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Outdoor Adventure Leadership Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Facilitate and maintain the Outdoor Adventure Challenge Course including both high and low elements as well as games and initiatives designed to promote teamwork, leadership, and communication within ...

Facilitate and maintain the Outdoor Adventure Challenge Course including both high and low elements as well as games and initiatives designed to promote teamwork, leadership, and communication within ...

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Outdoor Adventure Leadership information

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$6

$18

$38

How much do outdoor adventure leadership jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for outdoor adventure leadership in the United States is $18.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.74 and $21.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the common challenges faced by professionals in Outdoor Adventure Leadership, and how can they be managed?

Professionals in Outdoor Adventure Leadership often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions, group dynamics, and ensuring the safety of participants in remote environments. Managing these challenges requires strong planning skills, adaptability, and effective communication to anticipate and respond to changing situations. Leaders must also be skilled in risk assessment and possess a solid understanding of outdoor safety protocols to create a positive and secure experience for everyone involved.

What is the difference between Outdoor Adventure Leadership vs Outdoor Education Instructor?

AspectOutdoor Adventure LeadershipOutdoor Education Instructor
CertificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, outdoor leadership certificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, teaching credentials
Work EnvironmentOutdoor settings, adventure parks, campsSchools, camps, outdoor classrooms
Employer & IndustryAdventure companies, outdoor recreation, campsEducational institutions, camps, nonprofit organizations

Outdoor Adventure Leadership focuses on guiding and managing outdoor activities, emphasizing risk management and leadership skills. Outdoor Education Instructors primarily teach outdoor skills and environmental education, often within educational settings. While both roles require outdoor certifications and involve outdoor environments, their core responsibilities differ: leadership and adventure management versus education and instruction.

What can I do with an outdoor leadership degree?

An outdoor leadership degree prepares individuals for careers such as outdoor guide, adventure instructor, park ranger, or outdoor education specialist. These roles often involve skills in risk management, environmental education, and outdoor skills, and may require certifications like CPR or wilderness first aid. Graduates typically work in outdoor recreation settings, adventure programs, or conservation organizations.

What is outdoor adventure leadership?

Outdoor adventure leadership is a profession focused on guiding, instructing, and managing groups in outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and camping. Leaders in this field are responsible for ensuring participants' safety, fostering teamwork, and teaching outdoor skills. They may work for adventure companies, schools, camps, or parks, and often require certifications in first aid and specific outdoor disciplines. This career combines a passion for the outdoors with strong leadership, communication, and risk management skills.

What are good jobs for adventurous people?

Outdoor adventure leadership jobs include roles such as outdoor guides, park rangers, wilderness instructors, and adventure sports instructors. These positions typically require strong physical fitness, safety training, and certifications like CPR or first aid, and often involve working in natural environments with variable schedules. They appeal to individuals who enjoy outdoor activities, teamwork, and helping others experience adventure.

What is the highest paying outdoor job?

In outdoor adventure leadership, the highest paying roles are often senior positions such as outdoor program directors or wilderness guides with specialized skills, certifications, and extensive experience. These roles can earn six-figure salaries, especially in private or corporate outdoor programs, and may require advanced certifications like Wilderness First Responder or outdoor leadership credentials.

What jobs pay 4000 a week without a degree?

In outdoor adventure leadership, high-paying roles such as experienced outdoor guides, wilderness instructors, or specialized adventure consultants can sometimes earn around $4,000 weekly, especially with extensive experience, certifications, and seasonal work. These roles often require strong skills in safety, navigation, and leadership, and may involve remote or challenging environments. However, such high earnings are typically achieved through a combination of experience, reputation, and sometimes additional certifications rather than formal degrees alone.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Outdoor Adventure Leader, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Outdoor Adventure Leader, you need expertise in outdoor skills, risk management, group facilitation, and typically certifications such as Wilderness First Aid/Responder and relevant guiding credentials. Familiarity with navigation tools, safety equipment, and trip-planning software is commonly required. Outstanding communication, decision-making, and leadership abilities help build trust and cohesion within groups in dynamic environments. These skills ensure participant safety, positive experiences, and effective management of challenges in outdoor settings.
More about Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs
What cities are hiring for Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs? Cities with the most Outdoor Adventure Leadership job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs? The most popular types of Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs are:
What states have the most Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs? States with the most job openings for Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Outdoor Adventure Leadership jobs are:
Infographic showing various Outdoor Adventure Leadership job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 48% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 31% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,267 per year, or $18.9 per hour.

