Summer Jobs, Student Jobs 2025

Hiring: Canoe Trip Leader
Organization: Project Canoe

Location: Toronto & Algonquin Park, Ontario
Housing: Optional accommodation provided in Toronto for the entire contract duration

Apply: APPLY HERE. Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Canoe Trip Leaders are responsible for planning, packing, and leading backcountry wilderness canoe trips in Algonquin Park with Project Canoe’s youth. Each canoe trip is composed of 2-3 Canoe Trip Leaders and 4-6 youth participants. Canoe Trip Leaders co-lead canoe trips and are responsible for reviewing all relevant information regarding the youth prior to the trip, engaging and supporting the youth while on the trip, and making appropriate safety and leadership decisions. At all points of the trip, the Canoe Trip Leaders must maintain a youth focused approach and keep the emotional and physical safety of the youth as their primary concern.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Pay: $762/week
• 14 weeks full time, from May 26th to August 29th
• All in person work
• Optional accommodation provided in Toronto for the entire contract duration
• 4 weeks of collaborative and relevant training, including a staff training trip

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-lead multi day wilderness backcountry canoe trips for youth aged 13-18
• Effectively manage risk, challenges, situations, and emergencies that may arise on trip
• Assist with urban programs for youth and partnership service providers
• Complete documentation before, during, and after trip
• Engage youth in meaningful and individualised ways
• Contribute to a collaborative and community oriented staff training program
• Contribute to the in city operations, including trip prep and cleanup. This involves setting up and maintaining the systems that help programs run smoothly by preparing food, repairing and organizing equipment, packing first aid kits, house cleaning, etc.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• Working with young people, particularly youth facing barriers
• Organizing and leading canoe trips and/or other multi day wilderness backcountry trips
• Outdoor education, experiential learning facilitation, and personal outdoor recreation interest

• Knowledge and experience working with marginalized, underrepresented, and diverse communities (e.g. 2SLGBTQA+, newcomers, BIPOC, individuals/families facing economic barriers)
• Required: Must be age 19 or over
• Required: Must be able to provide a satisfactory police vulnerable sector check**
• Required: Advanced Wilderness First Aid (~40 hours) or equivalent or higher*
• Required: RLSS Bronze Cross or equivalent or higher*

*If you do not have up to date certifications, we can work with you to find courses prior to the beginning of the summer you could attend. We recognize that the costs of these certifications can be barriers to accessing employment in the outdoor industry so we can offer assistance to cover costs of certifications for employees.

**Because you will be interacting with youth in an unsupervised setting, we require a satisfactory police vulnerable sector check, or regional equivalent. If you are selected we will provide further instructions on how to complete this and we will reimburse the required costs (approximately $70). We recognise that the criminal justice system is not always applied equally and does not always treat people equitably. Having a criminal record will not necessarily exclude you from working with us; it will depend on the circumstances and what the record is for. If you are unsure about this or want to discuss it further we can talk about it during your interview. If you have any questions or concerns please email us at info@canoe.org . Toronto Police Services provide some information and answers to common questions about police checks here: https://www.tps.ca/services/police-record-checks/

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APPLICATION DEADLINE & HOW TO APPLY

To apply, first go to: https://projectcanoe.campbrainstaff.com/

Then create an account, log in, and follow the instructions to complete the application form using the “Click to apply” button. When that is complete, please upload your resume using the “View/Upload Paperwork” button.

Please do not attach a cover letter. Instead, let us know more about you through the questions we have included in the application form. Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Applications are due by the end of the day on Monday February 3rd, 2025

Project Canoe strives for fairness and equity in employment. We are committed to anti-oppression, anti-racism, equity, and diversity in our workplace and in our community. As such, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. People from marginalized, underrepresented, and diverse communities, including women, Indigenous peoples, people of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQA+ people, and people facing economic barriers, are especially encouraged to apply. Please advise us if there are any accommodation measures required to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received will be addressed in confidence.

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RESPONSIBILITIES: THE SPECIFICS

YOUTH AND PROGRAM

• Plan and implement programming for 5, 8, and 14 day backcountry wilderness canoe trips
• Model positive and prosocial interpersonal behaviour for youth
• Accompany and supervise youth on the bus to and from Algonquin Park before and after trip
• Review relevant information regarding youth to plan safe and appropriate programming
• Complete documentation such as, but not limited to, incident/evacuation reports, trip logs, youth followup, and youth reports
• Follow Project Canoe’s philosophy for working with youth, policies and procedures, Emergency Procedures, and Risk Management Plan

TRAINING AND PREP WORK

• Actively engage in a comprehensive training program including both psychosocial and canoe tripping sessions
• Participate in and contribute to the staff canoe trip by being involved in scenarios practicing canoe tripping skills
• Maintaining healthy workplace
• Contribute to prep and cleanup for trip food and gear (repairing, packing out, preparation, maintenance, and inventory)
• Contribute to daily living tasks such as cooking, cleaning, maintenance, etc. and upkeep of the staff house/basecamp

INTERPERSONAL

• Communicate professionally and offer feedback to colleagues, as well as reflecting on own performance
• Practice and role model self awareness to stay balanced, healthy and effective with youth
• Participate as part of collaborative decision making and conflict resolution

Still have questions? Email our Program Director, John ( john@canoe.org ) and we will get back to you as soon as we can.