Work with OMSI Outdoors

More than just a job.

Join a team that inspires you to inspire others…

Now hiring for the 2024 season!

Welcome to OMSI Outdoors

We are one of the largest museum-based outdoor education programs in the country, and you could join the Outdoor Science Education Team at one of our two camps:

  • Camp Hancock in the extraordinary John Day Fossil Beds National Monument near Fossil, OR
  • Camp Gray on the stunning Oregon coast in Newport, OR

Explore our Programs

Outdoor Science Instructors, Camp Cooks, and Program Supervisors are hired for the “full season” or all nine operating months. Everyone starts together in February for training and says goodbye in early November after some cleaning.  Summer Camp Counselors join our team from mid-June through mid-August for Summer Camp.

Outdoor School

Spring: Early March through early June
Fall: Mid-September through the end of October

School groups travel to one of the sites and stay overnight for 3-5 days.  Teachers bring adults or high school students from the community to stay in the cabins and support the students.

Learn More:

Outdoor School At Camp Gray
Outdoor School At Camp Hancock

Summer Camp

Mid-June through Mid-August

Summer Campers sign up individually based on age and program themes. OMSI staff provides transportation between the camps and Portland. Cooks stay onsite during the summer, and everyone else stays in Portland on the weekends.

Learn More:

Summer Camp At Camp Gray
Summer Backpacking Trips
Summer Camp At Camp Hancock

Why choose OMSI Outdoors?

Benefits

Full season* staff qualify for:

  •       – 86% paid health insurance
  •       – Wellness (sick) time accrual
  •       – Paid vacation days
  •       – 11 paid personal/cultural days
  •       – Daily wage $135 – $180 (position-dependent)
  • *Must work the whole nine-month season.  Click here to learn more about benefits and pay rates for shorter-term positions.

Housing + Food

Free housing and food! 

Housing is provided with no cost to staff (internet and utilities included).  Food provided when groups are at camp. 

  •      Camp Gray = private dormitory-style housing, with shared common spaces
  •      Camp Hancock = private individual housing, with shared common spaces

Membership

Free OMSI Family Membership

ASTC Passport: Admission to 325+ science museums across the country

Reciprocal Employee Attractions Pass: Access to local attractions like the High Desert Museum and the Portland Art Museum

Community

We value an intentional and inclusive community at camp.

Small staff teams and small group sizes:

  •      Educational groups ~ 1:15 ratio 
  •      Summer cabin groups ~ 1:8 ratio

Unique summer weekend housing

 

 

You are welcome here.

OMSI respects, values and celebrates the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. We believe that we will be successful in accomplishing our mission and vision when we seek out and respond to diversity of participation, thought and action.

Professional Development

We invest in you. Trainings for public speaking, small group facilitation, and time management are part of our life.  Staff will also need to safely prepare and serve food, drive participants and provide first aid. These trainings and more are scheduled throughout the season.

Learn More

Meet our Team

Camp Cook

Camp cooks are responsible for providing delicious and nutritious meals for our programs. They do everything: menu planning, food orders, inventory, cooking, prepping, cleaning, and dishes. During the February – October season, they bring the comfort and feeling of home in each meal they provide.

Outdoor Science Instructor

From February – October, instructors create more than educational adventures! They create life-changing experiences and memories that last a lifetime. Instructors plan and facilitate lessons while working with other staff to care for the facility and build safe, inclusive spaces. Instructors’ roles vary as they support different program aspects throughout the season. They care for the site, teaching tools, and classrooms and support kitchen staff during meal times. During the summer, instructors drive vans and buses, utilize their Wilderness First Responder certification, and help summer camp counselors.

Outdoor Science Program Supervisor

From January – November, program supervisors are the master planners and organizers overseeing the day-to-day operations. They schedule and coordinate every group to ensure a safe and fun experience. They provide school information, help with check-in and check-out, give announcements, and keep activities on schedule. Program supervisors manage the instructors and counselors, support site managers, and the kitchen staff when needed.

Summer Camp Counselor

Counselors support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of every summer camper. They meet campers at check-in and ride the bus to camp with them. Counselors stay overnight in cabins, eat meals with campers, and build community-forming friendships through games, conversations, cabin activities, and campfires. Housing and meals are provided during programming; weekend housing is available for 18+. Counselors must be sixteen or older by June 1st.

Explore Our Facilities

Camp Hancock

Uniquely situated within the Claro Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Hancock Field Station has access to one of the world’s most significant fossil sites, nearby canyons, archaeology sites, and the John Day River.

  • Paleontology: The local fossil record unlocks the evolutionary paths of plants and animals
  • Geology: Hike through the geologic history of Oregon
  • Ecology: The juniper-sage grassland steppe provides a model location to study arid land and fire ecology
  • Astronomy: Without light pollution, the Milky Way stretches over the camp at night
  • Summer Camp: All of these, plus white water rafting and survival camps

Camp Gray

Nestled between Yaquina Bay and the expansive dunes of South Beach State Park, Camp Gray is surrounded by world-class coastal locations and a diverse economy. Yaquina Bay has supported people since time immemorial. We honor that legacy by learning local history and the current sustainable efforts to protect the land and water in and around Camp Gray.

  • Coastal Ecology: Hike from the beach to the forest to observe forest succession
  • Marine Biology: Listen to the sea lions bark while bird-watching at the bay
  • Climate:
  • Emergency Management: Camp Gray is in the tsunami hazard zone. We live by the motto, “Be prepared, not scared.” 
  • Summer Camp: All of these plus art/design, surfing, and backpacking