Frequently Asked Questions About Second Nature Wilderness
Family Therapy Employment
What qualifications do I need to become a Field Instructor?
Applicants are required to be a minimum of 21 years old, to have a high school
diploma or equivalent, and to have current CPR and First Aid certifications (if you do not
have this certification we offer the training in house free of charge). Second Nature will
process a Federal Background Criminal Investigation (BCI) of all potential employees,
and upon hire dates, all new employees are required to undergo a pre-employment drug
test.
Second Nature also asks that Field Instructors make at least a one- year commitment, unless
filling out a seasonal contract.
It is helpful, but not necessary, to have backpacking experience. Experience working
with youth, counseling, or teaching is helpful as well. Second Nature also offers in-house
training from which Field Instructors can learn communication skills, crisis interventions,
and many more tools that are useful in our work.
How do I apply to become a Field Instructor?
Email your completed application, a resume, one letter of recommendation, and a copy of your
current (within the last year) First Aid & CPR (American Red Cross) certifications. The letter
of recommendation should be from an academic and/or professional source. You can send the
letter with your application and resume, or they can be sent directly to the office by
your references. Again, if you do not have CPR/first aid it is ok to apply without it as we offer
this training in house during the seven day field interview. The Recruiter will review
your information and contact you to let you know if you qualify to participate in an informal
phone interview. If all goes well during the interview, you will be invited to participate in one
of our field interview sessions. Sending in all of the application materials in advance will give
you a better chance of participating in the interview session that best fits your schedule.
What is the interview session?
The interview is a seven-day period spent mostly in the field, backpacking and learning with
other prospective employees. The interview may be both emotionally and physically
challenging. You will hike 2 to 6 miles per day over medium to rugged terrain with a backpack
the entire week. Second Nature trainers will ask you to be emotionally vulnerable and as
uncomfortable as you are willing to be. You also will have the chance to learn about
the program experientially. You will participate in role modeling, learning about the program
from the perspective of both the student and the Field Instructor. Your trainers will teach
therapeutic interventions during the week. These will include communication and interpersonal
skills, anger management techniques and how to appropriately confront students’ issues. You
will learn to use “I Feel Statements” to express feelings, and you will learn the concepts behind
the Feeling Statement to be able to teach it to the students.
The training is not a competition with the other trainees, but a time for all to work as a
team and interact in a healthy manner. The training is viewed as an interview process where
you will be observed within the structure of the program. It is a time for you as a potential
employee to “interview” the program as well. Participating in the interview does not
guarantee you a job. However, if you have been selected to participate in the interview you
have already met some of the requirements and Second Nature has high hopes for you to be
hired. At the end of the training session, you will know your employment status.
What is Second Nature designed to do for students?
Second Nature is designed to create an intensive therapeutic intervention for students, teach
them positive behaviors and communication skills, and integrate strong work habits
with effective interpersonal functioning. The beginning of the student’s stay is comprised
of
teaching the basic lessons of the outdoors, personal responsibility, and awareness of how
their behavior impacts others and their environment. It also is a foundation for them to build
self esteem based on internal feeling instead of their external world. During the latter phases of
the program, students are motivated to move from a state of awareness into a state of
action, turning towards positive personal habits and healthy, productive living. The concept of
acting positively and taking accountability for personal behaviors instead of living reactively
to the external world is emphasized during this phase of the program. The students spend
time focusing on teamwork, cooperation, resolving conflicts, inter-personal skills and
service.
What kind of students does Second Nature permit into the program?
Second Nature works with students who are thirteen to seventeen years of age. The majority of
the students are referred to the program by Educational Consultants who help parents map
out
the most appropriate plan for their children’s needs. Students participating in the
program usually fail to respond to rules, act entitled, have made poor decisions, underachieve
or experience a decline in academic performance, have low self-confidence, and/or
experience conflict within their families. Some of the emotional behavioral issues are
depression, learning differences, oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit, substance
abuse, anger management and inappropriate behavior. The students are carefully screened
before entering the program. Those individuals with severe mental illness, who pose a serious
threat to others, or who pose a serious threat to themselves are not appropriate for our
program.
What are the primary responsibilities for Field Instructors?
The primary responsibility for Field Instructors is to ensure the physical safety of the students.
Instructors are there to assist the students’ physical needs first and foremost. Just as important
is the Field Instructors’ responsibility of keeping the group environment emotionally safe and
enabling the students to discuss sensitive and personal issues. In addition, Field Instructors
help to implement the therapeutic plan for each student. This is done by helping students to
complete assignments, teaching and role modeling assertive
sessions,
and talking one on one with students.
What are some of the rewards and challenges of the job?
Many people are attracted to the Field Instructor position because of some of the personal
rewards associated with it. Field Instructors can connect with each other, Therapists, and Field
Directors making significant friendships and healthy working relationships. Field Instructors
also can connect with the students, helping them to confront their issues, to communicate
appropriately, and to grow. It can be rewarding to be involved in the process of making a
positive difference in someone’s life. Many Field Instructors also use the therapeutic tools that
they teach the students in their own lives. Thus, this job can allow for a good deal of personal
growth. Finally, living and working outside for a full week can be a great reward.
