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General News · 26th June 2026
Cortes Island Academy
Cortes Island Academy Co-Lead Outdoor & Expedition Facilitat
About Cortes Island Academy
The Cortes Island Academy (CIA) is an innovative, place-based secondary program serving Grades 10–12. We bring together scientists, artists, knowledge holders, and community leaders to create transformative learning experiences rooted in place.
The ancestral territories of the toq qaym?x? (Klahoose), ???am?n qaym?x? (Tla'amin), and ?op qaym?x? (Homalco) serve as both campus and curriculum. Students learn through immersion, adventure, creativity, service, and deep engagement with community and the natural world.
Position Overview
The Cortes Island Academy is seeking an experienced Lead Outdoor & Expedition Facilitator to co-design and co-lead the Academy's outdoor education programming.
The role includes approximately three intensive weeks at the beginning of the semester, plus an additional two to three weeks of outdoor, leadership, and experiential learning activities spread throughout the fall/winter. (The program is a 20 week, one semester intensive.)
Working alongside CIA facilitators and local knowledge holders, you will help create a safe, challenging, and inspiring experience that builds community, resilience, leadership, environmental literacy, and connection to place.
Depending on the successful candidate's background, there may be opportunities to integrate field science, ecology, natural history, stewardship, or other specialized areas of expertise, possibly expanding the hours and compensation.
Key Responsibilities
* Co-design and deliver CIA's outdoor and experiential education program.
* Lead multi-day and day-based outdoor experiences.
* Facilitate team-building, leadership development, and group culture.
* Support risk management, safety planning, and emergency preparedness.
* Foster student confidence, resilience, curiosity, and independence.
* Collaborate with other facilitators, knowledge holders, and community partners.
* Integrate place-based learning, environmental stewardship, and experiential education principles.
* Contribute to student assessment and reflection processes as appropriate.
* Support an inclusive, trauma-informed, and youth-centred learning environment.
Qualifications
Strong candidates will possess many of the following:
* Extensive experience leading groups in outdoor or experiential education settings.
* Experience working with teenagers.
* Wilderness guiding, outdoor leadership, camp leadership, expedition, or adventure education experience.
* Strong facilitation and group management skills.
* Experience designing and delivering educational or leadership programming.
* Demonstrated ability to manage risk and respond effectively in outdoor environments.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing conditions.
Certifications & Assets
The following certifications and experiences are highly valued:
* Wilderness First Aid (80-hour preferred) or Wilderness First Responder
* Occupational First Aid Level 2 or 3
* Swiftwater Rescue / Paddle Canada certifications
* Climbing certifications / Backcountry leadership certifications
* Lifeguard certifications
* Teacher certification
* Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Studies, Biology, Geography, Education, or related post-secondary training
* Camp leadership or outdoor school experience
* Experience integrating science, ecology, stewardship, or natural history into outdoor programming
* Experience working with Indigenous communities and/or place-based education programs
Compensation
Compensation will be based on experience, certifications, and scope of involvement.
Housing support or accommodations on Cortes Island may be available for the duration of the contract.
Why This Position?
This is an opportunity to help shape a unique educational model that combines outdoor adventure, community engagement, science, creativity, and place-based learning in one of Canada's most remarkable island environments.
About Cortes Island Academy
The Cortes Island Academy (CIA) is an innovative, place-based secondary program serving Grades 10–12. We bring together scientists, artists, knowledge holders, and community leaders to create transformative learning experiences rooted in place.
The ancestral territories of the toq qaym?x? (Klahoose), ???am?n qaym?x? (Tla'amin), and ?op qaym?x? (Homalco) serve as both campus and curriculum. Students learn through immersion, adventure, creativity, service, and deep engagement with community and the natural world.
Position Overview
The Cortes Island Academy is seeking an experienced Lead Outdoor & Expedition Facilitator to co-design and co-lead the Academy's outdoor education programming.
The role includes approximately three intensive weeks at the beginning of the semester, plus an additional two to three weeks of outdoor, leadership, and experiential learning activities spread throughout the fall/winter. (The program is a 20 week, one semester intensive.)
Working alongside CIA facilitators and local knowledge holders, you will help create a safe, challenging, and inspiring experience that builds community, resilience, leadership, environmental literacy, and connection to place.
Depending on the successful candidate's background, there may be opportunities to integrate field science, ecology, natural history, stewardship, or other specialized areas of expertise, possibly expanding the hours and compensation.
Key Responsibilities
* Co-design and deliver CIA's outdoor and experiential education program.
* Lead multi-day and day-based outdoor experiences.
* Facilitate team-building, leadership development, and group culture.
* Support risk management, safety planning, and emergency preparedness.
* Foster student confidence, resilience, curiosity, and independence.
* Collaborate with other facilitators, knowledge holders, and community partners.
* Integrate place-based learning, environmental stewardship, and experiential education principles.
* Contribute to student assessment and reflection processes as appropriate.
* Support an inclusive, trauma-informed, and youth-centred learning environment.
Qualifications
Strong candidates will possess many of the following:
* Extensive experience leading groups in outdoor or experiential education settings.
* Experience working with teenagers.
* Wilderness guiding, outdoor leadership, camp leadership, expedition, or adventure education experience.
* Strong facilitation and group management skills.
* Experience designing and delivering educational or leadership programming.
* Demonstrated ability to manage risk and respond effectively in outdoor environments.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing conditions.
Certifications & Assets
The following certifications and experiences are highly valued:
* Wilderness First Aid (80-hour preferred) or Wilderness First Responder
* Occupational First Aid Level 2 or 3
* Swiftwater Rescue / Paddle Canada certifications
* Climbing certifications / Backcountry leadership certifications
* Lifeguard certifications
* Teacher certification
* Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Studies, Biology, Geography, Education, or related post-secondary training
* Camp leadership or outdoor school experience
* Experience integrating science, ecology, stewardship, or natural history into outdoor programming
* Experience working with Indigenous communities and/or place-based education programs
Compensation
Compensation will be based on experience, certifications, and scope of involvement.
Housing support or accommodations on Cortes Island may be available for the duration of the contract.
Why This Position?
This is an opportunity to help shape a unique educational model that combines outdoor adventure, community engagement, science, creativity, and place-based learning in one of Canada's most remarkable island environments.