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 2026 season!

Apply now

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

 
Our Field Staff
Job Description
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High Trails Leadership Team 

 

Hi I’m Cassidy! I have been a part of the High Trails community for the past four years. Beginning as a Field Instructor in 2021, I then transitioned into the Assistant Director role after a year and am excited to continue my journey as the Director for my second year! My passion and love for the outdoors and High Trails has deepened greatly during my time here, and I am excited to continue to share that passion and love year-round. Beyond Florissant, I have spent many summers leading youth in the outdoors backpacking, sea kayaking and biking. In receiving my Psychology degree from Colorado Mesa University, I enjoy connecting youth to the mental health benefits of nature in my work. I love all things camp and I can’t wait to share silly songs, dance parties, and my 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!!

 
Field Instructors
 

2025 Fall Season Field Instructors

 

Howdy! My name is Dan, and I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado. This will be my second season on the HTOEC staff. I’m originally from Nashville, Tennessee and have always had a deep connection to the natural world. I was an English major in college, and quit my desk job this spring to come learn, teach and play outside! I love to read, write, climb, backpack and ride horses in my free time. I worked as a Wrangler for the summer program here this past season, and I’m super stoked to stick around and dive back into Outdoor Education! See y’all on the trail!

 

Hello! My name is Maddie, and I am so lucky to be at High Trails for my third season 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!

Hi! I’m Maddie and I’m so excited to be working at High Trails this season! I’m from New York City and recently graduated from Brown University with a degree in literature. I’ve been working in outdoor education for a few years and absolutely love community building, being outside, and learning about people and the world around me. In my free time I’m probably running, listening to some new music, or doing both at the same time.

Hello everyone! My name is Serena and I’m super excited for an amazing spring at High Trails! I started doing seasonal work last year at a summer camp in the Swiss Alps and am incredibly excited to be spending this year in the Rockies. I love all things nature, hiking, and camping as well as drawing and painting flora, fauna, and landscapes. I'm also a bit of a birder and love identifying plants and wildlife.

Hello! My name is Grace, I'm originally from Boise, Idaho and this is my second season working with HTOEC. A few fun facts about me, I got my bachelors degree in Psychology at Portland State University, I speak French and lived/taught in France for 8 months after graduating, and my favorite outdoor activities are rock climbing and skiing (but I also enjoy backpacking, biking, and being in the mountains when it's time to brush my teeth before bed!). I'm looking forward to another season adventuring outdoors together!

Hi! My name is Maeve! I am from Ohio. I graduated with a Bachelor's of Science from The University of Akron. This will be my first season with High Trails! I have been working in the outdoor industry the past few years and most recently worked in outdoor education internationally! I love to travel! My favorite places so far have been the Oregon coast, Denmark, Dubai, and Yosemite National Park. You can find me practicing yoga, playing board games with friends, and enjoying the outdoors! I am very excited to teach this spring with High Trails!

Hi, My name is Alia! I am coming from Oceanside, California and am a recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley. Some of my favorite ways I like to spend time in nature include camping, swimming, snowboarding, and hiking. I am looking forward to being a Field Instructor with High Trails to share these interests with students while teaching and learning more about the outdoors. Can’t wait for this fall!

Hi I’m Jennie! I’m from Northern California and this is my second season working in Colorado. I love camping, road tripping, swimming and spending time outside with my friends. I have a background in Environmental Economics and Disability Studies. I believe that nature is a precious thing and that it should be available for everyone to experience. I’m so excited for my first season at High Trails and the many young lives I get to impact.

What’s up y’all. I’m Jamie! I’m from a small mountain village in Switzerland called Malix. I studied Digital Film Production in Zurich for 3.5 years which allowed me to get my BA in Arts. This will be my second time working for HTOEC but I have also worked 3 summers at the summer program. I love making music and playing guitar. I do a lot of songwritting and I am also the singer in a rockband. I love filmmaking as well. Hiking, swimming and skiing are also huge passions of mine. I’m really excited for this fall season and can’t wait to get into the outdoors once again!

Job Description

2024 Fall Season Health Center Team

Hey ya'll! I'm Sarah from Alabama! I am a registered nurse and am so excited to be here this fall! I graduated in 2024 from UAB School of Nursing and spent my first year as a nurse working in the Emergency Room. I am so excited to be at Sanborn for outdoor education this fall and I know I will walk away with a full heart and a renewed strength. Outside of work, I love hiking, road trips, lots of family and friend time, reading, movies and finding new restaurants to try. I took a graduation trip with my mom in 2024 where I drove from Alabama to Montana, visiting Yellowstone, then the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, where I fell in love with the mountains and the freedom being outdoors brings. I am the youngest of 7 children and as my siblings say, I am the "favorite". I can’t wait for an amazing fall season and all the adventures to come!

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn and I'm beyond excited for my second season as an HTOEC Nurse! I have been a registered nurse for 8 years and have worked in many different areas of nursing, but none have given me the sense of fulfillment and wonder that camp nursing provides. I love being able to help facilitate camper experiences by providing nursing care so they can enjoy this amazing outdoor education opportunity! I also love crafting, my dog Merle, and being a part of this incredible team 💜 I can't wait to meet all the students and teachers for the Fall 2025 season and make it unforgettable!

 
 

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