Sienna Ranch provides immersive nature programming, farm education and compelling outdoor experiences for youth pre-K to teen. Our program offerings include woodshop, natural building, archery, horseback riding, gardening, science, pottery, survival skills, naturalist skills and much more. Sienna Ranch is situated on a 21-acre family-owned ranch in Lafayette, CA.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Sienna Ranch Summer Day Camp Counselors are responsible for creatively adapting and delivering dynamic nature-based curriculum to small groups of youth age pre-K to teen. Camp sessions include themes such as farm/ranch animal interactions, survival skills, nature-based art and wild crafts, animal tracking, and hiking adventures. Additional activities include archery, pottery, woodshop, gardening, animal care, and wilderness skills. Counselors and campers will be fully immersed in “ranch life” including caring for our farm animals (goats, sheep, horses, ducks, chickens), learning about edible wild plants, and cooking from our garden.
Instructors will cultivate a sense of curiosity and discovery of the natural world through inquiry-based teaching, hands-on lessons, animal interactions, and nature exploration. Instructors model enthusiasm for all aspects of nature and weather conditions and consistently incorporate themes of stewardship, gratitude, and wonder.
SCHEDULE SUMMARY
Non-exempt/hourly. Seasonal. Full-time (30-35 hours/week).
Summer Dates:
- Duration of employment May 23 - August 15th, 2025
- Mandatory Training May 23, 26-30
- Week long M-F day camps begin June 2nd. 11 weeks in total. Instructors are required to work 10 out of the 11 weeks. (Please note this is a day camp program, not an overnight camp and does not include accomodations)
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Teach nature and farm camps according to the key program values and curriculum overview
- Independently manage groups of 8-10 students, facilitating group games, arts and craft activities, cooking, and nature skills
- Maintain prompt and professional email communication with Ranch administration, proactively communicating any issues which may arise
- Lead summer camp activities as designated by Sienna Ranch Directors
- Take responsibility for the safety, education and happiness of all participants in your camp
- Encourage respect between participants, as well as respect for the Ranch animals, equipment, and facilities
- Ensure appropriate and safe behavior for all participants, utilizing the Sienna Ranch Parent/Guardian Report system when necessary
- Demonstrate impeccable time management and reliably arrive to classes on time as well as prep before classes, clean up afterwards, and care for equipment, supplies and facilities.
- Confidently hike on uneven or undeveloped terrain with groups of children, finding and following nature mysteries, and facilitating unstructured nature exploration