​The Director of Culture and Adventure at Odyssey

The Director of Culture and Adventure at Odyssey will report to and work closely with the Executive Director, and collaborate with the Director of Instruction to develop and promote a culture of high expectations for students, teachers and families. The Director of Culture and Adventure will serve on the school leadership team and support teachers in developing a strong culture around Odyssey’s Habits of a Learner and creating a positive and supportive crew environment in their classrooms and adventure trips.

Culture, Character and Positive Student Behavior

● Use Habits of a Learner to promote and communicate clear school-wide expectations for character development and positive behavior.

● Support the implementation of Crew by providing guidance and professional development, resources and coaching to teachers and other staff.

● Support the creation of a crew curriculum map and support staff with delivery of crew lessons and adventure experiences.

● Partner with Executive Director and Director of Instruction to support teachers in developing classroom structures that ensure all students are well known and consistent classroom routines are in place.

● Contribute toward a safe environment by ensuring that student conduct is maintained and discipline is enforced fairly and consistently. Engages positively with students, teachers and families through logical consequences, interventions, restorative approaches and use of DPS Discipline Matrix/Ladder.

● Serve as a liaison to parents and facilitate parent education and involvement, including reinforcing the need for parents to support the school’s policies and practices for student discipline, dress code, homework, and events.

● Support documentation of behaviors, interventions, and consequences using JumpRope and/or IC.

● Provide behavior counseling and support for high-needs students such as observations, parent conferences, home visits, and intervention groups.

● Welcome and support families in culturally responsive ways, and engage them in the adventure program while communicating regularly with them.

● Collaborate with teachers and parents to set expectations and responsibilities for parents on trips.

● Serve as a member of the school leadership team.

Adventure Program Management

● Schedule and plan all adventure programs, including one to eight-day trips with K-8 student crews. Acquire permits from various agencies including BLM, NPS and NFS.

● Staff and/or lead multi-day camping trips with crews in the fall and spring. Lead groups of 12-26 students in a variety of activities including rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, Class I and II water paddling, environmental education, cross country skiing, mountain biking, snowshoeing, caving, survival skills, camp craft, service learning and team development.

● Collaborate closely with crew leaders, teachers and parent chaperones before, during and after trips. Plan, facilitate and debrief meetings with crew leaders in a timely manner.

● Conduct hiring process for adjunct coordinator to support the execution of concurrent trips.

● Manage and maintain Odyssey’s safety management policies for experiences out of the building. Align school policies with DPS policy and outdoor industry standards. Evaluate programs and make risk management decisions as needed. Facilitate staff training in the field and CPR classes.

● Support the administrative team in developing adult learning experiences that promote a strong professional culture and are sustained via collective leadership and action.

● Ensure that all adventure activities are implemented on a cost-effective basis and within the determined budget for the year.

Manages Equipment and Supplies

● Oversee Odyssey buses and gear van, including licenses, buying and selling of busses, routine check-ups, logistics, and training of drivers.

● In collaboration with the Director of Operations, oversee transportation fleet, by communicating needs and action steps for licensing, maintenance, and logistics.

● Manage inventory of adventure equipment, supplies, and clothing.

● Manage in cooperation with “Adventure” parent food drive. Manage trip menus and food pantry.

● Ensure that all adventure gear is maintained, repaired, and replaced as necessary.

● Collaboratively manage with the Executive Director an adventure budget for purchasing and maintaining equipment and supplies.

Requirements

● A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field such as education, recreation, environmental education or adventure education

● Strong communication, technology and organization skills

● Experience working with diverse populations and a variety of age groups

● Experience using restorative approaches to support individuals and community with repairing harm.

● Technical skills in the activities listed above, including AMGA SPI, PCIA top rope or equivalent certification.

● Wilderness First Responder or higher certification

● Ability to drive a 15 passenger bus, a canoe trailer and a 15 passenger van

● Experience in program evaluation, risk analysis and managing volunteers.

● NOLS or OB experience or equivalent preferred.