Aspiro is a high-impact Adventure Therapy Program that serves both adolescents and young adults. As an Adventure Therapy Program, Aspiro provides healing, direction, and personal empowerment through a solution-based clinical approach that is strategically combined with daily and weekly adventures. Wilderness adventures may include white water rafting, canoeing, snowboarding, skiing, caving, canyoneering, top-rope rock climbing, rappelling, hiking, and mountain biking. Students receive individual and group therapy on weekly basis that helps them reflect on the challenges they face through the daily adventures of Aspiro and at home. Parents and students attend family seminars throughout the process. Students gradually begin to learn new, healthy coping strategies that lead to future success and family integration. The goal is to help students develop a higher level of self-efficacy and eliminate negative, self-destructive behaviors. Adventure Guides are a key element of this therapeutic process as they guide students through the adventure expedition and build relationships as a member of a therapeutic team. Typical student profiles are adolescent males and females, ages 13-17, and young adults, ages 18-30, with a history of mild to moderate behavioral problems, low self-esteem, academic underachievement, substance abuse, mild depression, bipolar, anxiety, and family conflict.

Adventure Guides General Requirements: If you love the outdoors, can pass criminal background check and drug screen, have excellent references. Must be at least 20 years old, neatly groomed and be comfortable in promoting basic moral values with adolescents and adults.

Back packing, navigation skills, back country medical training and rock climbing, canoeing, rafting, caving, skiing, and biking skills helpful. One year of previous experience working with adolescents preferred. Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT, or equivalent is recommended. Applicants with education or interest in social work, experiential education, outdoor recreation, psychology or related fields are encouraged to apply. Energetic, fun and creative people who are good role models for youth and who love the outdoors are encouraged to apply.

Salary: Pay starts at $110 per day up to $200 per day with scheduled bonuses ($23,760 to $43,200 per year). Prior experience and education is recognized. Benefits include full health and dental insurance, climbing gym membership and a variety of professional gear deals. Aspiro also provides training stipends for WFR, professional conferences, hard-skills workshops and other professional development.

Although housing is not provided, many people find living arrangements with other Field Instructors, sharing apartments with a person on your opposite schedule or renting a house together.

Contact:
Dave Ward
Aspiro
Program Director
801.859.3505
dward@aspiroadventure.com
Website: aspiroadventure.com

Description: Aspiro is a high-impact based wilderness program that serves both adolescents and young adults. As an Adventure Therapy Program, Aspiro provides healing, direction, and personal empowerment through a solution-based clinical approach that is strategically combined with daily adventures. Some of these high impact adventures may include white water rafting, canoeing, snowboarding, skiing, caving canyoneering, top-rope rock climbing, rappelling, hiking, and mountain biking. Students receive individual and group therapy on weekly basis that helps them reflect on the challenges they face through the daily adventures at Aspiro and at home. Parents also attend two family seminars throughout the process. Gradually, students begin to learn new, healthy coping strategies that lead to future success. The goal is to help students develop a higher level of self-efficacy and eliminate negative, self-destructive behaviors. Aspiro operates on a base-camp model. Students are at base camp one day per week and out in the field 6 days per week. Typical student profiles are adolescent males and females, ages 13-17, and young adults, ages 18-30, with a history of mild to moderate behavioral problems, low self-esteem, academic underachievement, substance abuse, mild depression, bipolar, anxiety, and family conflict. Therapists work in the field for two days, spend two days for family communication, and one day at base camp to facilitate performance reviews. Therapists also work closely with Educational Consultants and other referring professionals to determine appropriate aftercare placements and treatment plans.

Qualifications: Masters and Ph.D. level therapists are preferred for this position. Utah state licensure also preferred. Educational backgrounds, interest and experience in the outdoors, experience working with adolescents/young adults, and good communication skills are also desired.

Salary: Negotiable based on experience

Contact:
Josh Watson, MSW
Director of Admissions
801-979-6308
jwatson@aspiroadventure.com
www.aspiroadventure.com