Outdoor Programs Instructor

Overview

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is Madison’s public recreation provider. MSCR offers a wide variety of athletic, recreational, arts and enrichment activities and classes for all ages in an accessible, inclusive setting. Programs include swimming instruction, MSCR on the Move, arts & enrichment classes, youth summer camps, sports camps & clinics, adult & 50+ fitness, adult sport leagues including pickleball, softball and tennis, and a wide variety of outdoor pursuits including paddling sports, pontoon trips, camping, orienteering and challenge courses.

As a department of the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), MSCR also provides after school enrichment activities, clubs and sports as well as summer programming in Madison elementary, middle and high schools, Allied Learning Center and Meadowood Neighborhood Center. After school clubs and sports include: arts & enrichment, homework/academic clubs, drama, dance, skiing, soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross country and much more!

Outdoor Programs Instructors are trained to facilitate a variety of outdoor activities including environmental education, orienteering, canoeing, kayaking, and high and low challenge courses. Instructors facilitate the activities, help develop and design programs, and maintain safe operating procedures. Instructors are trained to facilitate in all program areas but may choose to work in or prioritize a specific area.

3/23/2026

Training begins in March, season runs through November 2026.

• 3/23, 1-4pm Season Kickoff Meeting
• 3/24, 1-4pm Facilitation Principles
• 3/25, 9-5pm Low Course at Kennedy
• 3/26, 9-5pm Low Course at School Forest / High Course at School Forest
• 3/27, 9-5pm High Course Facilitation at School Forest
• 3/30, 9-5pm Field Studies at School Forest
• 3/31, 8:30-4:30pm Field Studies Program/Training at School Forest
• 4/6, 10-12pm Inclusionary Practices Training
• 4/7, 9-5pm High Course Facilitation at Kennedy
• 4/23, 12-5pm Mobile Programs / Canoe Training
• 4/24, 9-5pm Environmental Education / Kayak Training at Cherokee Marsh

Primary programming sites including Madison School Forest, 1577 Fritz Rd. Verona, Kennedy Challenge Course, 5025 Sudbury Way Madison, and various parks and water-based sites around Madison.

Varies depending on programs, can include weekday(s) and weekend(s) and programming can take place between the hours of 6:00am-9:00pm. Most programming is M-F between 7:30am-4:30pm.

• Pay Rate: $17 – $20/hour

• Willingness to work outdoors for up to 8 hours
• Function as a team member working collaboratively to support program operations
• Reliable transportation to program site location(s)
• Enthusiasm for facilitating and learning in the outdoors with all ages
• Commitment to the mission and vision of MSCR and the goals of MSCR Outdoor Programs

• Certified or able to obtain certification in CPR/AED
• Knowledge of regional flora/fauna including forest, prairie, oak savanna and wetland ecosystems.
• Previous experience teaching environmental education concepts
• Logged Challenge Course facilitator hours that attest to technical and facilitation skill and/or Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) FI-FII certifications.
• Logged hours to attest to paddling facilitation skills and/or American Canoe Association (ACA) Canoe and/or Kayak Level 1 certifications
• Secondary language skills in Spanish and/or Hmong highly desired

For more information, please contact Emily Peffer .us or Liz Just .us