Eagle’s Nest Camp and Hante Adventures

Part of the Eagle’s Nest Foundation, based in Pisgah Forest, NC

Hante Assistant Instructor

Job Description, October 2026
 

Direct Supervisors: Camp Director, Outdoor Education Manager, Hante Lead Instructor
 

Trips Available for Instructing

Session 2: June 19 to July 8, 2027

Hante Alaska

Sea Islands Added Adventure

Session 3: July 11 to July 30, 2027

Hante Rivers and Reeds

Nature Lore Added Adventure

Position Overview

Hantes are outdoor, experiential, and cultural trips for young people. During the course of a Hante, participants practice sustainable camping and outdoor living skills, gain a heightened appreciation and understanding of the natural world, and learn how to live within a small community in a novel setting. Every Hante includes an enrichment component beyond the outdoor technical skill, to illuminate the multi-faceted learning environment the natural world offers.

Participants arrive to Hante courses at varying stages of life and development, with a wide array of interest and abilities. What they will all have in common is a desire for a new experience with a new group of people, and an openness to uncertainty. Hante Instructors will be expected to manage and mentor the possibility of a wide range in age and skill.

Most importantly, Instructors will be responsible for participant safety and well-being. This will be guided by learning and following Eagle's Nest Foundation (ENF) policies and procedures. Access to these policies and procedures will be given in the spring, and will be reviewed before departing for the trip.

In addition to Hante, outdoor programming at Eagle’s Nest also includes “Added Adventures.” These are unique, thematic experiences for campers ages 10-13 who wish to broaden their Camp experience. Groups of up to 10 campers spend a week out of Camp and in the surrounding area with 2-3 Instructors. Pre-trip time in Camp is spent preparing for the trip by getting to know each other, planning, preparing, and packing food and gear. Post-trip time in Camp is spent on cleaning and de-issuing gear, and reflecting on learnings from the trip. During their time in Camp, campers live in cabins and take classes, two of which are dedicated to the Added Adventure on which they are participating. Session 2 will head to the Sea Islands of Georgia for basecamping and exploring in marine ecosystems, while Session 3 will head deeper into the forests of Western North Carolina for basecamping and storytelling through the lens of the natural world.

Assistant Instructors applying for either Hante may also indicate desire to instruct Eagle’s Nest Camp’s Added Adventures.
 

Duties and Responsibilities, at Camp and in the Field

• Live and work with a group of 6-10 participants and other experienced instructors during a three-week Camp session. The trip, which takes place during the three-week Camp session, will begin and end at Eagle’s Nest Camp.
• Co-design, co-lead, and assist in the delivery of enrichment curriculum related to subjects such as art, craft, culture, anthropological study, community service, and modeling of curious inquiry. This curriculum runs parallel to the outdoor skills and leadership curriculum, making Hante Adventures unique in a field of outdoor adventure options for young people.
• Assist and coach participants with daily functions throughout the trip, which can include preparing meals, cleaning and organizing gear, understanding proper hygiene, navigating group dynamics, continuing development of applicable skills, and deeper learning of the course’s enrichment component.
• Assist and coach participants with managing the uncertainty inevitable to a trip with a new group of people in a new setting, such as homesickness, newfound personal needs within a unique routine, and mental, physical, and environmental discomfort.
• Plan and implement goal-aligned lesson plans and activities throughout the trip, and mentor participants who desire to teach their own passions or new learnings. 
• Understand and manage all gear associated with the trip, including its care, organized storage, inventory and upkeep.
• Manage budget, secure cash and card, understand appropriate use, and document and account for all transactions.
• Maintain appropriate first aid equipment and readiness at all times (within the scope of the instructors certification and training), along with appropriate storage, delivery, and documentation of medications as prescribed or needed
• Serve as an “on duty” leader prepared to troubleshoot situations that come up in the field
• Communicate daily updates and needs with the Outdoor Education Manager and/or Administrator on Duty, and encourage group communication with the rest of Camp in the form of letters “home.”
• Maintain a daily instructor journal to document your time on the course.

