FIELD STAFF

As the people who camp and travel with students 24 hours a day, Odyssey’s Field Staff play an integral role in the effectiveness of our courses. In many ways, Field Instructors and Sailing Captains become a part of each students “trail family” and help guide their group’s therapeutic processes. For this reason, Odyssey seeks only highly experienced field staff who are committed to wilderness therapy, not just as a job, but as a career, and who care deeply about having a positive impact on youth. All field staff are required to participate in regular wilderness and therapeutic skills trainings through Odyssey Wilderness Programs in order to improve their abilities to lead safe and transformative Odyssey expeditions.

Field Instructors

Each course is led by a team of two Field Instructors equipped with a satellite phone, allowing for daily communication with Odyssey’s headquarters and safety response personnel 24 hours a day. Instructors are responsible for maintaining the safety and wellbeing of the group, planning and teaching the daily curriculum and course activities, and supporting therapeutic processes directed by the course Field Therapist.

Qualifications: Field Instructors hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field or have extensive experience guiding teen expeditions. At least one Field Instructor on each course holds a Wilderness First Responder certification, a first aid certificate specific to providing emergency care in the backcountry. All field staff are required to participate in mandatory 1-12 day Odyssey field trainings held throughout the year.

Sailing Captains:

Each sailing course is led by two Field Instructors and one Sailing Captain Odyssey. Sailing Captains are not only seasoned sailors, but are also experienced maritime educators, and a large part of a captain’s role on course is teaching students seamanship and navigation skills included in Odyssey’s Student Curriculum.

Qualifications: Sailing Captains possesses a 100 ton United States Coast Guard (USCG) Near Coastal Masters License. To earn this license, individuals are required to complete a minimum of 180 days of service on sail vessels and pass the USCG entrance exam.