Exciting Jobs in Outdoor Wilderness Therapy

Lone Star Expeditions is located in Groveton, Texas, about a two-hour drive, north of Houston.

Our Wilderness Field Instructor Positions offer a terrific 8 days on, 6 days off schedule. Lots of overtime!

Send your resume or request for information to - Melvin Cates
mcates@lonestarexpeditions.com

Phone: 936.831.3133
Fax: 936.831.3136

Company Description

Lone Star Expeditions is a licensed wilderness therapy program for teens that is part of the Outdoor Education division of Aspen Education Group, the industry leader in the provision of innovative educational and treatment programs that promote academic and personal growth. Through its 30 programs in 11 states, Aspen is committed to improving the quality of live for underachieving youth and their families. Our vision is to provide help for today and hope for tomorrow.

Can You Be A Field Guide?

   The first priority for our guides is to provide safety for the students and help them adhere to our high standards while in the backcountry.

   Our guides strive to positively impact all that they encounter, including our students, families, others, and the environment.

   All Guide applicants must complete our 5 day Training Seminar. This seminar allows you to get an up-close look at the life of a guide as well as allows the program to get an up-close look at you as a guide. The seminar imparts fundamental skills, Crisis Intervention, Documentation Training, First aid and CPR, etc.

   Field guides are looked upon to inspire the students to search for, create and follow healthier trails. They often do so through games, initiatives, ropes course activities, discussions, role modeling, and.well, guiding.

   Our guides are also charged with the responsibility of educating the students on primitive living skills. These skills include primitive structures, flint and steel fires, bow drill fires, navigation, construction packs, leather working, track identification, and other skills such as fly fishing, and Leave No Trace practices.

   The field guides play an active role in the treatment team led by the Therapists, and discuss their observations and thoughts about each student on a regular basis in order to direct the care and treatment of the groups.

   Each field guide works with at least one, most of the time two co-guides and are never to be alone with any child. This standard protects all staff and allows the guides to work together to provide the best care.

   Guides are to work through their Field Manual and growth books in an effort to role model personal and professional growth to the students. This process often requires the guide to receive feedback and instruction from the students as well as other guides and staff of Lone Star Expeditions.

   Many guides have said that this is the best job that they've ever had and enjoy the family-styled atmosphere. All of our guides also enjoy the endless potential that the position offers. Case in point, both our Executive Director and Senior VP started in the field! You too can begin a lifelong career in the Wilderness Therapy industry with us!

If you'd like to be a guide, know that the students will look to you for inspiration, energy, drive, direction, and motivation to make changes in their lives.

Oh, and know that they'll be looking for this 24 hours a day!

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

-Ghandi

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the group size? Our groups, Alamo, Boone, Crockett, and Dakota typically house 6-9 students. Each group is led by 2-3 guides at all times.

2. What are the Pre-Requisites for the position? 1) Attend the Training Seminar 2) 21 Years of Age 3) current Adult CPR and Basic First-Aid Certifications. Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder is a plus 4) A strength and commitment towards pro-active, interpersonal communication.

3. Is the Training Seminar required to gain employment? Yes, the seminar is a way for us to give you a realistic idea of what it is to be a Field Guide. At the end of this seminar, you know if the job of Field Guide is the right fit for you and we know if you have the potential to be a dynamic guide.

4. How does the Seminar work? Training starts Thursday at 10am. Trainees go into the field that afternoon.

5. Do I get paid for training days? The paid hours begin on the next Monday, after the guides are chosen.

6. Do I need to have adult CPR and 1st aid prior to the Training Seminar? No, yet you will need these certifications prior to working with students. For this reason, those who are chosen from the Training Seminar will receive certification prior to beginning your first shift.

7. Is prior experience in the field taken into consideration when establishing starting pay? All new guides will start at the Apprentice pay rate. Under some circumstances, new guides coming in with pertinent prior experience may accelerate through the instructor levels system at a faster pace, thereby increasing pay at an accelerated pace. You can see the instructor levels after the FAQ. However, if you have experience in the Aspen system, we'd love to discuss starting you at the most recent level you have been employed in.

8. How do instructors move from one level to the next? Guides are to work through their Field Manual and the Growth Books. The books are an assessment tool that allows our guides to track and direct their own rate of growth and progression. The levels that are available to guides are the Apprentice, Assistant, Head, and Senior Levels.

9. Do you offer on-site housing? No. We do have an area in which guides can stay a day or two before and after their shift.

10. Do I need to live in the area? No. Live where you wish. Many of our guides travel considerable distances to come to work, such as Austin, Houston, Dallas, and even Arkansas!

11. Will I have access to telephones or email while on shift? While in the field you will probably not have the access to phones or computers. However, breaks are often available, in which you might be able to access these amenities. Please know though, in the case of emergencies, guides are immediately notified.

12. Do I need to drive a vehicle while on shift? There are some roles that require staff to drive vehicles (i.e.: transporting groups). Therefore, CRC/Aspen conducts a "Driver History" evaluation, which verifies whether or not the company is willing to allow you to drive under the company insurance policy. If you are denied approval, you may not drive a company vehicle on shift, and this will limit the roles that you may assume as an guide.

13. How far are the hikes? The answer to this is based on outcomes for your students. You may hike upwards of 3-4 miles in one day. You need to be conditioned to hike 10 miles through rigorous terrain, under various conditions.

14. What is the weather like? Hot and muggy. Need I say more? No seriously, the summer days often hit 100o, and bottom out in the 80's. The winters are great as the highs are often in the 50's and lows sometimes in the 20's. When it comes down to it, East Texas is ¼ of an inch of rainfall away from being a rain forest, so the trees, plant and animal life is lush; just like the mosquitoes and insects.

15. What is the food like? Are there vegetarian options? We've found our menu to be one of the best in the industry, as our meals include granola, summer sausage, chili mac, potatoes au gratin, etc. We are able to cater to many food options for the students as well as the guides.

16. Will I be assured a full-time work schedule? Yes, our guides work an 8 day on 6 day off shift. We encourage our guides to take personal time off when available; however summers are not always available as business picks up during the months of May-September.

17. Do you offer Benefits? Yes, we offer PTO, Medical, vision and dental insurance, and a 401K plan.

Send your resume or request for information to - Melvin Cates
mcates@lonestarexpeditions.com

Phone: 936.831.3133
Fax: 936.831.3136

Click here to download application (Word doc.)
Click here to download employment forms (Word doc.)

Click here to download 2008 Training Seminar Schedule (pdf)

Click here to download Wilderness Field Instructor Position(pdf)

Click here to download Brochure(pdf)

Suggested reading material

Leadership and Self Deception by the Arbinger Institute

Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute

Shouting at the Sky by Gary Ferguson

Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl