The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) is a values-based outdoor and adventure education provider for people looking to challenge themselves physically and academically — by combining rigorous academics with personal growth and professional development. The main campus in North Carolina sits on 17 wooded acres adjacent to the Cape Fear River, just a short three-minute drive to the sandy white beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. NCOAE's outdoor adventure courses take place in North Carolina, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Ecuador and beyond. Enjoy traveling and working in unique, pristine areas throughout the United States and the world!
Field Instructors manage the safety of students during multi-day courses while leading NCOAE’s hands-on, experiential core curriculum that focuses on the educational principles of leadership, risk management, environmental ethics and outdoor skills including kayaking, canoeing, whitewater paddling, backpacking, rock climbing, backcountry camping, map & compass navigation, and more. Through these lessons, Instructors help students improve their self-confidence and interpersonal relationships. Experiential education is merged with good, old-fashioned fun to offer an unrivaled path to insight, joy and drive. Additional duties include facilitating a meaningful group process and setting an emotionally and physically safe, fun, and engaging tone for students to follow. Starting pay ranges from $80-$145/day (DOE) with opportunities for advancement. Perks include staff housing, food pantry, travel reimbursements, and industry discounts. Current WFA/WFR & CPR certification and successful completion of NCOAE’s 14-day Instructor Course is required prior to employment. Seasonal positions available from April to October, with occasional opportunities to continue employment into the winter. If you have a passion for outdoor education, take pride in your work, embrace change, and enjoy positively impacting the lives of others, learn more about becoming an NCOAE Instructor!
NCOAE 2025 HIRING! NCOAE is seeking Wilderness Field Guides to join the team for the winter season (January-February 2025). Applications from exceptional outdoor and wilderness-based educators, guides, and field staff are also being accepted for the 2025 season (April to October). Completion of NCOAE's 14-day Instructor Course(at no cost to you) is required prior to beginning seasonal employment. Apply now for the next course in North Carolina from April 30th-May 13th, 2025.
From mountains to sea, NCOAE students explore the backcountry on wilderness adventures! Whether you’re hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, or mountaineering—you’ll explore some of North Carolina's most beautiful terrain!
Adventure Treks offers multi-week outdoor adventure travel programs that help teens build life skills for future success—all while making life-long friends, exploring the most stunning landscapes, and having incredible amounts of fun along the way. Wilderness-based programs are offered both in North America (British Columbia, Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and North Carolina) and abroad (Scotland, Norway and Peru).
Ready to change young people’s lives and be part of one of the best student and staff communities in the industry? Being a Field Instructor at Adventure Treks is a unique and incredible opportunity—seeing students immersed in nature, fostering a community, and building their confidence and leadership on the trail! Instructors are deeply familiar with the demands of operating on the sun's clock and sleeping in a tent for weeks at a time with peers and students relying on them. In the highs and lows of a trip, they're always engaged, bringing fun to any situation, staying motivated, and working hard. Instructors are in charge of safety, satisfaction, and success. On each adventure, the four- to six-person instructor team works together to create fun, growth-oriented, and community-minded experiences, coordinate all aspects of the trip like managing group dynamics, teaching outdoor skills, maintaining equipment, and handling medical issues, and lead activities like backpacking, rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, canoeing, and whitewater kayaking & rafting. Compensation starts at $4,000–$4,200 for the summer plus all-inclusive employment (accommodations, meals, outfitted activities…), travel reimbursements, fall opportunities to work in North Carolina, professional development scholarships, and pro-deal access to hundreds of outdoor brands. See the qualifications page to learn more and apply!
2025 Instructor Hiring Adventure Treks is now acceptingField Instructor applications for the 2025 season!
A Way of LIfe Farm is located an hour from Asheville and Charlotte, with charming "Main Street" towns fifteen minutes away—and just a half hour to swimming holes and hiking in South Mountain State Park or Chimney Rock.
Interested in environmental stewardship? Nutrition? Local food access? Community building?A Way of Life Farm brings all these passions together, growing nutrient dense produce and pork for farmers’ market, CSA, and local food pantries in the beautiful foothills of Western North Carolina. The farm integrates this production into a broader permaculture design and land revitalization project, rejuvenating a former clear-cut forest into productive vegetable fields, fruit and nut orchards, wildlife habitat, and forage for pastured pigs.
Farming is our form of activism. We believe that providing people with truly healthy food that is also healthy for the land is a powerful act, and we’re excited to train new farmers. —Farmers Sara Jane and Jamie
2025 Seasonal Farm Apprenticeships—Now Hiring! Farm Apprentices gain hands-on experience and learn the ins and outs of vegetable growing from seed to harvest including no-till bed preparation, seedling propagation, transplanting, harvest, marketing, and practical implementation of the five principles of soil health. Farmers Sara Jane and Jamie are passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills and take their role as educators seriously. Applicants should have good communication skills and self-motivation. Some previous experience on a farm is highly recommended and experience with physical labor or intense outdoor activity is important. Full season Apprentices work an average of 40 hours/week from March through mid-December 2025 and receive a stipend starting at $1,000-$1,200/month DOE, as well as cozy, basic housing with your own private room and kitchen, vegetables and meat from the farm, food staples, and participation in educational and community activities and monthly CRAFT farm tour. To apply, send a completed application along with your resume and two work references to Sara Jane Davis.
