Updated for 2026. During the Wilderness Bushcraft Semester we offer a teaching assistant (TA) internship. It is an opportunity to advance personal proficiency in traditional living, modern homesteading and wilderness travel skills, to gain practice teaching and guiding and to assist in the day to day operations around the JMB field school. It is a good way to learn the back end of the outdoor business, which can be helpful for those looking to work in the industry or start their own business.
Note: We only offer TA internships during the Wilderness Bushcraft Semester, not during other programs.
Prerequisites For All Teaching Assistant Positions
- Wilderness Bushcraft Semester graduate
- JMBS Journeyman Certification
- Current First Aid/CPR
- If wanting to TA during the canoe portion of the semester, JMBS Enagagé 1-2 Certification
TA Duties
1. Student Support
Be helpful to students when they have questions and a solid part of the team.
2. Instructor Development
Throughout the course, Teaching Assistants are expected to study the role of an instructor and prepare lessons and lesson plans according to the JMBS lesson planning fomat. When lesson plans are signed off on by an instructor, TA’s have the option of teaching lessons where they feel comfortable. TA’s are required to write a minumum of 3 lesson plans per week.
3. Research
All TA applicants are required to submit plans for independent study projects to be completed during the internship. The benefits are two fold: it allows TA’s the time and space to acquire more experiential breadth and depth in a given field of study and it also provides an opportunity for students at JMBS courses to observe/participate in a given skill carried out to a greater degree than what time allows during the regular course period. This project must be relevant to the JMB curriculum and the arc of the project needs to fall within the time frame of the TA internship period. Examples of TA independent projects:
- Primitive skill or craft specialization
- Natural history study deep dive
- Permaculture / homestead projects
- Media production – documentary filmmaking
We require that these are submitted in advance of the semester so that people don’t spend weeks trying to figure it out, which has happened in the past.
4. Facilities Maintenance
All TA’s are expected to pitch in with all camp chores and duties and facilitate the running of the current course. The role of the TA is not to be the janitor of the camp, but they are expected to be active members of the team and help with all camp chores, i.e gather firewood, clean up around camp, and maintain the composting toilets the same as the rest of the Jack Mountain students and staff. They are also expected to help with maintaining the trail system.
Schedule & Cost
In Camp For Bushcraft 1-4
During the portion of the semester where we are in camp (Bushcraft 1-4), we have 2 TA spots available. The tuition for the program is $50 per week, which goes to cover their camp expenses, including supplies (TP, sawdust, soap, bulk foods), trash and recycling pick up, Athenaeum electricity, etc. During the spring and summer semester, this is weeks 1-4. During the fall semester, it is weeks 1-2 and 6-7.
Canoeing, Weeks 5-7
During the canoe-intensive portion of the course, we have 1 TA spot available and the tuition is $500. In addition, the prospective TA must have successfully completed the Engagé levels 1-2 certifications. Tuition goes to cover expenses for boats, river, camping and road fees, vehicle shuttles, etc.
Cost for full 9 weeks
To TA for an entire 9-week semester, the cost is $700. For each semester, we have 1 spot available.
Preparing To Be A TA
Before becoming a teaching assistant, we require that you read several books in order to familiarize yourself with teaching, instructional design, and lesson planning from the JMBS perspective. More information on this is provided during the Wilderness Bushcraft Semester.
