YMCA Camp Dudley Hiring Naturalist Instructors
YMCA Camp Dudley in Naches, WA, is hiring naturalists for their spring season. The program serves fifth and sixth graders from Yakima Valley and surrounding areas, who come to Camp Dudley for one to four days to participate in hands-on science classes (with other disciplines woven in), outdoor recreation activities, and community building experiences. This is a great job for people who love natural and environmental sciences, being outdoors, and working with kids.
Spring Season Dates: March 30, 2026 – June 10, 2026
Pay: $160/day (Monday – Friday), room and board provided (entire season)
About Camp Dudley Outdoor School: Since May 2024, Camp Dudley Outdoor School has served 7,150 students from 52 schools across 22 school districts. Fifth and sixth grade students from the Yakima Valley and surrounding areas come to Camp Dudley for one to four days to participate in hands-on outdoor education programs that make the science concepts they’ve studied in class come to life. The curriculum is interdisciplinary, state standards-aligned, tactile, and fun—integrating Indigenous science, Western science, history, writing, art, math, and social emotional learning into lessons to help students develop meaningful, comprehensive visions of our connected world.
Studies show that students experience lasting academic, physical, social-emotional, and environmental benefits when they participate in outdoor school. In post-trip surveys, Camp Dudley Outdoor School participants have consistently reported the following outcomes: deeper scientific understanding, new sense of environmental stewardship, increased curiosity and motivation to learn, desire to spend more time outside, stronger classroom communities, increased confidence and resilience, and stronger interpersonal skills. At outdoor school, students see themselves as scientists, explorers, and leaders, and they make lifelong memories.
Camp Dudley Outdoor School primarily serves students from Title 1 schools and schools with high rates of free and reduced lunch. Camp Dudley is committed to making this program a safe, equitable, accessible place for every student. About fifty percent of the students who participate in the program have either never been to the woods or only been once before, and program staff get to watch countless students fall in love with the outdoors in real time.
About Being an Outdoor School Naturalist: Naturalists lead groups of fifth and sixth graders in 75-minute rotations, which include a mix of recreational and curricular activities. Each school selects their recreational activities and learning stations from a curriculum menu (which includes archery, canoeing, hiking, low ropes, rock climbing, ziplining, and classes about biodiversity, trees, ecosystems, habitats, birds, watersheds, nature mindfulness, and more). In addition to leading small group rotations, naturalists also assist with campfires, whole group activities, and dishes on a rotating basis.
Especially with overnight groups, naturalists often have the opportunity to work with the same group of students multiple times and build a solid rapport with them. Naturalists have a direct and lasting impact on youth throughout each week. Students often report in post-trip surveys that the naturalist staff was their favorite part of outdoor school.
About the Varied Schedule: Some school groups come to Camp Dudley for only a few hours while others stay for three days and two nights, so each day looks a little different than the day before. As such, the hours worked per day will vary but will average out to approximately nine hours per day; there will be some five-hour work days and some twelve-hour work days (not including break times throughout the day). The daily rate of $160 will remain consistent despite the varied schedule.
About Room and Board: Room and board is provided. Naturalists each have a small private space within a cabin that is shared with one to three other naturalists. We can accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions.
To learn more and/or apply, contact Liz Giles at egiles@yakimaymca.org.