Canoeing Director and Instructors

Whitewater Canoeing Director and Canoeing Staff 

Eagle’s Nest Camp, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina 

Are you looking for a fun and rewarding summer job? Do you love working with kids? Are you excited about the outdoors, teaching kindness, cooking, arts and crafts, rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, sports, telling stories, and being creative? Do you dream of spending the summer in the mountains, star gazing, laughing with true friends and having the best summer of your life? If so, we hope you’ll apply to join our team at Eagle’s Nest for the summer of 2024! 

Who We Are: Eagle’s Nest Camp is located on 200 acres of wooded land in the lush mountains of Western North Carolina just southwest of Asheville and down the road from Pisgah National Forest. Eagle’s Nest provides a joyful, inclusive community where campers finishing kindergarten - 11 th grade are treated with respect and compassion. Campers have the opportunity to participate in 1-3 week long sessions which emphasize nature, arts, and community living while taking visual and performing arts, athletic and outdoor classes. Eagle’s Nest is an independent non-profit organization. We also host an outdoor adventure program for teens giving them the opportunity to spend two - three weeks backpacking, rock climbing and white water canoeing in North Carolina, across the country, and internationally.

Responsibilities: The Whitewater Canoeing Director is responsible for working with the Program Manager and canoeing instructors to plan canoe expeditions in Western North Carolina for young paddlers ranging from beginning to advanced skill levels, as well as teach campers techniques and skills to maximize their enjoyment of canoeing and improve their abilities. The director should have a solid understanding of tandem open-boat paddling, such as teamwork, communication, and skill development. The canoeing program utilizes our lake as well as many local rivers including the Green, Nantahala, Tuckaseegee, French Broad, and Watauga Rivers. Whitewater Canoeing Instructors will also serve as cabin counselors and must enjoy living and working in the outdoors and be passionate about inspiring and mentoring children.

Required Qualifications: Canoeing Director must be at least 21 years old. Canoeing staff must be at least 18-years-old and have one year out of college. Experience in whitewater canoeing and teaching. Excellent technical skills in Class III water. CPR and Wilderness First Aid Certifications.

Preferred Qualifications: Current American Canoe Association Instructor Certification, swift water rescue technician certification, Wilderness First Aid or higher certification.

Benefits: Competitive salary and one full day off each week. On campus housing, delicious healthy meals (including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options), extensive professional discounts, staff lounge with wifi and access to laundry facilities provided. Swift Water Rescue certification course. 

Dates: Position is from May 25th to August 12th, 2024

How to Apply: Please complete this short application . Once we receive it you'll be invited to schedule a Zoom interview and informational chat with Paige Lester-Niles, the Camp Director, and with other members of the camp leadership staff. The interviews are fun opportunities for us to get to know each other

You can visit our staff webpage to learn more about Eagle's Nest Camp!

Why work here

Do you love working with kids? Are you excited about the outdoors, teaching kindness, cooking, arts and crafts, rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, sports, telling stories, and being creative? Do you dream of spending the summer in the mountains, star gazing, laughing with true friends and having the best summer of your life? If so, you might be a wonderful Eagle’s Nest Camp Counselor!