Camp Caldera Artist Assistant at Caldera – Sisters, Oregon

At Caldera, we believe in the power of creativity. Our mission is to inspire and support youth from underserved rural and urban communities by awakening the potential of their creative voice. We do this through a unique fusion of art, environment and mentorship. Our Youth Program provides students from Portland and Central Oregon with long-term relationships with caring adults, which nurtures individual creativity, beginning in sixth grade and continuing into young adulthood.

Caldera has a $5M budget, a 18-member board, 21 full-time year-round employees, and a range of seasonally contracted artists and staff. Its administrative office is located in Portland, Oregon, and its Arts Center is located outside of Sisters in Central Oregon.

Position Title: Art Assistant

Supervisor: Camp Artistic Supervisors

FULL TIME Typical days are 8 hours in length, with sessions that make for up to 10 straight days of work without a full day off. Each staff member will have at least 1 night off per session.

Work Location: Sisters, OR

Compensation:

• Salary/Rate of Pay: $105/day, with 1% increase for each year of experience working at Camp Caldera (not to exceed 7%)
• Training Salary/Rate of Pay: $75/day
• Room and board provided during days with programming; room only during non-programming days. A light dinner will be provided on staff arrival days. Brunch is served on the last day of each session.

Position Description:

Artist Assistants support Teaching Artists in various mediums to provide a rigorous arts curriculum for middle and/or high school campers. They provide a positive learning environment and deliver engaging arts lessons that reach a diverse population.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

DIRECT YOUTH WORK (80% OF TIME DEDICATED)

• Collaborate with Teaching Artists to ensure effective delivery of arts instruction
• Help prep and organize art materials, supplies, equipment, and classroom space
• Help document, archive, and organize student work
• Help organize and set up for final exhibition of student work

CLASSROOM PREPARATION (10% OF TIME DEDICATED)

• Assist with evaluating Caldera’s youth and programs
• Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues
• Assist with setup and breakdown of classroom space

CAMP SUPPORT (10% OF TIME DEDICATED)

• Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues
• Promote program understanding and involvement through Caldera’s goals and agreements, participation agreement, and responsibility process
• Actively participate in all aspects of camp life including: camper orientation, community meetings, evening activities, campfire, free time, etc.
• Model appropriate camper behavior at all times
• Perform duties with consistency and integrity
• Set and respect personal boundaries while acting as mentors, guides, and allies to campers
• Oversee health and safety of charges in fire drills and emergency procedures
• Maintain cleanliness of living and common areas and help with clean-up at the end of each session

Required Qualifications:

• At least 2 years experience working with youth from underserved communities, and a background in the arts, through education or profession
• Ability to understand our racially diverse student population’s perspective, either through lived experience, previous qualifications, or work experience
• Ability to navigate through potentially triggering and challenging conversations and situations while maintaining focus on the wellbeing of youth
• Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth
• Ability to set appropriate boundaries in a proactive and positive manner
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Willingness to work with a range of artists across different mediums
• Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly preferred
• Must pass a background check. Caldera considers systemic injustices when investigating findings
• Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular and long hours. Additionally, you must have the ability to deal with limited cell and internet service and daily exposure to outdoor factors such as sun, heat, bugs, bats, snakes, etc.

Job Requirements:

• Serve as mandatory reporter, working with Youth Impact Manager to report instances or suspicion of child abuse. Caldera has a zero tolerance policy around child abuse, and any negligence will result in immediate dismissal
• Requires on-site living in shared staff quarters
• Typical days are 8+ hours in length, with sessions that make for up to 10 straight days of work without a full day off. Each staff member will have at least 1 night off per session.
• Alcohol and drugs are not permitted on campus, even in personal living quarters.
• Must be physically able to move around 116 acres of camp property with varied terrain
• Must have visual, perceptual, and cognitive ability to recognize and respond quickly to health
• and safety concerns of students and appropriately re-direct any behavior that is misaligned with Caldera agreements
• Employees must carry out their duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include but is not limited to, heat, rain, wind, cold, and smoky or dusty conditions.
• Moments of quiet and non-activity are few and spread out
• Creating a cohesive staff environment round the clock can be challenging. It is crucial that staff see youth and adults through a strengths-based lens and prioritize creating the best possible youth experience at all times, despite what challenges may arise at the staff level
• Physical Demands (which can include bending, stooping, hiking, climbing and stretching) are: 5% Sitting, 45% Standing, 20% Walking, 30% Lifting/Carrying/Pushing/Pulling Pounds 5 -80 lbs.

To Apply:

Please also submit a reference, ideally from each of the following categories: a youth service organization, a family member, and one other professional reference. All applications must contain a resume and completion of the screening questions. All materials are reviewed and considered as part of the hiring process.

Application Deadline: May 15, 2026