Attention Experienced Farmers! • The Journeyperson position is open to those who have experienced at least 12 months on productive vegetable farms and are eager to become an essential part of a thriving farm crew and continue your farming education. Must make a commitment from at least February 2025–February 2026. Stipend starts at $1,400-$1,600/month, plus housing and plenty of perks.
With a large lake and mountain biking/horse riding trails on site, Camp Carolina is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordered on three sides by the 450,000-acres of Pisgah National Forest. You’ll find over 100 waterfalls alone in the camp's backyard! Elevation and geographical location allow for warm summer days, plentiful rainfall and cool nights.
Camp Carolina is an all boys camp for 100 summers that offers a balanced mixture of individual and team sports, nature, music, arts and crafts, high adventure and extreme sports. Summer Camp Staff include Cabin and Head Counselors, In-Camp and Head Activity Counselors, and Adventure Activity Counselors (plan and teach one or more high adventure activities such as rock climbing, whitewater rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, horseback riding, surfing, wake boarding, sea kayaking, fly fishing, backpacking—and so many more!) and Kitchen and Maintenance staff. Compensation includes a weekly wage, open-air cabin housing, meals, laundry and most training course costs will be provided through the onsite Backcountry Institute for all adventure program staff. Courses will be offered as early as May 1st through the American Canoe Association, American Red Cross, National Archery Association, National Rifle Association, Wilderness Medical Association and more. Positions run from late May to mid-August, 2025. If you are a responsible, outdoor loving youth development professional with patience, understanding and an interest in inspiring the next generation of outdoorsmen please complete the online application or connect with Bren Thompson Hogan for more information.
Located on the Neuse River (which has the largest mouth of any river in the U.S. being six miles long!), Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center hosts the Coastal Communities residential environmental education program focusing on hands-on experiences in coastal ecology, marine sciences and natural history as well as the Common Ground challenge course designed to build community and encourage teamwork. There are many opportunities for recreational activities in the area, including surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, camping and the beach! You will be visited by dolphins, rays and River Otters on a daily basis.
Experience the North Carolina coast and provide amazing outdoor education experiences for youth! Environmental Educators will teach a variety of outdoor exploration programs and activities—from ocean study and chart navigation to fishing, sailing and caring for captive animals. Educators will also double as Challenge Course Facilitators, providing team building, problem-solving and experiential learning. 2025 positions are available during the spring (late February to early June with a summer camp option) and fall season (early September to mid-November). Compensation includes a salary of $425/week (Interns earn $250/week), shared rooms in staff housing, all meals prepared by dining hall staff and WiFi access. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in a science or education related field or in outdoor recreation and experiential education (Internships are available for those currently working on their degree), and a strong interest in teaching children in an outdoor setting. If you are enthusiastic, patient, positive, self-disciplined, hardworking and a team player that can reside in a cooperative, communal living environment, email your cover letter, resume and 3 references to Katie Lilly.
Located four miles south of Brevard and set among the fantastic beauty of the Carolina Appalachian mountains with numerous waterfalls and scenic overlooks within its 215-acre wooded location. The Camp is about 30 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport, about 2 ½ hours to Charlotte, NC, and 3 hours to Atlanta, GA.
Since 1921, Rockbrook Camp for Girls has been a place where girls ages 6-16 can experience the wonder and excitement of a summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Here you'll find a vintage camp experience: wooden cabins, campfires, silly songs, girls full of energy, and a variety of activities. From horseback riding, whitewater rafting, pottery, and swimming to campfires and exploring a chilly stream, each day at camp is filled with new experiences and great opportunities to develop lasting friendships. Summer camp jobs include 60 cabin counselors as well as other day staff, nurses, and program staff. Cabin counselors will live with and supervise a small group of girls, participate in general camp programs, provide leadership and instruction in one or more specific camp activities (24 different options), and be a positive role model. Counselors specializing in climbing, hiking/backpacking and paddling counselors will plan, organize and lead out-of-camp trips. Compensation starts at $300/week (with increases for certifications and experience), plus room, board, laundry, free WiFi in the staff lounge, and a community where everyone is celebrated and supported. Positions run from June 1st to August 10th, 2025 with shorter contracts available. If you have high energy, outgoing, silly at heart, enjoy being with children and comfortable in a rustic, outdoor setting, apply online today!
View what it means to be a Camp Counselor at Rockbrook and why it might be the most rewarding summer job you'll ever have!
NCOAE is seeking 
Adventure Treks is now accepting 