This work can also be challenging. The adverse weather can be difficult on both
students and staff. The student’s struggles can be challenging for staff as well. Due to being
pulled from the extreme comfort of their homes and due to the tension created from
promoting accountability, the students sometimes voice disappointments and frustration at
perceived powerlessness. This can be emotionally trying for new staff as Field Instructors
are powerful influences in the student’s life.
Where is Duchesne, Utah?
Second Nature is located in Duchesne, a town in Northeastern Utah. It is
approximately two hours east of Salt Lake City on Highway 40.
What does the field area look like?
Field Instructors backpack with students in the Uinta Mountains during the summer
months and in the high desert near Nine Mile Canyon in the winter months. The elevations
range from 4,000 to 11,000 feet. Temperatures in the summer range from the upper nineties to
the mid sixties. Winter temperatures range from the fifties to well below freezing.
What kind of camping do we practice?
Second Nature practices Low Impact Camping, avoiding adversely affecting
the environment. Upon signing up to do an interview, potential employees receive
more information regarding Second Nature’s practices of Low Impact Camping.
What is a Field Instructor’s schedule?
The Field Instructor work weeks run from Tuesday to Tuesday. The schedule is eight days on
and six days off. The work week begins with an In-Service meeting. The In-Service meeting is
a time for all the staff of one rotation to receive information from the Field Directors,
communications tools, implementing initiative activities, running group therapy
the
field to join their group, exchange information with the Field Instructors who have spent
the
previous week in the field, and then remain in the field until the following Tuesday. At the
end of the work week, Field Instructors return to the office, spend a few minutes putting
away materials and then they are free to start their six days off.
How much do Field Instructors get paid?
Field Instructors begin earning $180 per day for their first three shifts. Instructors continue to
work on personal and professional development working through a self-propelled level system
earning up to $325
a day. All full time Instructors have access to benefits that include full
health and dental insurance (after 90 days), performance bonuses, participation in a 401k plan
(after 12 months), scholarships for professional development, and training courses for level
advancement (such as wilderness first responder courses). Second Nature also offers in-house
training from which Field Instructors will learn communication skills, emergent strategies,
wilderness techniques, and many more useful tools
What kind of benefits do Field Instructors receive?
Medical and dental insurance is offered to all full time Field Instructors. After one year
of
employment, Field Instructors may also participate in the company’s 401K program.
Field Instructors are offered professional gear discounts with certain companies to
purchase necessary gear for the field. Second Nature also requires employees to participate in
certain training courses for level advancement, such as de-escalation training and some
medical training like the Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Second Nature pays for
these certifications. Instructors who are married or dating may work together at Second
Nature. The couple will spend at least their first three rotations in separate groups in order to
facilitate the development of their personal style outside of the relationship. After this time
period they can make a request to the Field Directors to work together. Additionally, Second
Nature now offers affordable short term housing for those relocating to Utah for the job.
Are
seasonal positions or internships available?
Yes, seasonal employment and university internships are available.
Where do most Field Instructors live?
Most Field Instructors live in Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo/Orem area and
Moab. Duchesne is only two hours from Salt Lake City and an hour and a half from Park City
and Provo. Moab is located about three hours from Duchesne. Because the Field Instructors
only have to commute once a week (remember the schedule is Tuesday to the following
Tuesday), many live in these areas. We do not provide any living arrangements through
Second Nature. Many people find living arrangements with other Field Instructors, sharing
apartments with a person on the opposite schedule or renting a house together. Second Nature
Therapists, and other Field Instructors. Following the meeting, Field Instructors drive to
has a staff bulletin
board and a staff Internet site where Field Instructors can post the need for
housing or
roommates.
How do Field Instructors spend their time off?
Finding adventures in Utah is easy to do. Nine Mile Canyon is located one hour south of
Duchesne, and is the home of some of the most amazing petroglyphs left by the
Fremont Indians. Just an hour and a half away from Duchesne, Rock Canyon and American
Fork Canyon are a climber’s dream. Joe’s Valley, located near Castle Dale, is also a great place
for both climbers and boaters. The Uinta Mountains are the only major range in the lower 48
states which runs east
and west, and they are the home of the highest peak in Utah at 13, 528 feet. The Uintas are a
great place for anglers, backpackers, and hikers. Moab offers itself as a base camp for the
extraordinary southeastern Utah National Parks such as Arches and Canyonlands. It
also offers river trips, bicycle excursions, hikes, marathons and mountain biking festivals. In
the winter months, Utah is the home of some of the best skiing and snowboarding on
earth, both backcountry and resort. Some of the resorts include Snowbird, Park City,
Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Canyons and Deer Valley. A little farther away, but easily within
driving distance during a six day off week, are Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, with more
great skiing and National Parks like Yellowstone and the Tetons.
To dabble in some cultural activities, Salt Lake City and Park City are the places to be.
The Utah Symphony, Sundance Film Festival, summer concerts at the Red Butte Gardens
and Gallivan Center, ballet, opera or modern dance performances are all available
cultural activities. Restaurants are abundant and diverse, ranging anywhere from Vietnamese to
Tibetan to Italian and American.
What if I have more questions?
If you have any other questions about the Field Instructor position, or if you are interested in
applying to work as a Field Instructor, please reach out to the Second Nature Recruiter
via email: rec[email protected]