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Outdoor Education Jobs
Outdoor Education Jobs

Careers at Outward Bound California

Our crew are the heart and soul of our organization.

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Working at Outward Bound California is so much more than a job — it’s joining a community that believes in the powerful transformation of people. Our students’ lives change in big ways on an OB journey, and every staff member plays a meaningful part in that.

Whether you’re looking for seasonal outdoor education jobs or building a long-term career in wilderness instruction, being part of this crew tends to shape you professionally and personally. You’ll find colleagues and leaders who show up with compassion, curiosity, and inclusion. And your office is in some of the most beautiful places in California.

Below, you’ll find a list of open positions, if nothing is available, please check back soon.

Types of Outdoor Education Jobs at OBCA

Roles We Hire For

We hire for a range of roles across our programs and locations. Even when no positions are currently posted, we encourage you to check back — our hiring is seasonal and openings fill quickly.

Alpine Backpacking Instructor Lead multi-day backpacking and rock climbing expeditions in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree. This position works directly with our students to facilitate transformative experiences. The High Sierra program runs May – September. The Joshua Tree program runs October – April. We do not hire externally for our Joshua Tree program.

Challenge Course Instructor Facilitate team-building experiences at our San Francisco ropes course in McLaren Park. A great entry point for those new to Outward Bound!

Base Camp & Logistics Staff Keep our programs running from the ground up — managing gear, food, and operations at our High Sierra and Joshua Tree location.

Administrative & Program Staff Many of our administrative roles are remote-friendly. We hire for program coordination, communications, development, and operations.

OBCA’s Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

We believe that all people should have safe access to the outdoors and culturally relevant and responsive educational programming. OBCA is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and honored for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture where we are always learning and improving toward a vision for equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are also committed to reflecting the diverse communities with whom we work and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

Outward Bound California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Outward Bound California also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.

For all questions regarding career opportunities at Outward Bound California, please contact [email protected]

Below, you’ll find a list of open positions, if nothing is available, please check back soon.

Become an Outward Bound California High Sierra Instructor

Our instructors are at the core of everything we do. If you’re passionate about the outdoors and youth development, an instructor role at OBCA could be the career-defining opportunity you’ve been looking for.

What we look for in our High Sierra Alpine Backpacking Instructors:

  • Wilderness First Responder (WFR)/CPR
  • Rock climbing & backpacking experience
  • 21+ years old
  • U.S. Work Authorization (we sponsor a limited number of J-1 visas)
  • Passion for working with youth and young adults
  • Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive education

No prior experience? No problem. Many of our instructors join us through our internship, learning alongside experienced staff before leading their own courses. If you have the outdoor skills and the right mindset, we’ll help you develop the rest.

CB17 FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Working at OBCA

When does Outward Bound California hire seasonal staff?

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Our seasonal job applications open up annually in October. Typically, Challenge Course positions typically close by early December and High Sierra positions close in early January. We currently do not hire external staff for our Joshua Tree programs.

We recommend checking back regularly or signing up for our newsletter where we share open roles!

What is a technical skills log?

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For our High Sierra Alpine Backpack Instructor & Program Interns applications, we ask that folks submit a Technical Skills Log. This provides us with a better understanding of your relevant outdoor experiences that might not be on your traditional resume. Instructor or Intern applications that do not have a Technical Skills Log are considered incomplete and cannot be considered. Please email [email protected] if you have any issues uploading this document.

Do you offer internships or apprenticeships?

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Yes. We offer a High Sierra Program Internship for candidates with strong outdoor skills who are building toward a full instructor role. We also run an Apprenticeship program at our San Francisco Challenge Course for folks looking to kickstart their career in outdoor education. Check our open positions for current availability.

How do I apply for a job at Outward Bound California?

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Click the “See Open Positions” button on this page to view current listings and apply. For general inquiries about career opportunities, contact us at [email protected].

What makes working at Outward Bound California different from other outdoor jobs?

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Outward Bound is one of the most recognized names in experiential education worldwide. Working here means contributing to a 60+ year legacy of transforming lives through challenge and discovery — and gaining skills, certifications, and field experience that carry real weight in the outdoor education industry.

CB27 Pull Quotes

Working with a mission-driven organization, where the default is caring a lot about what you do and being genuinely motivated to make the world a better place is incredibly special. The opportunity to spend thousands of nights under the stars with some of the best humans on the planet, scheming on how to create positive change, starting with the 10 youth in their sleeping bags nearby, is something I do not take for granted.

Jason Schmidt

Director of Programs and Safety, former Instructor

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