The Outdoor School

***We are currently interviewing for Spring 2025 Instructors - Our Spring season is February 10th through May 16th.***

The Outdoor School is a place where kids can see, hear, touch, smell, even taste nature. Students can learn about themselves, their natural environment and their peers while participating in fun and educational outdoor activities. There’s something for every age that will help students grow by facing challenges, overcoming their fears and spark new ways to see the world.  We are located on beautiful Lake LBJ, about 60 miles from Austin, Texas, offering an excellent setting for a range of educational adventures.  

Here's what Last Year's staff said was the best part of working at The Outdoor School:

• "I loved that I got paid to look at stars and sing camp songs. It was so fun to watch kids make friends and I loved living in such a beautiful place. I loved it when I worked belaying or campfire with friends. I also really appreciate that I was able to learn so many new things and get out of my comfort zone."

• "I met amazing people and grew so much as a person. I felt extremely safe here mentally and emotionally. I knew no matter what I had to say, it’d be heard. I felt extremely connected to the environment and wanted, seen, and appreciated. I loved the lake, the access to use everything in free time and being able to hang with all the animals!"

• "The community, the staff growth opportunities (ex. becoming lifeguard certified), the respect of instructor preference as often as possible, challenge by choice and universal respect philosophies, many opportunities for kids to try new things, and many classes that are just really fun to teach!"

• "The best things about the last 3 months were getting to meet amazing people and not even feel like i'm working because I love what I do. This has absolutely been the most amazing experience of my life and I'm so happy I took this path. Just getting to connect and make a difference in a kids life is an extremely fulfilling experience for me."

• "The community we built, the relationships we created with the students, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone."

• "Giving kids the opportunity to disconnect and reconnect with nature. So many of them don’t get that opportunity, so this is completely new to them. So many kids leave here learning something new about the environment around them, as well as themselves."

• "Getting to grow closer with the people around me, getting to learn about them, make memories with them and getting to share parts of myself with them and make what I consider to be true friends. I very much enjoyed it. Oh also being outside and experiencing nature, it’s been lovely. "

• "COMMUNITY. EXPERIENCE. GROWTH. LEARNING. DEVELOPMENT."

• "People I’ve met and the opportunity to gain new skills. I never would have been able to be ropes trained and become a lifeguard anywhere else because people believed in me and gave me the chance and time to learn."

• "The people, the support, the positivity! I always felt supported and nurtured while I was here :) I couldn’t ask for a better work community!"

• "The classes and the care taken in the lesson plans are really cool and well done. They really help prepare us to teach the class and understand it ourselves as well"

• "The diversity of students and staff!"

• "Telescopes, fishing, impacting children, witnessing the sunrise and sunset every day, opportunities for growth, learning new things."

• "I loved doing ropes. I feel so active and strong. Especially being a pirate ! I also just had so much fun exploring Texas more this season. Going to Dallas, Houston, and a lot more naturey areas !"

• "Making a lasting difference in people's lives"

• "I have never worked at a place where there is so much support from coworkers and leadership. It took some getting used to but it is nice to know that if you needed to ask a question or get a class covered there were people willing to help you."

• "The community, love, and inclusiveness of the camp as a whole and the staff.  "

• "What it does for the children, even though they're only here a few days it feels like we genuinely get to make an impact on their lives and coming from somebody who actually went to a program much like this when I was younger I know the students love it and will remember things taught here for their whole lives."

• "The people, I've made some life long friends here in a way this placed helped me heal somethings I didn't realize was broken. The campus, this place is beautiful! The sunsets from upper casa porch?! Being able to kayak whenever?! Lastly, being in a place where I'm encouraged to grow in a positive way. Not talked down to but uplifted to discover new part of myself, others and the world around me"

• "working with kids. the warm weather. the sunsets. the people ive met."

• "REPTILES! OUTDOOR SKILLS! Kids getting to play outside all day :)"

• "The community, the opportunities provided through the diverse skill set, the AMAZING time outside, the leadership staff, the customizable approach to your experience here by what classes you teach & what team you’re on"

• "I love seeing kids learn that they can do hard things and that they are supported. I also love watching them get excited about learning something new."