Courageous Sailing

Every child's perspective is improved fifty yards offshore

Courageous Sailing:

Courageous Sailing is a nonprofit community sailing and youth development organization committed to providing people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to learn, sail, and enjoy the waterfront. We work at two locations in Boston: the Charlestown Navy Yard on Boston Harbor, and the Historic Jamaica Pond boathouse in Jamaica Plain. Our mission is to transform lives through sailing programs that inspire learning, personal growth and leadership.

Working at Courageous is an opportunity to join a close-knit and diverse community committed to fostering a positive educational environment on and off the water. Courageous Staff receive paid training and professional development as well as recreational access to our fleet of boats which range from dinghies to mid-size keelboats and cruising boats.

Courageous Sailing’s Summer Youth Program (SYP) utilizes sailing, STEM, and the marine environment as platforms for learning and social-emotional growth. Years of third-party evaluation confirm that Courageous programs help our kids (ages 8-18) strengthen leadership and other crucial life skills. They build confidence as sailors, swimmers, and learners and become informed, empowered stewards of their Boston Harbor environment.

A cornerstone of the Courageous summer program is Swim Sail Science (SSS), an intensive five-week summer program that engages economically disenfranchised young people at risk of summer learning loss. SSS utilizes a dynamic combination of sailing and swimming instruction, environmental science-themed academics, hands-on science, and activities designed to foster teamwork and social-emotional skills. Offered in partnership with Boston Public Schools, the two-year program serves approximately 60 rising 4th and 5th graders each summer. To ensure that we meet the needs of our students, it includes pre-season outreach, school bus transportation, meals, extended-day care, winter swimming lessons, and support from several on-site social workers. Graduates are guaranteed full scholarships, along with continued support, as they progress through five or more years of more advanced sailing courses.

Job Description The Swim Sail Science Coordinator is responsible for management of the Swim Sail Science program including student and family case management (behavioral and emotional support and attendance management); training and supervision of Team Leaders (counselors, mostly High School and college aged, who oversee small groups of students); site management and daily logistical oversight.

Dates/Time: This is a Full time summer position, 7:45 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday.

Senior Staff training week of June 17th (afternoons and weekends)
All Staff Training June 24th-28th
Pre-Program Team Leader training July 1st-5th (No program July 4th)
Swim Sail Science Program July 8th through August 9th
Close-Out day August 12th

Responsibilities:

General:

Provide case management for up to 60 students, including attendance tracking, behavior management, and family communication. Coordinate with SSS team leaders, BPS teachers, and SSS sailing instructors to meet the individual needs of students.
Work with SSS head sailing instructors and BPS Coordinator to manage SSS logistics including scheduling, space management, and emergency management.
Supervise SSS team leaders by modeling best practices and delivering constructive feedback as necessary.
Communicate and coordinate with the Youth Program Director and Site Director about program needs and plans.
Communicate with the parents of students regarding absences, daily logistics, behavioral or emotional needs, and injuries.

Management and Supervision:

Schedule and hold regular meetings with teachers and team leaders to check in on work projects and give feedback.
At least once per season, hold performance reviews with each team leader to exchange job performance feedback.
Oversee distribution of breakfast and lunch daily.
Supervise bus monitors and troubleshoot issues with students getting to and getting off buses.

Education and Instruction:

Build rapport with and provide active and engaged supervision to students
Teach and/or encourage students’ learning, in particular academic support for SSS students
Train Team Leaders to lead and facilitate participation in on-land activities during down time.
Assist with implementation of Social Emotional Learning curriculum and activities.
Plan and execute a program-wide trip to Spectacle Island at the end of the program.
With the teaching staff and BPS Coordinator, organize, publicize, and supervise a Showcase Day where parents and guests visit the program at the end of the term.

Professionalism:

Attend all days of mandatory training and/or complete online training.
Be proactive and communicative. Provide clear, effective and timely communication with supervisors and staff. Ask questions if the scope or intention of work is unclear, express concerns when they come up, give feedback regularly to peers and supervisors, and help facilitate positive change.

Safety and Risk Management:

Comply with Courageous safety standards and policies on and off the water and teach participants how to do the same.
Model safe, respectful, and responsible behavior to participants and peers at all times.
Exercise sound judgment and decision-making. Treat safety as the highest priority.
Leave Courageous better than you found it. Treat Courageous property with respect. Maintain the cleanliness and functionality of workspace and tools.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Cultivate a kind and inclusive community where everyone at Courageous can feel like they belong.
Engage and facilitate conversations with staff and students around difficult topics, e.g. race and gender, as needed

Qualifications

At Courageous Sailing, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

Certifications (Preferred)

Social Work License (LCSW or above) or pursuing licensure or degree.
- Compensations varies based on licensure and youth development experience

Required

Can work effectively with a wide variety of age groups and populations from diverse backgrounds, role modeling inclusive behavior and building positive group culture
Able to meet different learning-style needs by varying teaching techniques
Able to communicate clearly, directly, and calmly at all times.
Comfortable giving and receiving feedback to and from peers, participants, and supervisors
Able to build rapport easily with participants and coworkers
Passionate about experiential education for youth from all backgrounds
Comfortable working outdoors, regardless of weather
Positive and enthusiastic attitude
Willing to authorize a federal background check
Hold, or are willing to obtain before start date, current First Aid and CPR certification (Courageous Sailing hosts regular CPR/First Aid classes prior to the beginning of the season.)
Three professional or academic references