Youth Programs, Summer Jobs, Student Jobs 2025

Hiring: Youth Coordinator
Organization: Project Canoe
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Accom.: Optional accommodation provided in Toronto for June, July, & August

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

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Youth Coordinator (YC) is responsible for the outreach, screening, and enrollment processes for youth interested in attending our summer backcountry wilderness canoe tripping program. As part of youth outreach, the YC is responsible for delivering presentations about our programs, meeting with community agencies, and providing resources and support to youth who will be attending our summer wilderness program.

The YC will follow Project Canoe’s philosophy for working with our youth, which is to empower youth who face barriers in their lives, highlight their unique and individual strengths, and build their capacities to chart positive futures for themselves and their communities.

It is important that the YC have direct practical experience working with our youth population. It is vital to have an understanding of the variety of issues that our youth face, the possible resulting behaviours, and strategies for working with them. The YC will also have the chance to co-lead at least one canoe trip alongside Canoe Trip Leaders during the summer.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Pay: $740/week
• 18 weeks full time, from April 28th to August 29th
• Combination of remote and in person work
• Optional accommodation provided in Toronto for June, July, & August
• Opportunities for professional development and training

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Outreach to community organisations, schools, and youth services
• Support youth during the enrollment process before attending our wilderness canoe trips
• Communicate effectively to youth the magic and challenges of wilderness canoe trips
• Organise and facilitate a pre-trip meeting with each youth interested in attending

• Maintain the youth database (CampBrain), accurate files, statistics, and reports
• Assist with urban programs for youth and partnership service providers
• Support youth after trip, connecting them with other programs and our urban programs
• Assist with transportation logistics, correspondence, mailings, and general office work
• Assist the Program Director in canoe trip logistics support (pre and post trip paperwork, basecamp tasks, evacuation support)

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• 2+ years practical experience working with youth, their families and social service agencies
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong computer and administrative skills
• Comfortable talking one-on-one and to groups about our youth programs
• Knowledge and experience working with marginalized, underrepresented, and diverse communities (e.g. 2SLGBTQA+, newcomers, BIPOC, individuals/families facing economic barriers), especially in the Greater Toronto Area
• Required: Must be age 19 or over
• Required: Must be able to provide a satisfactory police vulnerable sector check**
• G class driver’s licence, or equivalent, is an asset, but is not required
• Advanced Wilderness First Aid & Bronze Cross certifications an asset, but is not required

**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/

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 OUTREACH

The YC is responsible for outreaching to communities in the GTA and surrounding areas as well as meeting with potential referrers. The outreach program has 3 key objectives, 1) to educate the community about Project Canoe’s programs and philosophy for working with youth, 2) to advocate for our youth population, and 3) to recruit referrals of youth to our programs.

The YC advises, develops and screens all new Partnerships Trips, along with the Program Director. These trips are formed with various youth agencies and programs when it is deemed beneficial for both parties. This involves managing partnership requests, and informing potential partners of Project Canoe’s policies and philosophy. You will work collaboratively with the Program Director to establish new partners and maintain current partners if they are deemed still appropriate.

REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT PROCESS

The YC manages all aspects of the enrollment process for youth interested in attending our summer wilderness canoe tripping programs, while redirecting youth who are not appropriate to other programs/services. It is therefore necessary to be knowledgeable about other youth programs and services, and how to access them.

The YC meets with each prospective youth for a welcome call in order to get to know them better, and understand how Project Canoe can best support them. Once you decide a youth is appropriate for a canoe trip, you will work with the Program Director to place each youth into appropriate trip groups and match them with the most appropriate staff for their canoe trip.

The YC may also assist in supervising events to facilitate on-going contact with youth who have previously attended the summer canoe tripping program.

STAFF TRAINING

The YC will be involved in advising on youth and youth issues, as well as assisting in training staff and volunteers on working with youth and youth issues. Depending on the staff training schedule, you could train the Canoe Trip Leaders on the enrollment process, and how to deal with youth behaviours that staff can expect to encounter this summer. Additional staff training may be required by you depending on your training.

SUPPORTING TRIPS

The YC will prebrief Canoe Trip Leaders on youth participants before trips are sent out and be available for advising them in supporting particular youth or behaviours. The YC will also be responsible for necessary paperwork to accompany the youth participants.

While trips are out, the YC is part of the team that responds if any incidents or evacuations occur on a trip. Whenever necessary, you will help coordinate and implement evacuations for trip groups or individuals with the Program Director. Afterwards, your responsibilities may include informing parents/guardians of any incidents/disclosures that their youth might have been involved in. Additionally, the YC may help to debrief staff, youth, and parents/guardians if a trip is evacuated.

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