Pre-Trip Responsibilities

• In the spring, attend meetings and collaborate with co-instructors on trip logistics, trip goals, leadership team communication and roles, plans for on-campus pre-trip preparation, curriculum development of outdoor and enrichment subjects, and a review of participant questionnaires.
• In the spring, prepare for and attend meetings with participants and their families to assist in their readiness for the trip.
• Intimately understand the details of the trip, including participant arrivals, necessary permits and guidelines, reservation details, travel arrangements, important dates and preparation before those dates, gear usage and rental, outdoor and enrichment curriculum, and emergency management.
• Arrive to campus four days prior to the trip start date to fulfill necessary on-campus pre-trip preparations, which includes the following:
  • Review the trip itinerary, maps and routes, considerations for unexpected events, and the instructor journal.
  • Review daily emergency resources and evacuation plans.
  • Develop co-instructor expectations and goals for the trip.
  • Pack out and organize group gear, including individual needs from the Gear Lending Library, and establish what assistance will be needed once participants arrive.
  • Create menus according to group needs, order food according to budget, shop, organize, and pack all food. This includes resupply packing and logistics.
  • Finalize plans for the trip’s enrichment component (art, craft, culture, anthropological study, community service), ensuring that all materials and plans are ready for teaching and using throughout the trip. This includes any applicable “Advancements” (Eagle’s Nest skill progression structure) to be practiced on the trip.
  • Finalize curriculum and teaching timeline for activities and skills related to the outdoor technical components of the trip. This includes any applicable “Advancements” (Eagle’s Nest skill progression structure) to be practiced on the trip.
  • Finalize the teaching of safety practices necessary for individual functioning, group functioning, travel, environment, and specific activities.
  • Meet with ENF Marketing Manager to understand promotional equipment and opportunities while in the field.
  • Meet with ENF medical staff about the unique needs of the group.
  • Meet with ENF Business Office to receive cash and cards for programmatic use, review budgets, review codes for transactions, and establish a system for recording and keeping receipts.
  • Establish a plan for participant arrival, such as the flow of medication drop off and medical staff collaboration with families, setting up welcoming spaces and living spaces for participants, and all activities and lessons before trip departure.

Post-Trip Responsibilities

• Inventory, clean, organize, and de-issue all gear used during the trip. Borrowed gear should be returned to its original location.
• Assist participants in the completion of any trip-related projects, including the packing of created materials for travel or shipment home.
• Meet with Camp medical staff to return all first aid supplies and medications, as well as a wellness check with all involved in the trip.
• Turn in medication records for applicable participants.
• Facilitate debriefs for group to aid in reflection process.
• Complete co-instructor evaluations, and create space for giving and receiving feedback.
• Complete advancements for participants.
• Complete a course evaluation, and review with the Outdoor Education Manager in addition to debriefing the trip as a whole.
• Settle finances with the Outdoor Education Manager and Business Office, including the return of receipts, cash, and cards.
• Review Incident and Accident forms, compile data, and maintain incident files.

Qualifications:

• Have a passion for being of service to others, for the natural world, and for the field of experiential education.
• At least 21 years of age.
• Available to fulfill the Pre-Trip Responsibilities, including meeting virtually during the spring and arriving to Eagle’s Nest Camp the week before the trip start date. Responsibilities before arriving to campus will equal roughly 20 total hours.
• First Aid and CPR Certification, or willingness and ability to obtain this certification through staff training. Preference will be given to Wilderness First Responder Certification or higher level of medical training.
• Personal or institutional experience with camping, backpacking, canoe or kayak paddling, or other forms of outdoor adventure technical pursuits.
• Personal or institutional experience with tutoring, teaching, mentoring others in cultural, visual and/or performing art, craft, or similar areas of study.
• Previous or institutional experience leading groups of young people, preferably in a wilderness setting or an extended period of time.
• Certifications and training in areas such as Leave No Trace, lifeguarding, environmental science, paddling, and climbing are also appreciated.