Internship FAQs

Interns are a valuable part of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center. This internship provides experiential learning, career exploration, mentorship, and unique skill development. At the BOEC, our courses and ski lessons play an integral role in empowering our participants through various outdoor experiences. Generally, there are 12 intern positions for the summer internship and 15 intern positions for the winter internship. Interns must commit full-time to the BOEC for four and a half months in the summer and six months in the winter.

Our interns come from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds. We believe that a diverse knowledge base enriches the experience, allowing everyone to learn from one another. You don’t need prior experience in any specific area of programming to apply.

A typical group of interns may include: 

• Individuals ranging from 21 into their 30s. (All applicants must be at least 21 years old). 
• Working professionals with or without a degree looking for a career change.
• College students fulfilling academic requirements in fields such as recreation management, outdoor experiential education, or recreation therapy. 
• People looking for a life changing experience and experience with people with disabilities. 
• Physical, Occupational and Recreation Therapists looking to gain more outdoor experience and expand their professional horizons. 
• People who have a passion for the outdoors and working with persons with disabilities.

The winter internship runs from November 1 to April 30, extending past the ski resort closures. Interns should anticipate spending the holiday season away from home. The summer internship spans May 15 to September 30, with peak activity occurring from mid-June through August. All internships require a full-time commitment. While some opportunities for outside work may arise, the BOEC must be your top priority, and we cannot guarantee scheduling flexibility around a second job. Prospective interns should carefully consider the financial commitment before applying.

Work schedules vary based on the season and participant volume in our ski or wilderness programs. Typically, interns receive four days off every 14 days. Weekends may be nontraditional and may vary from week to week. When not actively teaching a ski lesson or on a wilderness course, interns may have the opportunity to support the BOEC operations with maintenance tasks or work in the administrative office.

• $200 monthly stipend
• On-site intern cabin housing provided (shared rooms)
• Food benefits: Weekly food stipend, access to BOEC food staples, and all meals provided during wilderness courses
• BOEC staff apparel: Staff shirt or pullover, ski jacket, ski pants (season dependent)
• Recreation Access: Breckenridge Recreation Center passes when available
• Mental health support: Up to 6 therapy sessions per season
• Gear use: Access to BOEC gear for personal use with approval by the Operations Manager (summer-specific benefit)
• Winter gear: Season equipment rental provided if needed (winter-specific benefit)
• Ski Pass Benefits: Epic Local Ski Pass (Keystone and Breckenridge) plus opportunities to ski at Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin for work (winter-specific benefit)

Located on the wilderness site in Breckenridge, the intern cabin is full of character but comfortable, functional, and continually improved over time. It features a full kitchen, three toilets, three showers, two washers, two dryers, WiFi, and a shared living/lounging space with a TV. This fully furnished cabin accommodates up to 12 interns per season. There are six bedrooms: two singles, two doubles, and two triples. Its convenient location allows interns to ski or walk to work, and it’s just a short walk to a bus stop with access to the free public transportation system. There is space for 7 intern vehicles in the parking lot at the intern cabin.

Interns eat extremely well through generous deals on bulk purchases and a weekly check for fresh food. Going to purchase food, whether part of the trip to Denver or the weekly stop at the supermarket, is a responsibility shared by all interns. Unless an intern has a specific dietary need or concern, they will probably not need to supplement with any of their own purchases.

• Opportunities for Level 1 Instructor certification with the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI)
• Skier improvement clinics
• Adaptive instructor training
• Adaptive equipment training
• Hut trip experience
• Risk management and safety practices
• Disability awareness and inclusion training
• Transfer training
• Compliance training, including Sexual Harassment, Civility, Managing Difficult Conversations, etc.

• Opportunities for certification with the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) to pursue Climbing Wall Instructor training
• Off-site rock climbing instruction
• Top rope setup and belay training
• High ropes course experience and set-up
• Flatwater paddling (canoeing) and whitewater rafting training
• Low-impact camping and hiking training
• Backcountry river trip and camping preparation
• Risk management and safety practices
• Transfer training
• Compliance training including Sexual Harassment, Civility, Managing Difficult Conversations, etc

For many, an internship at the BOEC has rolled into a paid position as an adaptive ski instructor or wilderness course instructor, depending on the internship completed.  Roughly 90% of our staff throughout all programs of the BOEC were once interns.

Yes. Up to four interns within the intern group will be chosen to do a Therapeutic Recreation internship per season. Applicants must apply specifically for this option.   These interns assist with the assessment, planning, facilitation, evaluation, and documentation of BOEC’s goal-oriented activities that support physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. Responsibilities may include client assessments, progress notes, activity analysis, and leisure education.

All interns must be at least twenty-one years of age, have First Aid and CPR certification and the ability to commit to an entire season. Above all, the BOEC is looking to create an intern staff that is self-motivated, takes initiative, and has some experience working with people with disabilities and special needs. It is helpful to have technical outdoor or skiing skills and, most importantly, the ability to work well with people. All interns must have a strong sense of hard work, flexibility, a love of the outdoors, and an open mind.