Second Nature Wilderness Duchesne: Wilderness Therapy Jobs

Second Nature is a licensed treatment program that uses the wilderness setting as a clinically focused intervention to teach students accountability, communication skills and healthy emotional and behavioral habits. Due to the abundance of real challenges in the wilderness and its clear metaphor, our program safely mirrors the family and social lifestyle with structure, boundaries, feedback, relationships and challenges. In these surroundings, a student is more capable of examining and changing his or her internal processes.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Field Instructors work in a group of six to ten students with three to five staff; a licensed therapist is responsible for the treatment plan of each student in the group. The primary responsibility for each field instructor is to ensure the physical safety and needs of the students. Just as important is the field instructor's responsibility of keeping the group environment emotionally safe and enabling the students to discuss sensitive and personal issues. Field instructors will also help to implement a therapeutic plan for each student, by helping students complete assignments, teaching and role-modeling assertive communication tools, implementing initiative activities, running group therapy sessions and talking one-on-one with students.

All of the therapeutic components of the program take place in the backcountry of northeastern Utah. The wilderness provides immediate natural consequences for the students' choices. It also provides the ideal backdrop for Field Instructors to teach primitive skills, backpacking techniques and low impact camping principles.

LOCATION

Second Nature is located in Duchesne, a town in Northeastern Utah. It is approximately two hours east of Salt Lake City on Highway 40. Field Instructors backpack with students in the Uinta Mountains during the summer months and in the high desert near Nine Mile Canyon in the winter months. The elevations range from 4,500 to 11,000 feet. Temperatures in the summer range from the upper nineties to the mid-sixties. Winter temperatures range from the fifties to well below freezing.

TIME COMMITMENT

Field Instructor Training Course

Second Nature is a year-round program and offers full-time employment. Field Instructors are required to make a six-month commitment to work here. The workweek runs from Tuesday to Tuesday, with an eight-day on, six-day off schedule.

All prospective Field Instructors are required to attend a training session. The training is a seven-day period spent in the field, backpacking and learning with other trainees. Trainees will learn to maintain student safety, provide positive role modeling, facilitate assertive communication skills and implement other program principles. Participating in the training does not guarantee you a job. However, if you have been selected to participate, you already have met some of the requirements and Second Nature has high hopes for you to be hired. At the end of the training session, you will know your employment status.

Upcoming Instructor Training Dates:
June 20th—26th
July 18th—24th
August 22nd—28th
September 19th—25th
October 24th—30th

PERKS & REWARDS

Second Nature has a level system for Field Instructor pay. Each level has increased responsibility and increased pay. Field Instructors begin by earning $105/day for their first three shifts, also called the Internship. The next three or four shifts are called Level I, and Field Instructors earn $110/day. Field Instructors then can move to Level II, and earn $120/day or $25,000/year. Performance bonuses are given out after the first six months of employment and every few months thereafter. Within nine months it is possible for a Field Instructor to become a Senior Field Instructor and to earn $145/day or $30,000/year, and within fifteen months it is possible to be a Salaried Senior and to earn $34,000/year. There is no cap to Field Instructor salaries.

Medical and dental insurance is offered to all Field Instructors. After one year of employment, Field Instructors may participate in the company's 401k program. Field Instructors are offered professional gear discounts with certain companies to purchase necessary gear for the field. Second Nature also requires employees to participate in certain training courses for level advancement, such as the Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Second Nature pays for these certifications.

THE ESSENTIALS

Field instructors at Second Nature Duchesne

Applicants are required to be a minimum of 19 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent and have current CPR and first aid certifications.  Second Nature will process a Federal Background Criminal Investigation (BCI) for all potential employees, and upon hire date, all new employees are required to undergo a pre-employment drug test. Second Nature also asks that Field Instructors make at least a six-month commitment to work here.


It is helpful, but not necessary, to have backpacking experience. Experience working with youth, counseling or teaching is helpful as well. Second Nature also offers in-house training from which Field Instructors can learn communication skills, crisis interventions and many more useful tools.

YOUR FIRST MOVE

Download an application or contact the Recruiter to receive one. Mail, email or fax your completed application, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and copies of your current first aid and CPR certifications. The Recruiter will review your information and contact you to let you know if you qualify to participate in an informal phone interview. If all goes well during the interview, you will be invited to participate in one of our field training sessions. Sending in all of the application materials several weeks or months in advance will give you a better chance of participating in the training session that best fits your schedule.

CONNECTIONS

Jen Good, Recruiter
Second Nature Wilderness Programs
382 West Main Street
P.O. Box 318
Duchesne, UT 84021
Google Map

435.738.2040, ext. 118
435.738.2046 fax
recruiter.duchesne@snwp.com
www.snwp.com

NAVIGATION

Second Nature can be found in the Wilderness Therapy Ventures channel

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