Adjunct Instructor/Health & Exercise Science, and Outdoor Adventure Leadership

Sou

Ashland, OR

$650/wk

Part-time

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

POOLED ADJUNCTS: By applying to this pool, you are not applying for a specific position. You are submitting your application to be considered for adjunct appointments that may become available at Southern Oregon University during the posted triennium. Adjuncts are for specific temporary, part-time, limited-duration teaching positions. Positions can be one term (thirteen weeks) or multiple terms as needed. Your application will be kept on file and you will be contacted if a position becomes available that matches your educational background and experience. You can withdraw your application from the pool at any time. This pool will be refreshed triennially and you will be notified by hrs@sou.edu of the requirement to re-apply for continued consideration.
Each applicant is encouraged to provide (preferably as attachments to the online application) the following supplemental documents: (1) a letter providing some detail of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; (2) a current resume/CV; and (3) an unofficial copy of all post-secondary transcripts. Optional supplemental documents may include teaching philosophy, teaching evaluations, and/or letters of recommendation.
For inquiries and additional information, please contact Human Resource Services via email at hrs@sou.edu or call 541-552-8553.
_____________________
Division: College of Natural and Social Sciences/Health & Exercise Science, and Outdoor Adventure Leadership
Job Family Group: Faculty
FLSA Status: Exempt
Appointment Basis: Temporary
Time Type: Part-time
Benefits Eligible: No
This position is designated as a critical, security-sensitive or safety-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal Background Check: Yes
Remote Work Type: As determined by the position
Visa Sponsorship: This employer will not sponsor applicants for visas.
_____________________
Rate of Pay:
The anticipated rate is $650/ELU for non-terminally prepared adjunct instructors (term-by-term) and $750/ELU for terminally prepared adjunct instructors (term-by-term). Graduate-level courses may be paid at a higher rate. A typical 4-credit course is loaded at 4 ELU.
Full-Time-Equivalency:
Typically, less than 7.5 ELU, but up to 15 ELU per term or 45 ELU per year for 1.0 full-time equivalence.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Individuals appointed from this pool will have the primary responsibility to teach courses within Health & Exercise Science, and Outdoor Adventure Leadership.

  • Health & Exercise Science: The Health & Exercise Science Department prepares professionals for careers in health promotion or fitness and management, teaching, and physical therapy. Adjunct faculty may have the opportunity to teach courses which provide opportunities for personal, intellectual and professional growth in the areas of teaching, fitness, physical therapy, public health, allied health, coaching, wellness, sports medicine, and sports participation. In your cover letter, please address your areas of expertise.
  • Outdoor Adventure Leadership: The Outdoor Adventure Leadership degree program inspires passion for self-development and transformation by providing opportunities to explore and learn leadership skills through outdoor adventure. The integrated curriculum provides transferable skills to all aspects of life through comprehensive coursework in technical skills, interpersonal development, communication, group dynamics, expedition planning, adventure programming, international experience, risk management, and social, environmental and economic stewardship. In your cover letter, please address your areas of expertise.

Minimum Qualifications: Most positions are anticipated to be hired at the adjunct instructor level.


Adjunct Instructor (term-by-term):

  • Initial appointment at the rank of Instructor requires a Master's or terminal degree in the discipline taught or a related field;ORa Bachelor's degree in the discipline taught, or a related field, plus equivalency of Master's degree in years of professional experience in the field.
  • Demonstrated teaching potential.
  • Familiarity with the appropriate equipment as required for the discipline.


Adjunct Assistant Professor:

  • Initial appointment at the rank of Adjunct Assistant Professor requires a terminal degree in the discipline taught or a related field;ORa Master's degree in the discipline taught, or a related field, and is in the process of completing the appropriate terminal degree.
  • Demonstrated teaching potential.
  • Familiarity with the appropriate equipment as required for the discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Adjunct Instructor (term-by-term):

  • Master's degree in the discipline taught, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and active participation in the life of the institution.
  • Commitment to student learning, retention, support, and assessment are critical.


Adjunct Assistant Professor:

  • Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching, development of a record of scholarship, and active participation in the life of the institution and profession.
  • Work experience that equates to one-academic year of full-time college teaching, or one-academic year of the combination of part-time teaching experience while a graduate student.
  • Professional experience in the field related to teaching assignment, particularly if working with more advanced students.

Duties (100%)

The primary responsibility of a faculty member is teaching. Teaching encompasses normal instructional activities beyond the teaching of assigned courses such as academic advising, working with students outside of class, posting and maintaining appropriate office hours, course and curriculum planning, etc.

