GROW AS AN EDUCATOR

 
 

OPPORTUNITY 


Staff members at High Trails live and work on the 6000-acre property of the Colorado Outdoor Education Center here in Florissant, CO.  Outdoor Education Instructors are involved in a wide variety of work, from teaching about local geology to orchestrating the setup and cleanup of meals.  Staff members spend a majority of time outside, and lead programs and classes starting before breakfast and ending after post-dinner evening activities. Because of this, we encourage hardworking applicants with college degrees and positive references from former employers, teachers and associates.

Staff members receive a stipend, housing, meals and laundry service. Pets are not allowed for seasonal employees.

 

High Trails hires instructors for the spring and fall seasons. Fall runs late August - mid November, and spring runs late March to mid - May. 

We are currently hiring Field Instructors for our Spring 2025 season!

Please contact cassidy@htoec.org for any openings on our leadership team.

For an inside look at the day-to-day of HTOEC instructors, check out our instagram @hightrailsoutdoored

 
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High Trails Leadership Team 

 

Cassidy has been a part of the High Trails community for the past three years. Beginning as a Field Instructor in 2021, Cassidy transitioned into the Assistant Director role for two years and is now excited to begin her journey as the Director! Her passion and love for the outdoors and High Trails has deepened greatly during her time here, and she is excited to continue to share that passion and love year-round. Beyond Florissant, Cassidy has spent many summers leading youth in the outdoors backpacking, sea kayaking and biking. In receiving her Psychology degree from Colorado Mesa University, Cassidy enjoys connecting youth to the mental health benefits of nature in her work. Cassidy loves all things camp and she can’t wait to share silly songs, dance parties, and her knowledge of the area with students!

Hi I’m Dennis and I’m very grateful to be here. I’ve gotten to serve this community in many different capacities from photographer to field instructor. I am excited to continue expanding our mission as the new High Trails Assistant Director. I like quiche, a good thrift binge, and Finding Nemo. I’m really looking forward to that sense of community and connectiveness we’re going to create this season. May our learnings inspire us to keep wondering.

 

Hi!  I’m Lu and I am a retired high school science teacher who joined the HTOEC team as the curriculum and instruction specialist in 2019. I love spending my days with students hiking, exploring, wondering, learning, playing and basking in the beauty of our natural world. Some of my other favorite things at High Trails include finding pretty rocks, building forts, identifying birds, smelling sage, the sunrise from Top of the World, Interbarn skits, silly costumes, baby goats and pizza lasagne. I can’t wait to share all my favorite things with you when you come to High Trails!

 

Hello everyone! My name is Tully and I'm from way up north in Anchorage, Alaska! This will be my second season with the HTOEC team, but I have been a High Trails camper and staff member for many years. I earned my Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alaska and have gained a ton of awesome experience in the classroom that I am excited to bring to the High Trails team. Some fun facts about me are I still have a baby tooth because my adult tooth never grew in (I think it's shy), I can do a REALLY good Yoshi impression, and I love singing (even though I don't have the greatest voice- that doesn't stop me!). I am so excited to just be back at High Trails, surrounded by nature and the most incredible people on the face of the Earth. Woohoo!!

 

2025 Spring Season Field Instructors

 

Howdy! My name is Dan, and I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Being raised in the Rockies cultivated a love for all things outdoors for me from a very young age. I have spent 10 summers at Sanborn as a camper and staff member, but this will be my first season on the spring HTOEC staff and I couldn’t be more excited! I have a degree in English Literature from UCCS, and enjoy spending as much of my free time as possible in the outdoors, along with reading and writing. I can’t wait to see what adventures await us this spring!

 

Hello! My name is Maddie, and I am so excited to be joining the HOTEC team this spring. I graduated from CSU with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and one in International Development. I'm originally from Pueblo, and after working at schools out in DC, I really needed to get back to nature. Volunteering with both AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps showed me that learning comes from experience as much as it does formal education. Things I love include reading, bug facts, and Dungeons and Dragons. I am very much looking forward to sharing my love of learning and nature this spring!

Joe is passionate about connecting people to the wonder and enchantment of the natural world. Prior to joining High Trails Joe trained as a nature-based mindfulness teacher with the Awake in the Wild organization. He has used these skills to help people listen to the deeper currents of the world around them. He also loves mythic storytelling, movement, imaginative play and dance.

Hi I’m Jenny! This will be my second season at High Trails! With a background in wildlife conservation I’m always looking for ways to spread the love of the outdoors with others. Between the fun and games during cabin time and the unique style of learning for young students, High Trails has been one of my favorite jobs so far. I’m looking forward to more adventures with outdoor Ed this season!

Heya, I'm Taylor! As a high schooler, I volunteered with High Trails several times, and I absolutely fell in love. I grew up running around the trails and mountains of New Mexico, and I've been hiking and rock climbing since I could walk. I love exploring and learning in the great outdoors, and I am so excited for my first season at High Trails!

Hi friends! My name is Sonya and I`m so grateful to be a part of HTOEC for my second season this spring. To share a bit of my story I’m originally from the beautiful country Ukraine but have been living in Texas for the last 2 years. Back home I studied Graphic design in the Art Academy and worked and volunteered for multiple summer camps. I also had the privilege of being a part of Sanborn Western Camps this past summer! I’m exited to share with kids my love for the outdoors and experience beautiful spring in Colorado together!

Hello! My name is Morgan. I’m from the tiny yet beautiful island of Jersey in the UK. My passion for everything outdoors started very early on in my childhood, during the winters I would hike along cliff paths with my family and dogs, and when the sun came out in summer I would spend every day swimming and diving at the beach. I’ve recently graduated with a degree in Physical Geography, which has helped me better understand the respect we should give to our world and environment. Having swapped beaches for mountains this will be my 5th time working in Colorado, but will be my first with HOTEC. I can’t wait to meet everyone!

Hi folks! My name is Madeline and I am super excited for my first season at HTOEC! I am from Wisconsin and have a background in conservation and ecology. The past four years I have been working in a traditional high school setting and I am thrilled at the opportunity to teach in an outdoor educational setting. I have always loved the intersection of nature, history, and music, and I am eager to share my knowledge and spark curiosity in others!

Hey, I’m Jamie. I am from Switzerland and have worked at COEC twice in the summer season. I studied Digital Film Production for 4 years and spent a year serving in the Swiss military as a medic last year. Some fun facts about me are that I play guitar, I sing, I make movies and love hiking. It‘s awesome to be a a part of this community and I cannot wait to be back in the great outdoors!

2024 Fall Season Health Center Team

Hi! I’m Lisa and I am so excited for my second season at High Trails! I have been a nurse for almost 40 years now and I still love it every day. There is nothing I like more than to be in the great outdoors; skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, camping, fishing (OR just sitting by the lake watching other people try to catch those elusive fish) are just a few of my favorite things to do. A fun thing to know about me is that my horse’s name is Tequila and he tries very hard to be good but he gets into his share of trouble. I have a dog named Ponko and 5 chickens that run all around my backyard. Doing all the things I love to do has made me realize that being outdoors is the best medicine for good health, happiness and personal growth. I can’t wait to see you all at camp!

 
 

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