Education Program Assistant
Canada Summer Jobs | Remote or Hybrid, based in BC
Outward Bound Canada is passionate about building and sustaining representation and diversity within the outdoor industry. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. BIPoC, 2SLGBTQ+, and candidates living with a disability are highly encouraged to apply, even if your experience does not precisely match the job description for this role. Your experience, skills, and passion will set you apart — tell us about your achievements and journey to date, and the things you learned along the way.
Who We Are
Outward Bound Canada (OBC) is a national charity that equips youth with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive through powerful, life-changing experiences in nature. Our programs combine outdoor adventure with intentional learning to build leadership, social and emotional intelligence, and a deep sense of responsibility to community and the environment.
We are committed to breaking down barriers to access and creating meaningful opportunities for youth who have been historically underrepresented in outdoor and leadership spaces. Equity, inclusion, and belonging are central to our work, and we actively strive to ensure the outdoor sector reflects the full diversity of Canada.
The Role
The Education Program Assistant supports the Senior Curriculum Manager in researching, developing, and refining curriculum across OBC’s program areas. This is a remote BC based role that sits at the intersection of research and educational design. You will help build the evidence base behind OBC’s programs, develop new curriculum connections, and contribute to resources that instructors bring into the field with students.
If you are drawn to environmental education, experiential learning, and the idea that time in nature can change a young person’s life, this role offers a meaningful way to contribute to that work from behind the scenes.
What We Offer
• Location: Remote within British Columbia. With preference for candidates within the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island, with possible travel to OBC’s Vancouver Island operating base
• Compensation: $18.25 per hour
• Term: Summer contract, 8 weeks at 35 hours per week. Start date flexible, anticipated May or June 2025
• Benefits: Employee Assistance Plan included
• Supervisor: Senior Curriculum Manager
• Application Deadline: Open until filled; applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Key Responsibilities
Curriculum Research & Development
• Research program areas for relevant and impactful curriculum connections to the natural world, environmental issues, and experiential learning theory.
• Assist in developing new curriculum components including lesson plans, activity descriptions, and facilitation guides aligned with OBC’s educational framework.
• Review existing course materials to assess whether curriculum design is meeting intended learning outcomes, and surface recommendations for improvement.
• Compile and organize resources that give instructors easy access to relevant, current information in the field.
• Support updates and edits to curriculum handbooks, manuals, and activity descriptions to improve clarity and accessibility.
Ecological Literacy & Environmental Programming
• Research opportunities to deepen ecological literacy and nature immersion across OBC’s program areas.
• Identify and connect with regional and national environmental organizations that could provide meaningful service project opportunities for students on expedition.
• Support relationship-building with Indigenous communities local to OBC programming areas to share resources, knowledge, and perspectives that enrich curriculum.
• Help ensure that environmental stewardship and land-based learning are meaningfully embedded in curriculum across program types.
Digital & Platform Development Support
• Assist in translating curriculum content for eReader and digital delivery platforms, ensuring materials are accessible and field-ready.
• Support exploration of virtual programming and post-course mentorship delivery as OBC develops its digital education offering.
• Help maintain and update digital curriculum assets so instructors and students have current, well-organized resources.
Collaboration & Administration
• Liaise with OBC team members, partner networks, and external organizations as needed for specific curriculum projects.
• Attend regular department meetings and contribute observations that strengthen curriculum quality and alignment.
• Assist with compiling program outcomes, learning evidence, and research findings for internal reporting.
• Support additional curriculum and education team projects as directed by the Senior Curriculum Manager.
Eligibility
This position is funded through Canada Summer Jobs. To be eligible, applicants must:
Be between 15 and 30 years old at the start of their employment. Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the job. Be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial legislation and regulations, including having a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment.
Qualifications and Experience
• Completed or working towards a degree or diploma in education, environmental studies, outdoor education, or a related field.
• Strong interest in experiential education, ecological literacy, nature-based learning, and improving equity and inclusion in the outdoors.
• Research skills — comfortable gathering, synthesizing, and presenting information from a range of sources.
• Strong written communication skills, with an ability to translate complex ideas into clear, accessible language.
• Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines independently in a remote setting.
• Collaborative and proactive — comfortable working across a distributed team and taking initiative on tasks.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications.
• Genuine interest in improving the lives of young people through OBC’s programs.
Additional Assets
• Experience with ePublication software, eReaders, or digital content platforms.
• Familiarity with Indigenous land-based knowledge, environmental service learning, or community partnership development.
• Background in outdoor education, guiding, or wilderness programming.
• Experience developing or editing curriculum, lesson plans, or educational resources.
• Deep understanding of JEDIA principles, particularly within the outdoor and environmental sectors.
Working Conditions
Environment
This is a remote position. You will work from your own home or workspace, with occasional travel to OBC operating bases as needed. A reliable internet connection and a suitable remote work setup are required.
Work Hours
35 hours per week over 8 weeks. Hours are generally flexible and aligned with project needs, with regular check-ins with the Senior Curriculum Manager.
Safety
Completion of any required safety training prior to or at start of employment. A clear Criminal Record and/or Vulnerable Sector check will be required by the position start date.
We are excited to hear from you. Please share not just your credentials but your story: what brought you to this work, what you have learned, and why Outward Bound Canada feels like the right fit.
