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Volunteer & Job Opportunities


Volunteer Opportunities

The Cottonwood Institute is a small grassroots organization and we depend on volunteers to help pull just about everything off. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ford Church at 303.447.1076 or via Email. Below are a few ways you can volunteer:

COURSES AND EVENTS:

We are seeking volunteers for the following courses and events:

  • Winter Trails Day: February 14, 2009. We are looking for as many volunteers as possible to attend the event with us, demo snow shoes, help our students build snow shelters, and represent the Cottonwood Institute at a booth during the event.
  • Denver Green Festival: May 2 - 3, 2009. We need 6 volunteers to represent the Cottonwood Institute at our booth during the festival.
  • Mt. Evans Volunteer Project: Dates: TBD. We are looking for 15 people to help us complete important trail maintenance projects on Mt. Evans to give back to the mountains we love and use. For more information, see below.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

Advisory Committee Members are active volunteers that have core competencies in strategic planning, finance, fund raising, marketing, programming, or technology and advise the Executive Director and Board of Directors. Advisory Committee Members are not considered Board Members and do not have voting power. For more information about Advisory Committee Member expectations and how to join our team, Click Here or feel free to contact Ford Church at 303.447.1076 or via Email.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Board Members are active, voting members that, with the help of Cottonwood Institute employees, advisory committee members, interns, and contract instructors, govern the business of the Cottonwood Institute and contribute to the success, long-term viability, and sustainability of the Cottonwood Institute. For more information about Board Member expectations and how to join our team, Click Here or feel free to contact Ford Church at 303.447.1076 or via Email.

BASE CAMP BASH FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE:

Tentfe06We are also looking for volunteers to help plan our annual Base Camp Bash fund raising event held each spring. In terms of a commitment, we are looking for dedicated people that can attend 4 planning meetings to create goals, come up with a game plan, figure out what logistics we need to complete, and put the plan into action. We need everyone help contacting local environmentally friendly businesses to get outdoor gear, art, wine, restaurant gift certificates, vacation packages, and eco-friendly products and services donated for the silent auction or straight up cash donations. Finally, we need people to help coordinate the event logistics based on your core-competency/interest, such as designing marketing materials, attendance/ticket sales, media releases, securing a space, food, beverages, entertainment, etc. If you are interested in joining the Base Camp Bash committee, please contact Ford Church at 303.447.1076 or via Email.

MT EVANS VOLUNTEER PROJECT:
Groupphotomh2We are looking for a Boulder/Denver company or community organization to sponsor the next Mt. Harvard Volunteer Project in collaboration with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. We are looking for 8 - 12 adventurous souls to help complete much needed trail building and restoration projects on Mt. Harvard, Colorado’s 3rd tallest 14,000 foot peak. We are interested in collaborating with groups that can make a charitable contribution in the amount of $2,500 to help underwrite the costs of the project. This is a great opportunity for a group to build communication and team building skills outside of the office and for everyone to walk their talk and give back to the mountains that we all use and love. For more information about this volunteer project please contact Ford Church at 303.447.1076 or via Email.

Job Opportunities

The Cottonwood Institute has immediate openings for the following positions:

FUND RAISING INTERNSHIP: The Cottonwood Institute is looking for a Fund Raising Intern to support our Executive Director. The Cottonwood Institute is a 4.5-year old non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. We are looking for a motivated candidate who is interested in gaining experience in the nonprofit sector, while building an impressive portfolio before entering the job market. We are looking for a candidate that can commit to 10 - 15 hours per week. A majority of the work for this internship may be completed off-site if the candidate has access to a computer with Internet access.

  • Start date: Open.
  • Time Commitment: 10 - 15 hours per week (flexible).
  • Compensation: Unfortunately this is an unpaid internship, but you will receive lots of good Karma! Interns will have an opportunity to come on Cottonwood Institute Staff Trainings and Courses. Interns will also be able to observe our high school program-Community Adventure Program-in action if desired.
  • Apply: Please Email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Ford Church, Founder & Executive Director. *Due to the volume of applicants, please do not call. If your qualifications meet our criteria, we will contact you for an interview.
  • For more information: Click Here to download the Internship Job Description.

