Let’s Ride!
Hit the trails and join us for a summer of adventure as a camp counselor and mountain bike instructor at Falling Creek. Zipping through the trees, splashing through creeks, and flowing down bermy singletrack trails - it’s hard not to smile while riding a mountain bike. Get paid to play this summer at camp!
Save Your Spot
Mountain Biking Instructor Description
Mountain biking instructors at Falling Creek are able to spend time enjoying the fast, flowy, and famous trails of Western North Carolina firsthand. We ride in places like Dupont State Forest, Pisgah National Forest, Tsali Recreational Area, Paris Mountain, and more. But, with over 900 acres and 25 miles of private trails at Falling Creek, you don’t even have to leave camp property to get in plenty of great riding! Throughout the summer you’ll teach bike handling skills, basic bike maintenance, and lead a variety of trips, ranging from short half-day adventures to epic five-day expeditions.
While you are welcome to bring any of your own gear, we provide all the bikes, supplies, and gear you’ll need for mountain biking. Learn more about the adventure program at Falling Creek.
What’s a Typical Day Like For This Position?
Mountain biking trips are special signup activities at Falling Creek, like all of our Adventure Programs. You’ll make announcements about upcoming trips each day at Morning Assembly - campers can choose to leave their daily activity schedules behind and sign up to join you for half day to 5-day long trips. Campers progress in the adventure activities based on their skill development, and trips are designed for different skill levels.
You will start by teaching an introductory skills clinic to any campers new to the program, and then progress to riding on the camp trails, which offer a variety of terrain. Once campers show proficiency on the bike in-camp, they will then have the option to join you on out-of-camp rides and overnight trips. In addition to riding trails, you’ll also teach bike handling skills, basic bike maintenance, and even some trail maintenance, so boys can learn how to take care of their bikes and trails, and how to improve their form while riding. You’ll be able to help many boys discover a lifelong passion for the outdoors by participating in the adventure program!
When not on a trip off-property, male camp counselors live in a cabin with one other counselor and eight campers. In addition to their activity/trip instruction, male counselors will have an assortment of responsibilities related to the management of their cabin. Female camp counselors also serve as activity/trip staff, but don’t live in cabins with the campers, and are responsible instead for organizational tasks during the times that male staff are busy with their cabins. Trip Leaders are responsible for the planning and logistics of mountain biking trips, and do not live in a cabin with campers.
Sound Like Fun?
Need internship credit?
Many of our counselors who need internship credit to graduate don’t realize that they can earn that credit while working at camp! We can coordinate with your department to tailor a unique learning experience, and have set up internship credit across a wide variety of disciplines. Read more about the value of an internship at camp or how to translate your camp experience to your resume.
Working at camp isn’t just fun and rewarding, it’s also a great way to jumpstart your professional development. The skills critical for success in today’s world are developed and practiced at camp, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and contribution. You’ll make connections with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, across the country and around the world. Being a Falling Creek alumni also connects you to a network of former staff and parents who are business owners, entrepreneurs, outdoor industry professionals, and employers. We are frequently asked to refer our most talented staff members.
Career Development & Resources
Why Should You Be a Mountain Biking Counselor?
Each day at camp brings adventure, physical recreation, and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. As an outdoor adventure staff member, you’ll also earn your Wilderness First Responder certification during staff training.
As a mountain bike instructor, you’ll be a role model for the boys both on and off the trail. If you’re majoring in recreation management, sports management, or outdoor education, being a summer camp mountain bike instructor will give you helpful skills for your future career path. Even if your college major is unrelated to the outdoors or athletics, you’ll still be gaining leadership skills and networking connections that will give you a competitive edge in the job market, no matter where you’re headed next.
To me personally, the adventure program makes the camp. It also forms the most amazing little community within Falling Creek of awesome people with similar interests. I still hang out with fellow adventure staffers on weekends. The community of adventure staff is what sets Falling Creek apart.
Aaron Perry, 2019 mountain bike instructor.
What’s My Time-Off Like?
Each week you’ll receive a scheduled time-off period of 34 consecutive hours. In 2023 the time-off period began in the morning around breakfast on the first day, allowed you to be off throughout the reminder of that day and night, and required you to return the following day in late afternoon, around dinner. Staff are also able to take an hour of “self-care time” each day at camp, where you are free to read, workout, nap, or do anything you need to “recharge your batteries” daily. Everyone gets the same amount of time off; the schedule is based on your position and role at camp. Being well-rested and refreshed is a must! (During session changeover weeks, this schedule is altered slightly.)
What Benefits Do I Get?
We offer a competitive and progressive pay schedule that is determined based on your experience, age, education, certifications, and other factors. See the 2024 Estimated Pay Sheet here. Staff working the full summer (Orientation plus 4 sessions) will have a base pay of $4300, not including additional pay, experience, and bonuses.
In addition to housing, food, and pay, each day at camp brings adventure, physical recreation, and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. You are welcome to use the camp facilities and participate in activities during your free time, so long as it does not take away from a class or camper.
Visit our “What You Get” page to read more about the value of an internship at camp, how to translate your camp experience to your resume, resources, networking, and certifications offered.
When Do I Need To Be Available?
While individual dates may differ based on your personal contract, our summer season is from mid May to mid August, and our preference is to hire for the full season. For the 2024 season, All-Staff Orientation begins on May 30th. Closing day is August 16th after the final session. Depending on your role at camp, you may need to arrive earlier in May for additional training (Lifeguard Training, the WFR Certification Course, Compass Horse Training, Adventure Staff Training, etc.) The WFR training for adventure staff will begin on May 18. You also have the option to extend your contract by joining us for Father/Son Weekends and/or Family Camp.
What Essential Skills Are Needed?
Completed At Least One Year of College and/or At Least 19 Years Old.
Our mission is existing to shepherd the journey of personal growth through love and adventure. Staff must be dedicated to live by the Falling Creek Code.
Patient. Flexible. Team Player. Genuinely Enthusiastic. Friendly. Eager to Grow. Open to Offer and Receive Feedback. Able to Think on Your Feet. Good Decision Maker. Hard Working. Get-It-Done Attitude.
See more on our staff FAQs page.