Join Our Team!

Compassionate | Dedicated | Curious | Experienced

We have been leading outdoor expeditions since 1926, and currently work with hundreds of students (or “trekkers,” as we call them) each year. We use the outdoors as our classroom to explore science, culture, history, art, and adventure in New Mexico and surrounding states, all with the goal of inspiring personal growth and a strong community. During the school year, we partner with more than 30 schools and nonprofits, primarily serving New Mexico students in grades 1-12 on trips ranging from one day to two weeks. During the summer, we run multi-week expeditions for 8-18 year olds. All this totals about 10,000 field days each year, a thriving “Gulch Community,” and hundreds of lives impacted for the better.

Seasonal Employment Opportunities

Link to application can be found at the bottom of each position description. Preference will be given to staff able to work multiple seasons.

Spring through Fall:

  • Field Educator: The Field Educator supports the creation and facilitation of place-based educational curriculum. We are looking for scientists, artists, culturalists, and others who enjoy working with youth outdoors. For a more complete job description, click here.
  • Farmer: The Farmer provides high-quality farm education programming while also producing vegetables from a ¼-acre farm. Time in spring will be needed to prepare the farm for the summer season, so this job will require spring and summer work. For a more complete job description, click here.

Summer:

  • Summer Field Educators: The Field Educators work in tandem as a group staff team during the summer and are responsible for guiding trekkers and key elements of a group expedition. For a more complete job description, click here.

    • Group Leaders: Group Leaders take on the responsibility of leading their trek throughout the season. They are the member of the team who are primarily responsible for key elements of a group expedition including risk management, logistics, community, culture, and learning. This position is ideal for those who are knowledgeable about the Southwest and seeking leadership opportunities. Familiarity with the Gulch and/or summer camp experience is preferred. 
    • Program Staff: The Program Staff is the member of the group staff team who supports the creation of a curriculum tailored to the specific destinations of the expedition and interests of the trekkers. People who are successful in this position are excited to share their own areas of passion with their group and also excited to follow where the trekkers’ interests lead them. In addition, they manage the packing and organization of gear for their designated expedition.  We are seeking self-motivated, well organized individuals who enjoy working with youth. 
    • Road Cook: The Road Cook is the member of the group staff team who designs, purchases, cooks and adheres to the food budget for their designated expedition. Road cooks work with the staff team to create a menu which takes into account nutrition, caloric needs of trekkers, dietary restrictions, time restraints, and logistical realities of backcountry cooking. Our ideal candidates are detail-oriented, flexible and self motivated to create nutritious and delicious meals. 
  • Basecamp Facilitators: The Basecamp Facilitation team assists other staff members in providing exceptional outdoor education to our summer trekkers by maintaining a functioning Basecamp. This is a full-time, 24/7 residential position throughout the summer. For a more complete job description, click here.
    • Basecamp Cook: Basecamp cooks provide nourishment through  food and educational outdoor programming. Cooks assist our food manager in designing menus, preparing food, and keeping the kitchen clean.
    • Basecamp Operations Assistant is primarily part of our Basecamp team that provides behind the scenes support to keep our 550-acre Basecamp running smoothly. Daily duties can differ depending on need, and typically involve hands-on labor that is expected to be completed autonomously. This team should involve and teach trekkers whenever possible. 
  • Basecamp Specialist Educators: As a collaborative team, specialists will use their unique expertise to create engaging activities and projects around our Basecamp with trekkers daily. The autonomy of curriculum will be open to anything your creative brain can imagine within our 550-acre Basecamp property and surrounding areas, and utilizing tools provided by CGE. If you do not see your specialty below, please apply for the Basecamp Specialist position and let us know what knowledge you would like to share with our trekkers! For a more complete job description, click here.
    • Naturalist: The Naturalist is part of our Basecamp team providing high-quality science education programming including, but not limited to: ecology, biology, geology, astronomy, and ornithology to trekkers. 
    • Culturalist: The Culturalist will share expertise in one or more of the cultures in the Southwestern U.S. through personal experience, archaeology, or traditional knowledge with our trekkers. Activities and projects facilitated by this person should lead trekkers to understand the cultures of the Southwest on a deeper level. Potential projects could include surface archaeology, artifact analysis and curation, mapping, hands-on skills like flint knapping, or visits to important sites and communities. 
    • Art Specialist: The Art Specialist leads art activities both in the Nature Arts Workshop  and in the field, to summer trekkers. Activities can include pottery, leatherwork, weaving, beading, watercolors and more. 
    • Climbing and Adventure Specialist: The Climbing and Adventure Specialist provides exceptional adventure education to our school and summer trekkers, including rock climbing, navigation and team building activities. 
    • Farmer: The Farmer provides high-quality farm education programming while also producing vegetables from a ¼-acre farm. Time in spring will be needed to prepare the farm for the summer season, so this job will require spring and summer work.
    • Mountain Bike Specialist:  The Mountain Bike Specialist uses our fleet of mountain bikes to facilitate adventure to trekkers throughout the summer.  This role includes teaching youth mountain bike skills, IMBA Trail Etiquette and leading single-day and multi-day bike excursions.

Fall Openings:

  • Field Educator: The Field Educator supports the creation and facilitation of place-based educational curriculum. We are looking for scientists, artists, culturalists, and others who enjoy working with youth outdoors. For a more complete job description, click here.

If you have further questions about 2024 positions feel free to contact Naina Panthaki at naina.panthaki@cottonwoodgulch.org or Cass Landrum at cass.landrum@cottonwoodgulch.org

Staff Frequently Asked Questions

We have a 540 acre base camp in Thoreau, NM, about 2 hours west of Albuquerque. We are based at basecamp June through mid-August and spend the rest of the year working from our office in the North Valley of Albuquerque.