include children with disabilities and typically developing children alike in our programs.
We value the integrity of the whole person and are dedicated to a well-rounded blend of head, heart, and body
• - being constant learners, kind and caring, and focused on learning by doing.
• We use emergent curriculum and principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the science of learning that focuses on observable interaction between the learner and environment.
• We are a small company focused on quality over quantity. Each employee is valued as a whole person and a unique individual, which is the same respect we give to each student. We use 360 degree positive and constructive feedback.

Join us to inspire learning in fun ways in natural environments, making a positive impact on the world.