Live and work in the Sonoma Coast Redwoods delivering a cutting-edge science curriculum, illuminating the divine in all things—and changing lives!
Caritas Creek at CYO Camp at Catholic Charities is a comprehensive, 5-day residential environmental education experience for students in the 5th-8th grades. The program offers a blend of age-appropriate science curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and retreat style activities fostering social, spiritual, and academic development for youth from diverse backgrounds. During the week, students are exposed to a series of themes, hikes, activities and lessons designed to promote learning, awareness and character development on multiple levels: personal, social, environmental and spiritual.
One of the unique aspects of the program is the faith-based community building experience of Caritas, where the focus is placed on recognizing the individual's unique gifts and strengths. Through hands-on exploration, Caritas endeavors to illuminate the divine in all things and build empathy and understanding for the natural world.
Site Director Position
Site Directors
Site Directors communicate directly with participating classroom teachers and coordinate all aspects of the school's 5-day program week at Caritas Creek. They conduct virtual classroom visits and parent previews to get students and parents excited and prepared for the Caritas experience. The primary curriculum role is to introduce and debrief the Caritas Creek philosophical concepts at predictable times during the week. The Site Director provides a consistent voice and message for all the students and is responsible for integrating the various concepts and experiences into a cohesive whole.
Work terms follow the same schedule as Program Naturalists. Compensation includes $600/week (with an additional $600 incentive payment for completing the season), plus one paid week off each season.
Program Naturalists Do you see the interconnectedness of all aspects of the ecosystem as a spiritual concept? Are you devoted to the development of the mind, body and spirit of the students Caritas Creek serves?
Program Naturalist Duties: • Live and work in the Redwood Forest of west Sonoma county in a community of 20 fun-loving individuals dedicated to holistic education, making a difference in kid's lives and changing the world. • Deliver an innovative science-based curriculum developed by the BEETLES Program of the Lawrence Hall of Science: research-based, field tested and aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. • Spend each week with your own Exploration Group of 11-13 students facilitating an experience that deepens their connection to self, others, nature and God (or spirit of love or source energy or universe or insert name that suits you here!).
A Typical Day
Program Naturalists begin each work day at an 8:45am meeting with their colleagues to plan the route they will take through the camp's 215-acre redwood forest. They create their own lesson plans—deciding when and where to deliver science, team building, spiritual and social/emotional curriculum provided by the program. After they pick up their exploration group of 11-13 students at the main lodge, they disappear into the forest to explore and learn until they return to main camp at 2:30pm. For the remainder of the afternoon, Naturalists that are on duty run electives such as archery, canoeing, arts and crafts or Gaga ball (a dodge ball game played in a mud pit!). Night time activities include small group sharing sessions called Serendipities (a flashlight-less night hike), campfire and an all-camp celebration.
There is a philosophical theme for each day in which Naturalists connect their curriculum: New Discoveries, Connections, Power and Equality, Change and Springboard. Every Friday Naturalists facilitate a closing ceremony with their exploration group in which they prepare a presentation for the all-camp closure that ends the week for students. After the participants depart at noon on Friday, Program Naturalists perform a variety of tasks to ready the facility for the following Monday. A staff meeting usually ends by 3pm, then everybody enjoys their weekends free in beautiful West Sonoma County!
Location
The CYO Camp & Retreat Center is located amidst 215 acres of towering redwood forest and open meadow in historical western Sonoma county, just six miles from the Pacific Ocean and a short walk away from the town of Occidental. The Russian River winds through valleys to the north and the San Francisco Bay Area lies tantalizingly close, 60 miles to the south.
Originally a logging settlement in the mid-1800s, you can step back into history as you explore Occidental's cozy cafés, open art studios, unique boutiques and the region's 150 wineries. From the dramatic Sonoma coastline, the incredible redwoods of Armstrong Woods, to a stage-side seat at the Celtic Music Festival or Jazz on the Russian River, there is something for everyone.
CYO Camp is a beautiful facility to deliver a science curriculum, build strong communities, teach leadership and plant the seed of environmental awareness and sustainability to tomorrow's leaders.
Time Commitment
Now Hiring for the 2025 Season! •Winter/Spring Season: late January through the end of May •Fall Season: late August to early December Includes 1-2 weeks of paid training. Mid-season start dates are possible.
Perks & Rewards
Program Naturalist compensation includes $535/week, one paid week off each season, housing in a private room, meals while programs are in session, and a $250 medical reimbursement. Staff housing is one mile away from the main side of camp and a short walk to the quaint town of Occidental, featuring several excellent restaurants, a health food store, cool shops, a farmers market, yoga studio, and much, much more!
The Essentials
Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in education, environmental studies, geography, biology, psychology, sociology, or related disciplines (or comparable and amazing life experience) • Experience in working with children ages 10-14 (experience working with children from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds helpful) • Ability to support and deliver academic, social and spiritual goals • Current certification in CPR/first aid (can arrange for certification).
Your First Move & Connections
Ready to join the team? If you are a dynamic, fun-loving individual dedicated to connecting students to one another and to the natural world through science and exploration, send your resume, cover letter and questions to Paul Raia (and feel free to call Paul with any questions!).
Spring 2025 Season Jobs at Caritas Creek • Actively hiring Program Naturalists AND Site Directors for the spring 2025 season(late January through the end of May).
I was a camper at Caritas Creek in 1980 when I was 12 years old and the 5-day experience forever changed my life. I learned to celebrate human diversity and see myself as an integral part of the environment, completely atomically connected to my community, the ecosystem, the sun and earth. I volunteered as a Cabin Leader in high school and returned to serve as a Program Naturalist in 1992. Over the decades I have witnessed thousands of students and staff transform during their week, often boarding the bus on Friday in tears because of the depth of the experience. One of the corner stones of the program is the love we show each individual participant that we are honored to share space with. We create a loving family feel that allows us to take kids deeper than they would normally go. —Paul Raia, Associate Director
