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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Challenge Course Facilitator
The Department of Campus Recreation is seeking to fill the position of Challenge Course Facilitator. This entry level position is responsible for facilitating high quality teambuilding experiences for challenge course and high ropes participants, including youth.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Act as site manager for programs at Stone Valley Recreation Area
- Meet with Facilitator team to go over the details of the days program(s) and assign roles/tasks
- Be the primary point of contact for Group Leaders
- Supervise Facilitators to ensure recommended practices in program application, safety protocols, and overall participant monitoring are being followed
- Conduct post-activity processing and reflection with participants
- Oversee course/program shutdown and clean-up
- Complete all pre-/post-program paperwork
- Assist Group Programs Coordinator with supervision, training, and assessment of staff
- Supervise and provide feedback to Group Program Staff during scheduled programs
- Lead Facilitation Workshops, Facilitation 101, Belay Training, and High Ropes Training
- Prepare training and meeting agendas and lesson plans
- Assess staff for competency in various program areas, provide feedback, and administer written test
- Facilitate staff meeting activities to promote team bonding and cohesion
- Assist with overall program operations and administration
- Contact group leaders regarding inquiries about program offerings
- Management of program bookings and agreements
- Monitoring and completing all program documentation in the appropriate time frame
- Administering and reviewing post-program feedback surveys with group leaders
- Risk Management
- Oversee all pre-program inspections and activity setup
- Familiarity with program equipment, usage, and inspection
- Ability to perform participant rescues
- Report maintenance or safety issues in a timely manner
- Follow all EAPs and SOPs as required
- Assist student leaders or full-time staff members with special tasks, projects, events, or other duties and responsibilities as assigned
- Drive University vehicles (must pass MVR check)
Work Environment:
- Work will mostly be conducted at Stone Valley Recreation Area but occasional program on campus may also be necessary
Requirements/Prerequisites:
- Possess valid First Aid/CPR/AED Certification or higher; Wilderness First Aid or higher preferred.
- Experience in a leadership position managing staff and participants on High Ropes and Teambuilding Programming
- Level 1 or 2 Challenge Course Practitioner Certification (Preferred)
- Attention to detail
Expectations:
- Attendance/Availability
- work approximately 20-24 hours per week, up to 40 hours possible through the summer
- Seasonal position lasting from April through September
- Holidays and weekends required
Ongoing Development – should be committed to personal and professional development as demonstrated by active participation in staff training and engaging in personal/professional skill development opportunities as need to maintain skills relevant to job responsibilities.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
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Skills Required
- Valid First Aid/CPR/AED Certification or higher
- Wilderness First Aid or higher
- Experience managing staff and participants on High Ropes and Teambuilding Programming
- Level 1 or 2 Challenge Course Practitioner Certification
- Ability to perform participant rescues and familiarity with program equipment and inspection
- Valid driver's license and ability to pass motor vehicle records (MVR) check; drive University vehicles
- Ability to obtain PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, and FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check
- Attention to detail
- Availability ~20-24 hours/week (up to 40 in summer); seasonal April–September; holidays and weekends required
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
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Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
