Friends of the Boundary Waters and Northern Goods Position

TITLE: Combination role: Seasonal Outreach Facilitator / Northern Goods Seasonal Staff

CLASSIFICATION: Full-time/Temporary

REPORTS TO: Northern Education and Outreach Coordinator for Friends of the Boundary Waters, Mitch Reaume for Northern Goods 


LOCATION: Grand Marais, MN


This is a unique position meant to be a shared role between Friends of the Boundary Waters and Northern Goods. Northern Goods has a need for seasonal support that complements the Friend’s need for seasonal support, and there will be a Friends of the Boundary Waters display in Northern Goods that this person would work to support and educate customers on our efforts, in combination with other responsibilities (see below). The two part-time positions combine to create a role that can be 30-40 hours per week.



SUMMARY - Friends of the Boundary Waters responsibilities

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness is seeking an outreach facilitator to assist with our community and outreach events. This position will also be involved in our education program, No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters, as well as other areas of the organization that further the Friends’ mission of protecting, preserving, and restoring the wilderness character of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico-Superior ecosystem.

Outreach and public events: This position will work with the Education and Outreach Coordinator in Grand Marais to attend community events and host events throughout Cook County. Events include community recreation days and tabling at summer festivals in Cook County. Some weekends or evenings may be required to support these events. Other duties involve connecting with local businesses and organizations as we grow our connections in the community.

School Programming: Our growing education program reaches schools and organizations all over the state, primarily working with grades 6-12 to bring opportunities to learn about, investigate, and experience the Boundary Waters through classroom education, local exploration, and wilderness trips, targeting under-resourced communities throughout Minnesota.

This position will assist with teaching environmental education curriculum centered on the BWCA in school and outdoor settings in Northeastern Minnesota. In addition to teaching at school events, this position will assist with logistics for our BWCA Wilderness Trip program as we prepare schools with the gear and expertise they need to go on a summer BWCA trip through our program.

The position requires working at these in-person events but may also include remote work to prepare for these events and to support planning and logistics. The position will run from early May until the end of August, with the opportunity to continue program work into October if the applicant’s schedule allows.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Assist with planning, preparation, and execution of Friend’s community events, including the Fisherman’s Picnic weekend in Grand Marais.
Assist the Northern Education Coordinator with building and maintaining partnerships in Cook County, such as the YMCA, Cook County Soil and Water, Community Education, Lake Associations, and more.
Promote Friends of the Boundary Waters mission and grow membership of our Boundary Waters Coalition, a network of businesses and organizations that work to preserve clean water in Minnesota.
Assist with preparation and facilitation of BWCA programming to participating schools, often in a half day program with rotating stations with small groups of students ranging from elementary students to high school. Partners include Cook County Middle School, Cook County YMCA, and community education, among others. Lessons range from nature and ecology activities like investigations involving animal adaptations, water quality, or biomes, to wilderness skills such as canoeing, fire-building, portaging, and using a map and compass. For more details on the courses this program offers, please visit our course catalog.
https://www.friends-bwca.org/wp-content/uploads/NoBoundariesCourses.pdf
Reset program and event supplies to ensure they are ready for next use, and track supplies that may need replacement. Assist with record-keeping and media for events and school programs.
Occasional travel with the Northern Education and Outreach Coordinator for programs and events up to 3 hours away (though generally within one hour), with possible overnight stays as needed.
Assist with BWCA Trip logistics such as cleaning and distributing gear, processing trip media, and other needs as school groups prepare to go on a BWCA Trip in the summer. Occasionally greet trip participants on the first or last day of their experience.


QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
Flexible schedule to work some evenings and weekends for outreach events, advance notice is given for event dates
Interest in teaching in an outdoor setting, with a focus on experiential learning.
Must pass a background check.
Must have access to own transportation in order to travel to programs throughout the region.
Willing to participate in First Aid Training.
Must attend a mandatory 3-day training in May in Northeastern Minnesota,. Dates to be determined.

Preferred:
Passion for connecting a variety of people to the Boundary Waters and Friends of the Boundary Waters mission.
Experience interacting with people from a variety of racial, geographic, and financial backgrounds.
Experience in event planning or coordinating.
Experience teaching or working with students in grades 6-12.
Strong organizational skills.
Passion for equity in the outdoors.

SUMMARY: Northern Goods responsibilities
This position will focus on supporting the work of Northern Goods retail store and micro hotel, while advocating for the mission of Friends of the Boundary Waters. Northern Goods duties include selling retail products, answering customer questions, administering Boundary Waters permits, and cleaning the hotel space. While in the store, this person is expected to share with customers about the Friends of the Boundary Waters mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Maintaining a high level of customer service
Engaging with customers and answering their questions
Administering BWCAW permits and sharing all rules and regulations through the process.
Cleaning and preparing the microhotel between guests.
Representing Friends of the Boundary Waters while in the retail store.
Communicating with customers about the Friends mission and work to protect the Boundary Waters.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
People skills and sincerity of investing in guest experiences.
Love of the Boundary Waters and wilderness.

Preferred:
Sales experience.
Cleaning experience.

HOURS AND COMPENSATION

The position will be 20 hours per week with Friends of the Boundary Waters. The pay rate is $18 per hour and mileage paid at the IRS rate. Additionally the position will have 20 hours with Northern Goods with a pay rate of $18 per hour. If fewer hours are desired, both parties are flexible on having a 10-20 hour range.

TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references:
Case McCullough, Administrative Assistant: casey@friends-bwca.org

In the subject line of any electronic communication, please put “Grand Marais Seasonal Outreach Facilitator/Northern Goods Staff”
Applications will be accepted until April 6, 2026.

At Friends, we have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and do their best work. Friends is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.