INTERNSHIP DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Intern will assist with the following tasks:

  • Execute key aspects of our fund raising strategy
  • Research local, state, and federal grants
  • Help coordinate logistics for key fund raising events throughout the year
  • Represent the Cottonwood Institute at strategic community events
  • Attend nonprofit professional development trainings and events to help us implement best practices
  • Complete other administrative duties as assigned

INTERNSHIP QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Is a superstar
  • Is passionate the mission and vision of the Cottonwood Institute
  • Is responsible, dependable, and mature with a high level of integrity
  • Follows through with commitments and deliverables
  • Is a Junior, Senior, or Graduate student
  • Has excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Enjoys working independently
  • Is a multi-tasker
  • Has a sharp attention to detail
  • Has an outgoing personality
  • Has reliable transportation to attend meetings and events
  • Has a laptop with wireless capabilities

SUMMER COURSE INSTRUCTORS: We have immediate openings for qualified instructors to facilitate our 2009 Summer Courses. Summer Courses are week-long coed courses that provide students with the opportunity to practice essential camping and wilderness survival skills, explore future careers, learn about specific environmental issues, complete meaningful service projects in the backcountry to tackle those particular environmental issues, and learn how to reduce their environmental footprint. We are interested in creating a network of professional instructors that can teach our courses on an Independent Contractor basis.

  • Start Date: Please check our 2009 Summer Course Schedule and let us know your availability.
  • Time Commitment: 7-day courses + 1/2 day to complete pre and post-course logistics.
  • Preferred and Required Instructor Qualifications: See below.
  • Compensation: $700 - $1,050 per week for Head Instructors based on experience, $525 - $700 per week for Assistant Instructors based on experience, Pro-Deals for outdoor gear and equipment, and lots of good Karma.
  • Apply: Please Email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Ford Church, Founder and Executive Director. *Due to the volume of applicants, please do not call about this position. If your qualifications meet our criteria, we will ask you to complete our Staff Application and will send you an employment survey to complete and we will contact you for an interview.

INSTRUCTOR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Superstar.
  • Passionate about teaching high school students, inspiring the youth of America, environmental awareness and education, outdoor skills, civic engagement, and teaching students how to reduce their environmental footprint.
  • Background practicing or teaching essential camping and wilderness survival skills, including: 4-season camping, minimum impact camping, bow-drill fires, natural shelters, natural cordage, etc.
  • Experience implementing a service-learning curriculum is preferred, but not required.
  • Experience coordinating event or trip logistics.
  • Excellent verbal and written skills.
  • Personal transportation to transport students and gear on field trips and overnight camping trips.
  • Valid teaching license preferred, but not required.

INSTRUCTOR REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Must attend Cottonwood Institute Staff Training or complete equivalent training.
  • Appropriate teaching experience with high school students in a traditional or non-traditional school or program setting.
  • Appropriate experience leading multi-day adventure/outdoor education programs.
  • Minimum of Wilderness First Aid medical certification from a nationally recognized organization, Wilderness First Responder preferred.
  • Minimum of Adult CPR certification from a nationally recognized organization.
  • Pass a criminal background check, including criminal, sex-related and child-abuse offenses.
  • Driving record must be free from Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Intoxicated violations, or any pattern of moving violations.
  • Must have a valid drivers license and an approved Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) on file.

(Positions currently filled) COMMUNITY ADVENTURE PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR: The Cottonwood Institute has an immediate opening for 2 super star instructors who are passionate about inspiring the youth of America to teach the Community Adventure Program (a.k.a CAP). CAP is a unique academic experience that blends outdoor education, environmental education, and service-learning to inspire students to become active community leaders and environmental stewards. CAP teaches students essential camping and wilderness survival skills necessary to comfortably and competently explore the outdoors, while providing them with the tools and resources to tackle important environmental issues affecting their communities in order to help change the world. CAP also introduces students to the concept of environmental sustainability and teaches them specific ways to reduce their environmental footprint both in the backcountry and throughout their daily lives. Each class meets for 6-8 hours per week, students attend two weekend overnight camping trips per quarter, and each class completes an Environmental Service-Learning Project each quarter to address an environmental issue in their community that they are passionate about addressing as a group.

  • Start Date: We are looking for qualified instructors to teach CAP from August 14, 2008 - May 31, 2009 for the 2008 - 2009 school year.
  • Time Commitment: 15 - 20 hours per week + 2 weekend overnight camping trips per 9-10-week quarter.
  • Preferred and Required Qualifications: See below.
  • Compensation: The Cottonwood Institute typically pays $23+ per hour for classroom instruction, $100 - $150 per day for weekend overnight camping trips, $75 - $100 per day for Assistant Instructors based on experience, Pro-Deals for outdoor gear and equipment, and lots of good Karma.
  • Apply: Please Email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Ford Church, Founder and Executive Director. *Due to the volume of applicants, please do not call. If your qualifications meet our criteria, we will contact you for an interview.
  • For more information: Click Here!