  • Efforts associated with teaching may include, but are not limited to: preparation; direct instruction; assessment; student contact outside of class (office hours, appointments, email); presenting complex concepts to a group of diverse learners; listening; understanding and responding to student questions in real-time/in a classroom environment; and applying critical judgment to student work, both written and verbal delivery of information.
  • Efforts associated with lab/workshop may include: providing students with practical experience using instrumentation and equipment in a way that enables student learning and ensures safety; simultaneously monitoring and managing multiple students individually and in groups; demonstrating and executing complex procedures; and using complex instrumentation and hazardous materials.


Incumbents appointed to multiple terms of teaching may require professional development and service.

  • Professional Development includes maintaining currency in the discipline taught.
  • Service includes program and institutional administrative, committee, and student support and retention activities.


In addition to teaching and service, the primary responsibilities at the professorial level include participation in scholarly and/or creative activities, including mentoring student research projects, often related to the successful candidate's research program.

Physical Characteristics

Activities may involve standing, sitting, working at a computer, and lecturing.

Special Conditions

  • Teaching assignments may include First Year Seminar, online and/or hybrid courses, Medford and Ashland campus classes, and day, evening and weekend courses.
  • Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
  • Must be able to work additional hours and adjust working hours to meet special jobs. May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.
  • Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
  • Under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), this position classification is defined as exempt and is not subject to overtimeregulations.
  • The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the Oregon Revised Statutes and is required to comply with the requirements set forth by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
  • This position is intended not to be benefits eligible. Should employment conditions warrant eligibility, the incumbent will be notified by the HR Benefits Officer. For additional information, please visit https://inside.sou.edu/hrs/benefits.html or call (541) 552-8553.
  • Conditions of Employment: Workload expectations are outlined in theAPSOUCBA, Article 19. Teaching assignments may include First Year Seminar, online and/or hybrid courses, Medford and Ashland campus classes, and day, evening, and weekend courses.
  • Compensation: Any formally approved and authorized salary change shall automatically amend this contract.

_________________________

SOU is an equal access AA/EOE committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Southern Oregon University will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of accommodation in order to provide access to the application, interviewing, and selection process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on this application. If, however, you require a reasonable accommodation in the application and/or interview process due to disability, requests must be made in a timely manner to Human Resources.

Diversity Statement:
Southern Oregon University is a welcoming community committed to inclusive excellence and the celebration of diversity. Without diversity, our educational process is diminished. Working together in support of our commitment to diversity, we strengthen and enrich our role as learners, educators, and members of a tightly connected global community. We encourage those who share in our commitment to diversity, to join our community and we expect all our employees to demonstrate an ability and desire to create an inclusive campus community.

SOU Land Acknowledgement
We want to take this moment to acknowledge that Southern Oregon University is located within the ancestral homelands of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa peoples who lived here since time immemorial. These Tribes were displaced during rapid Euro-American colonization, the Gold Rush, and armed conflict between 1851 and 1856. In the 1850s, the discovery of gold and settlement brought thousands of Euro-Americans to their lands, leading to warfare, epidemics, starvation, and villages being burned. In 1853 the first of several treaties were signed, confederating these Tribes and others together - who would then be referred to as the Rogue River Tribe. These treaties ceded most of their homelands to the United States, and in return, they were guaranteed a permanent homeland reserved for them. At the end of the Rogue River Wars in 1856, these Tribes and many other Tribes from western Oregon were removed to the Siletz Reservation and the Grand Ronde Reservation. Today, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (www.grandronde.org) and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (www.ctsi.nsn.us) are living descendants of the Takelma, Shasta, and Latgawa peoples of this area. We encourageYOUto learn about the land you reside on and to join us in advocating for the inherent sovereignty of Indigenous people.

Notice to Prospective Employees
Section 485 of the Higher Education Act, and The Federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (now referred to as the "Clery Act"), require that prospective employees be notified of the availability of SOU's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report provides the annual statistics and campus policies for the reporting of and responding to campus crimes and fires; access to campus facilities; conduct code and campus policies on the use, possession, and sale of drugs/alcohol; and educational/information programs to inform the campus community about campus security procedures and crime prevention.
An electronic copy of the Annual Security Report (ASR) can be accessed at the following link:https://cps.sou.edu/clery-act-annual-security-report/. A physical copy of the ASR is available at no charge upon request. To request a copy, please visit the Office of the General Counsel located in Churchill Hall, 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, Oregon 97520. For more information, call 541-552-7095, or emailclerycoordinator@sou.edu.